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Old National Presents: The 3-2-1 Dominance of SIU

On3 imageby: Brian Neubert09/06/25brianneubert
Purdue's Ryan Browne
Purdue's Ryan Browne (Chad Krockover)

In workmanlike fashion, Purdue improved to 2-0 Saturday by grinding out a 34-17 win over Southern Illinois in Ross-Ade Stadium, the Boilermakers’ final buy-game outing before USC visits next weekend to start Big Ten play.

Below, GoldandBlack.com’s immediate post-game analysis …

DEVIN MOCKOBEE: PURDUE’S WORKHORSE

Purdue rode its guy, feeding Devin Mockobee over and over and over, letting its offensive front wear the Salukis down, making for ideal playing-with-a-lead football.

Purdue doubled SIU’s time of possession in the second half.

When all was said and done, the senior totaled 126 on 32 carries and two touchdowns, the first multi-score rushing game of his career. All told, he accounted for 147 yards on 34 touches. His physicality and will served as the face of Purdue’s winning a second-half battle of attrition, as Big Ten programs ought to be able to do against smaller schools, but easier said than done.

Mockobee isn’t going to want for usage this season, and he earned his time in the ice tub after this one.

Purdue’s offense is clearly going to be built around the run, with Mockobee and Ryan Browne. It’s not going to work like this every game — maybe never again this season — but on this night, it moved tyhe chains, ate clock and converted critical money downs. It was the deciding factor in this game.

DEFENSE RESPONDS

In the grand scheme of things, was Purdue getting sucker-punched early by QB D.J. Williams’ dual threat potency the worst thing? It forced Purdue not just to adjust, but to respond to adversity for the first time this season. After allowing two quick touchdowns, the defense dominated thereafter, asserting itself physically, mixing up its coverages on third downs, establishing pressure on the quarterback and earning short-yardage stops.

SIU finished with 283 yards; 150 of them come on its first two possessions.

Further, after the offense committed its first turnover of the season to open the second half, the defense picked it up with a fourth-down stop in home territory.

Last week was easy. This one wasn’t. In the big picture, you can view that as a good thing, because this whole team still has a ton of growth to do together and that doesn’t just happen in games or practices, but more narrowly, in situations.

It was positive for Purdue to see a player like Williams, who could be playing a lot of places bigger than SIU.

In the fourth quarter, the defense’s only slippage came because of two personal foul penalties — they’ll hear about it Sunday — leading to a long field goal.

LUCK WAS ON PURDUE’S SIDE

Purdue didn’t win because it was lucky — don’t misunderstand — but good fortune did break its way on multiple occasions.

Two scoring drives were extended by penalties against the Salukis; SIU’s five penalties for 66 yards mattered.

Further, Spencer Porath’s 43-yard fourth-quarter field goal caught all left upright, but fell through, fortuitoiusly.

If Purdue’s going to build on early success this season, it’s going to need some bounces to go its way.

Luck is fickle, but on this night at least, it favored the hosts.

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