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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter lived up to the hype on Saturday afternoon as he led the Boilermakers (2-0) to a 52-6 win over Eastern Illinois (1-1) spoiling head coach Bob Spoo's return to Ross-Ade Stadium.
Spoo a former Boilermaker quarterback from 1956-58 and assistant coach from 1978-86 was making his first appearance as a visiting head coach in West Lafayette. The game was delayed for an hour following halftime based on lighting strikes in the area.
Painter drove Purdue down the field on the opening drive as he connected with Jake Standeford on a 13-yard pass to cap an eight play, 85 yard drive. Purdue scoring in just two and a half minutes.
EIU would fumble the next kick-off from the Boilermakers and Purdue would take advantage as Chris Summers hit a 39-yard field goal after the Panther defense was able to hold Purdue to a 3-and-out.
When the Panthers were finally able to get an offensive series senior quarterback Cole Stinson was effective taking EIU down the field for a 24-yard field goal by Tyler Wilke. Stinson hit all three of his passes on the drive and Travorus Bess had a big run of 35 yards.
Purdue's offense continued to click when they returned to the field scoring three more first half touchdowns through the air as Painter hit Greg Orton once and Dustin Keller twice. Painter finished with 348 yards passing including 251 in the first half. He also had six touchdown passes with two coming in the second half.
EIU added another Wilke field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter which capped a 61-yard Panther drive. Wilke's kick was good from 27.
Bess would finish with 11 rushes for 67 yards to lead Eastern Illinois. Micah Rucker also had 6 catches for 74 yards.
Eastern Illinois ranked No. 12 in the latest FCS polls will return to playing FCS competition next Saturday night with a home game against Illinois State. The annual Hall of Fame game will kick-off at 6 p.m. at O'Brien Stadium.
