WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue’s Justin Siller and Greg Orton tossed out Michigan’s generations-long streaks of success.
Kory Sheets picks up yardage after getting by Michigan's Stevie Brown during the first half. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
The win by Purdue (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak and assured Michigan (2-7, 1-4) of its first losing season since 1967, ending any possibility the Wolverines had to extend their streak of 33 straight bowl appearances.
Michigan, which has lost five in a row, tied the game at 42 with 1:20 to go on the third touchdown run by Brandon Minor.
But Siller, starting in place of injured Curtis Painter, quickly passed 18 yards to Keith Smith and 20 yards to Tardy, taking Purdue to the Michigan 35. After a 3-yard run by Siller, he passed 4 yards to Orton, who flipped the ball to Tardy for the go-ahead score.
Michigan’s desperation heave into the end zone with no time remaining fell harmlessly to the turf, sending the Wolverines to a school-record seventh loss.
Orton also had a touchdown reception. Kory Sheets, who rushed for three touchdowns, had the third TD catch from Siller, who finished 21-of-34 for 266 yards passing.
Sheets rushed for 118 yards, and his four touchdowns tied his career high with the Boilermakers, who kept alive their hopes for a possible 11th bowl bid in retiring coach Joe Tiller’s 12 seasons. It also marked the most points by Purdue and the most combined points in the 54-game series with Michigan.
Siller, a third-stringer until backup Joey Elliott had a season-ending shoulder separation two weeks ago and Painter went down with a similar injury last week, twice rallied the Boilermakers from 14-point deficits. Sheets’ second touchdown run, a 3-yarder late in the second quarter, pulled Purdue within 28-21 at halftime, then a 35-yard pass to Orton set up Siller’s 7-yard pass to Sheets that tied the game at 28 early in the third quarter.
The game was tied again at 35 after a 5-yard run by Sheets late in the third quarter and a 12-yard run by Minor early in the fourth quarter. Midway through the period, Purdue linebacker Anthony Heygood took the snap on a fake punt and ran 61 yards to the Michigan 7, and three plays later Siller hit Orton from 4 yards out for a 42-35 lead.
Minor’s third TD run from 1 yard out tied the game for the final time.
Michigan also got two touchdown passes from Steven Threet and a 73-yard punt return for freshman Martavious Odoms’ first career TD.
