#6 Michigan 31 Purdue 32 - October 7, 2000 -
West Lafayatte, Ind.
Chris Bray's Record (3-1) - Video Highlights
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Ticker) -- In two minutes, Travis
Dorsch went from goat to hero, and he has his teammates to
thank.
After missing the go-ahead 32-yard field goal with just over two
minutes left, Dorsch kicked a 33-yarder with four seconds to
play, completing a comback from an 18-point deficit and lifting
Purdue to a 32-31 victory over No. 6 Michigan in a Big Ten
Conference matchup.
"It feels great to beat them," said wide receiver Vinny
Sutherland, who caught 11 passes for 127 yards and one
touchdown.
The meeting of two of the more prolific passers in the
conference lived up to expectations.
Drew Brees was brilliant for Purdue (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten),
completing 32-of-44 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and
one interception.
He came through when the Boilermakers needed it most, leading
two late-game drives to put the team in position for the upset.
After an equally commanding performance, Drew Henson couldn't
pull off the late-game heroics Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
needed to remain undefeated in the conference. He was good on
26-of-35 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, but could not move
the Wolverines after Dorsch's miss, leaving the door open.
The Boilermakers were hurt by two failed two-point conversions,
but still had a chance to take the lead with just over two
minutes left. Brees orchestrated a drive to the 8-yard line, but
a penalty put Purdue back to the 15 on third down.
After an incompletion, Dorsch had a 32-yard field goal to give
Purdue the lead, but his kick was just wide to the left.
"I think the fact that numerous teammates came up to me and
said, 'You're going to get another chance, we have confidence in
you,' helped pick me up a little bit," Dorsch said. "Anytime
you're in a team situation, you love to hear that. You love to
know your teammates and coaches have confidence in you. I knew
whole-heartedly that if I got another chance, I would make it."
The Purdue defense held Michigan without a gain on three downs
and, after a punt, Brees had the ball back on the Boilermakers
40 with 1:41 left.
Over the next minute, Brees directed a drive to the 21, when
Michigan was whistled for having 12 men on the field, giving
Purdue the ball on the 16.
"He did outstanding," Henson said of his counterpart. "He's
their leader and everyone knows that. He put the ball where it
needed to be and that's why he's a great quarterback."
Dorsch had virtually the exact same look at the goal posts, but
this time he put the ball just inside the left upright.
"This game was great for Travis, because it gets the monkey off
his back," Brees said. "I think his confidence is sky high
right now. It will be good for us if we get to that situation
later in the season."
Brees, who has passed for 1,950 yards and 12 scores this season,
had his 23rd game of 250 or more passing yards.
The Wolverines led 28-10 at halftime, but the Boilermakers
opened the second half with a 75-yard, 11-play drive, capped by
Steve Ennis' one-yard dive. Brees' pass was incomplete on the
conversion attempt.
On Purdue's next possession, Montrell Lowe finished off an
80-yard drive with a 16-yard run and Dorsch hit the extra point,
bringing the Boilermakers within 28-23.
A 34-yard field goal by Jeff Del Verne gave Michigan a 31-23
lead with 11:55 left in the game.
The Boilermakers ate up five minutes, 10 seconds on an 80-yard
drive, and Brees hit freshman John Standeford from 10 yards out,
but once again failed on the 2-point conversion attempt, leaving
Pudue down 31-29 with 6:45 left.
"The first half, our defense came out flat and we weren't
ourselves," defensive end Akin Ayodele said. "We regrouped and
coach Tiller told us we had to believe. We had to play our own
style of defense, and we did."
Extended Box
