Indiana University
6-6 , 2-6
Purdue
2-10 , 1-7
Indiana Defeats Purdue, Keeps Old Oaken Bucket
11/28/2015 4:29:00 PM | Football
IUHoosiers.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Kevin Wilson couldn't contain a smile during his postgame press conference. It's hard to blame him.
His Indiana Hoosiers had just defeated Purdue 54-36 to retain the Old Oaken Bucket and secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2007. But even so, he stuck to his usual script of not showing much emotion minus the wry smile. He was the same Wilson in public as he always is.
But just minutes before, in the Indiana locker room, Wilson broke from his usual persona, according to his players. He joined in on their celebration, dancing to Drake and other hip-hop music that blared through the speakers.
"He's not a good dancer," senior tight end Anthony Corsaro said. "But that's alright. He's my guy."
Wilson had reason to dance. His Hoosiers won their third straight Old Oaken Bucket for the first time since a four-game winning streak from 1944-47 and are heading to a bowl game. Indiana doesn't care which one. They're just excited to be going.
Indiana scored a school-record 54 points in West Lafayette, finished the season winning two consecutive Big Ten road games for the first time since 1993 and headed home to Bloomington knowing they'd completed at least the second-best regular season in 20 years.
"The energy that was in that locker room after the game was something we haven't had since I've been here," fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw said. "Guys are getting confidence in themselves, and that was what we needed."
Indiana's win against rival Purdue (2-10, 1-7) was fittingly imperfect. Not much about this season came easy for the Hoosiers.
IU (6-6, 2-6) let the Boilermakers hang around throughout most of the game, never pulling away enough to feel comfortable until five minutes into the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld delivered the decisive blow to a wide open senior wide receiver Andre Booker down the sideline for a 72-yard touchdown with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The touchdown extended IU's lead to 15 points after Purdue had pulled within a score. Purdue failed to get any closer after that.
"We just wanted an aggressive mindset," Wilson said. "We wanted our team playing on edge. We gave up some stuff. We made some stuff. It wasn't pretty…
"Really just proud of the seniors and thankful for them. To me, it's more about them than any of the coaches."
The senior class, Wilson's first true recruiting class in Bloomington, had its shining moments in their final Bucket game.
Sudfeld finished completing 18-of-29 passes for 350 yards, giving him 7,490 career yards. He now owns the program record for career passing yards and touchdowns.
Fellow senior defensive end Nick Mangieri had two sacks in the game. Sophomore running back Devine Redding ran for a career-high 144 yards on 22 carries. Redshirt sophomore kicker Griffin Oakes made a pair of field goals to give him 22 on the season, setting an Indiana record himself.
Purdue's Austin Appleby threw for 332 yards, two passing touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns in place of normal starter David Blough. Running back Markell Jones aided him with 96 rushing yards on 16 carries.
But four offensive turnovers and giving up 659 total yards was too much for the Boilermakers to overcome.
"Every time we were down by 10, we'd give up one over our head or they made a big play," Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell said. "We had some early turnovers that shifted the momentum of the game."
Unlike Indiana's two most-recent Bucket wins, the Hoosiers' job isn't over yet. They'll wait for their bowl invitation and begin formulating a practice schedule for the next month.
But that will come in its due time. Wilson wasn't quick to go into details about what's next. He was more keen to talk about what had just happened.
The Hoosiers gave Wilson a reason to dance.
"Those fourth and fifth-year guys, to me, they've already done a lot—win, lose or draw," Wilson said. "And they have a high esteem in my world. I'm just glad we get a chance to spend a few more weeks together."
Team Stats
IND 7, PUR 0
IND - Paige, Mitchell 23 yd pass from Sudfeld, Nate (Oakes, Griffin kick) 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:53
IND 10, PUR 0
IND - Oakes, Griffin 45 yd field goal 5 plays, 21 yards, TOP 1:14
IND 10, PUR 7
PUR - Appleby, Austin 1 yd run (Griggs, Paul kick), 6 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:44
IND 17, PUR 7
IND - Redding, Devine 6 yd run (Oakes, Griffin kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:14
IND 24, PUR 7
IND - Cobbs, Simmie 15 yd pass from Sudfeld, Nate (Oakes, Griffin kick) 14 plays, 99 yards, TOP 4:12
IND 24, PUR 14
PUR - Jurasevich 11 yd pass from Appleby, Austin (Griggs, Paul kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:55
IND 31, PUR 14
IND - Sudfeld, Nate 3 yd run (Oakes, Griffin kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:22
IND 31, PUR 21
PUR - Herdman, Cole 2 yd pass from Appleby, Austin (Griggs, Paul kick) 14 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:46
IND 38, PUR 21
IND - Wilson, Andrew 1 yd run (Oakes, Griffin kick), 9 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:31
IND 38, PUR 28
PUR - Jones, Markell 20 yd run (Griggs, Paul kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:38
IND 44, PUR 28
IND - Knight, Brandon 22 yd pass from Sudfeld, Nate (Oakes, Griffin kickfailed) 4 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:33
IND 44, PUR 36
PUR - Appleby, Austin 1 yd run (Anthrop, Danny pass), 4 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:01
IND 51, PUR 36
IND - Booker, Andre 72 yd pass from Sudfeld, Nate (Oakes, Griffin kick) 3 plays, 83 yards, TOP 1:06
IND 54, PUR 36
IND - Oakes, Griffin 34 yd field goal 5 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:57
