WEST LAFAYYETTE, Ind. (AP) Austin Appleby threw four touchdown passes Saturday, including three of 50 yards or more during the first half, leading Purdue to a 38-14 victory against FCS opponent Indiana State.
Appleby, who was intercepted four times during the Boilermakers' season-opening loss at Marshall, two of which were returned for touchdowns, redeemed himself against the Sycamores (1-1), completing 12 of 18 passes for 234 yards and the aforementioned three TDs during the first 30 minutes, helping Purdue (1-1) snap a seven-game losing streak.
The junior finished 20 of 34 for 289 yards, becoming the first Purdue quarterback to throw four TD passes in a game since Danny Etling in 2013 in a loss at Indiana.
A Purdue quarterback had not thrown three or more touchdown passes of at least 50 yards each since Billy Dicken threw TD passes of 65, 89 and 93 yards in a 59-43 victory in 1997 against Minnesota.
It is the Boilermakers' first victory since defeating Illinois 38-27 on Oct. 4, 2014 in Champaign, Ill.
Appleby, who had been intercepted 11 times during Purdue's five most recent games, began his assault on the Sycamores' secondary on the fourth play from scrimmage, throwing a 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cameron Posey, giving the Boilermakers a 7-0 lead.
Appleby's 50-yard TD pass to wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter capped a six-play, 70-yard drive and increased the lead to 14-0.
Indiana State, ranked 21st in this week's FCS Coaches Poll, took advantage of a short Purdue punt to pull within 14-7 with 9:34 left in the second quarter, getting a 17-yard touchdown pass from Matt Adam to wide receiver Gary Owens.
Paul Griggs' 19-yard field goal with 2:40 remaining in the first half increased Purdue's lead to 17-7, and then on the first half's final play, Appleby threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Dan Monteroso, who caught the Hail Mary attempt in the back of the end zone.
Indiana State cut the deficit to 24-14 with 3:22 left in the third quarter on Adam's 27-yard touchdown pass to Robert Tonyan Jr., capping a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
Freshman running back Markell Jones' 1-yard touchdown with 1:10 remaining in the third quarter increased the Boilermakers' lead to 31-14, a drive which was extended when defensive back Anthony Brown ran 39 yards on a fake punt.
Appleby's fourth TD pass - a 5-yarder to Jones with 6:24 left in the game - completed the scoring.
The victory in Ross-Ade Stadium was Purdue's first in West Lafayette since Sept. 20, 2014 when the Boilermakers defeated FCS opponent Southern Illinois. Purdue is 5-0 all-time against Indiana State, including a 20-14 victory in 2013.
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AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org
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