By By JEFF FISHER / Dowagiac Daily News
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The No. 1 goal for Notre Dame this weekend against Purdue was to get off to a quicker start than it has in its first four games.
The Fighting Irish have been outscored 44-10 in the opening 15 minutes of those contests.
The Boilermakers came into the game with the nation's fifth-ranked scoring offense and quarterback Curtis Painter, a 6-foot-4, 228-pound junior also ranked fifth nationally with 1,140 passing yards.
The Irish outplayed the Boilers on offense, defense, and special teams to post a 35-21 home victory and kept its national championship hopes alive.
"We made a commitment this week not to give up on the running game, and we wanted to make it a go," Irish coach Charlie Weis said.
After spotting the Irish a 7-0 lead on a seven play, 70-yard drive, capped by freshman wide receiver George West's 11-yard end-around touchdown, the Boilers responded with an 86-yard scoring drive finished with Kory Sheets scoring from 7-yards out.
The Irish got scores from Darius Walker from 14-yards out, a Rhema McKnight touchdown from a Brady Quinn offering, and a fake field goal from holder Jeff Samardzija. Samardzija's 5-yard touchdown run to put the Irish up three touchdowns (28-7) with a 1:33 to play before halftime.
"He was going to call a time out if the Purdue defense didn't have the look and we kicked the field goal, but fortunately, we had the look. I'm glad it worked," Weis said.
Purdue's Painter hit sophomore wide out Selwyn Lymon for 38-yards, but Lymon broke two tackles and went 88-yards for the score and the Boilers trailed at halftime 28-14.
The two would later connect on a 9-yard pass early in the fourth quarter.
Lymon set a Notre Dame opponent record for receiving yards, 238 on eight catches to go along with two touchdowns.
"Selwyn had a nice day. He can play football and will get better," Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. "We are extremely young, and we won't play a more experienced team than the one we played today, and most likely won't play a more talented team. I felt we had our moments defensively, but we have to score more on offense."
Notre Dame would put one more touchdown on the board in the second half when Quinn connected with McKnight again from 12-yards out.
"There was a lot of passing yards in the game, but the only play that ticked me off was that long touchdown right before halftime and I let them know that I wasn't real happy with that," Weis said.
The Irish ended the Boilermakers four game unbeaten streak. They did not commit any turnovers, but the defense did force one Purdue turnover.
Quinn was 29-of-38 for 316 yards with two touchdowns. Walker led all rushers with 146 yards on 31 totes and one touchdown.
McKnight had 120 receiving yards and two scores.
Painter was 23-of-46 for 398 yards and two touchdowns while Sheets was held in check with 47 yards on seven lugs.
"Purdue has got a lot of offensive firepower, they are going to score a lot of points on a lot of teams. They've got a good quarterback, they've got good receivers, good running back and good tight ends. You haven't heard the last from this team that we just played today," Weis noted.
The Irish host Stanford, the nation's worst defensive team, on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
Purdue 7 7 0 7 – 21
Notre Dame 14 14 7 0 – 35
UND – West, George 11 yd run (Gioia, Carl kick)
PUR – Sheets, Kory 7 yd run (Summers, Chris kick)
UND – Walker, Darius 14 yd run (Gioia kick)
UND – McKnight, Rhema 6 yd pass from Quinn, Brady (Gioia kick)
UND – Samardzija, Jeff 5 yd run (Gioia kick)
PUR – Lymon, Selwyn 88 yd pass from Painter, Curtis (Summers kick)
UND – McKnight 12 yd pass from Quinn (Gioia kick)
PUR – Lymon 9 yd pass from Painter (Summers kick)