Boilermakers 52, Rockets 24

9/1/2007 9:54 PM

By JOHN SEEWER
Associated Press Writer

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) -Curtis Painter threw four touchdown passes to four different receivers Saturday, leading Purdue to a 52-24 victory over Toledo.

Painter, who set the Big Ten season passing record a year ago with 3,985 yards, completed 14-of-30 passes for 244 yards.

He wasn't particularly sharp early on, missing several open receivers, and the Boilermakers had a number of dropped passes in the first half of their opener.

But they turned it around late in the first quarter when Painter swung a pass to tight end Dustin Keller who burst down the right sideline and ran 80 yards for a touchdown.

That gave Purdue a 14-7 lead with the 3:15 left in the opening quarter.

The Boilermakers put together two long drives in the second quarter and pulled away.

Painter found tight end Kyle Adams all alone down the middle for a 28-yard score that put the Boilermakers ahead 21-14, capping an 88-yard drive.

They followed that with a scoring drive covering 91 yards. Painter threw a 5-yard touchdown to Selwyn Lymon that gave Purdue a 28-14 lead with just under three minutes left in the first half.

The Boilermakers dominated the second half, too.

Painter threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Greg Orton on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Five minutes later, Dorien Bryant took back a kickoff 91-yards for a score. He broke one tackle and then outran everyone else, making it 45-17.

The Rockets were relieved just to be playing again after a tumultuous off season.

Former running back Harvey ``Scooter'' McDougle Jr. was charged with taking part in a point-shaving scheme in March. Prosecutors dropped the charges a month later but they're still looking into the allegations.

McDougle, who would have been a senior this year, was ruled academically ineligible during the summer and is no longer with the team.

Toledo did score first when running back DaJuane Collins fumbled the hand off and the ball bounced right back into his hands and he got around the corner, racing 35 yards to put the Rockets up 7-0 with 8:31 left in the first quarter.

Jalen Parmele scored on a 4-yard run that tied it at 14.

Purdue's running game kept the Rockets' defense off balance most of the night.

Jaycen Thomas had 90 rushing yards and Kory Sheets added 84 for Purdue.

Sheets scored on a 13-yard run up the middle in the first quarter that tied the score at 7. Purdue picked up all 61 yards during the drive on the ground.