By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
A few Boilermaker fans at Saturday's Purdue-Notre Dame game wore shirts that read "We might not have touchdown Jesus, but we have touchdown Kyle. Start praying."
The slogan referred to Purdue's Heisman-candidate quarterback Kyle Orton. Orton proved the nickname was a valid one by torching the Irish for 385 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-16 Purdue victory.
Notre Dame's defense has been tough all year. The Irish found out Saturday that Purdue's offense, which ranks No. 1 in the nation in scoring, was tougher.
It was the first time the Boilermakers had won at Notre Dame since 1974. It was also the first time Purdue has beaten the Irish twice in a row since 1984-85.
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn had a career day, but the Irish were unable to capitalize on long drives. Quinn passed for 432 yards, a personal best and the second-most for any Irish quarterback.
Purdue scored first, a field goal, but Notre Dame's offense matched the Boilers, driving down the field to get a game-tying field goal in the first quarter.
The Irish moved the ball steadily in the first half, but one costly mistake turned the tide of the game in Purdue's favor.
With Purdue leading 13-3 midway through the second quarter, Notre Dame put together a solid drive behind Quinn's arm. The Irish had the ball second-and-goal from the 3-yard line. They gave the ball to running back Darius Walker, who ran to the left.
Walker made it to the 1-yard line before being stood up by the Boilermakers' defense. As Walker pushed toward the endzone, Purdue's Anthony Spencer reached in a stripped the ball from his hands. Purdue's Brent Grover recovered the fumble at the 3.
From there, Purdue used a mix of rushes and passes to march 97 yards down field, capped by Orton's second touchdown pass of the day. Instead of Notre Dame pulling to within 13-10, the Boilermakers took a 20-3 lead and command of the game.
Purdue again found itself at it's own 3-yard line on its first possession of the third quarter. The Boilermakers struck again, only this time, much quicker.
On third-and-10, Orton unleashed a 97-yard touchdown bomb to Taylor Stubblefield.
It was the longest pass ever completed against the Irish. Stubblefield ended the day with seven catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
Two Irish wide receivers were the main beneficiaries of Quinn's big day. One game after catching a career-high two touchdowns against Washington, tight end Anthony Fasano caught eight balls for a career-high 155 yards.
The total was a school record for a tight end.
Irish receiver Rhema McKnight also had a career-best by gaining 113 yards on seven receptions. It was the first time since 1977 that two Notre Dame receivers went for 100 yards in the same game.
Though well behind on the scoreboard, Notre Dame actually had more total yardage than Purdue, 536-512. The Irish also bested the Boilermakers in first downs (28-22) and time of possession (33:12-26:48).
Purdue's 41 points is the second-most the Boilermakers have scored on the Irish in the 76-game series history.