WEST LAFAYETTE — Through two quarters of football, the Michigan-Purdue game has not been going well for the eighth-ranked Wolverines. Michigan trails, 10-7, and will have to continue without their starting quarterback.
Redshirt junior quarterback Wilton Speight left the game with an injury midway through the first quarter. Having been sacked for an 11-yard loss, a late second hit from behind left Speight down on the field.
He eventually walked off, supported by the training staff, but was taken away from the stadium to get evaluated.
Fifth-year senior John O’Korn replaced Speight, and went 5-for-5 in the air for 61 yards and a touchdown pass on his first drive. For that one drive, Michigan’s offense actually settled into a decent rhythm, but Purdue’s trick-filled offense responded immediately with a touchdown of its own.
The Boilermakers’ two-quarterback system troubled the Wolverines, as did a signature throwback pass play. Purdue took advantage of the aggresiveness of Michigan’s defense, having the quarterback run one direction, before passing it back the other way to an open receiver.
Purdue scored its first touchdown with a throwback pass from Elijah Sindelar to Brycen Hopkins, and it continued to use the play as Michigan couldn’t find an answer for it.
O’Korn was intercepted on his second drive after a pass deflected off junior receiver Grant Perry, and Purdue capitalized with a field goal to take the lead.