WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In dramatic fashion, redshirt sophomore quarterback Mikey Keene led Fresno State to a 39-35 come-from-behind win in the final minutes against Purdue on Saturday afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium. Trailing by three with 4:30 remaining, the signal caller led a 79-yard scoring drive in just over three-and-a-half minutes in his Bulldog debut.
Keene finished with 366 yards passing on 31-of-44 attempts while throwing four touchdowns. It was the most yards passing by a Fresno State quarterback in their first start in at least 25 years. Two of Keene's scores found the hands of Erik Brooks who had a career-high day with 170 yards on nine receptions.
Fresno State's win was its first on the road against a Big Ten opponent since Dec. 5, 2009 at Illinois (53-52).
How It Happened
Purdue was hot from the start, using a three-play 92-yard drive to get on the scoreboard. The Bulldog defense gave up an 84-yard touchdown pass on the Boilermakers' opening score.
Once settled, Keene and the Bulldog offense began to click. Keene connected with Mac Dalena and Tre Watson in back-to-back attempts to move the ball down the field. Keene found Brooks on a 29-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven with 7:26 left in the first quarter. The Bulldog defense held Purdue to six attempts at the 1-yard line to end the first quarter. Purdue opened the second quarter with the punch-in to take a 14-7 lead.
The shootout began as Keene led the offense to a game-tying drive on Fresno State's following possession. Keene found Brooks for a 49-yard completion. Three plays later, Keene scrambled and found a wide-open Jalen Moss in the back corner of the end zone to tie the game at 14.
Purdue scored on its following possession to take a 21-14 lead. Fresno State trekked down field, but couldn't find the end zone. Dylan Lynch's kick from 21 yards out was no good. The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out, and the 'Dogs had 22 seconds of clock time before the halftime break. Lynch redeemed himself as he kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal to put the 'Dogs within four at the half, 21-17.
Purdue returned the second half's opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, extending the Boilermakers' lead to 28-17.
The Bulldog offense had a glimpse of some new faces in its next scoring drive as freshman running back Devon Rivers had the first two carries of the drive, including a 14-yard gain. The Keene and Brooks connection stayed strong with a 24-yard reception to set the 'Dogs up at the Purdue 19-yard line. Jaelen Gill recorded his first touchdown as a Bulldog on an 18-yard completion from Keene. The 'Dogs were successful in their 2-point conversion attempt as Keene found Moss to make it a three-point game, 28-25.
The legs of Elijah Gilliam got the 'Dogs a total of 42 yards in their next offensive drive. The running backs continued the power as Malik Sherrod took the pitch from Keene and scampered in from one-yard out to take the lead 32-28 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Purdue answered with positive gain on its next drive, but the Bulldog defense stayed strong at the goal line. In a pass attempt to take the lead, Bulldog safety Dean Clark was there on the protection to force a fourth down for Purdue. The Boilermakers chose to go for it, but were met by a tough Bulldog front who kept them out of the end zone with 8:13 left on the clock.
Facing a third-and 8, Keene was intercepted at the Purdue 45-yard line. Two plays later, the Boilermakers took a 35-32 lead with 4:36 remaining.
That's when Keene took over. The Bulldogs' newest quarterback went 6-of-6 on Fresno State's final drive, culminating in a 22-yard strike to Brooks in the end zone giving the Bulldogs a 39-35 lead with 59 seconds remaining.
Purdue got down to its own 44-yard line, but on fourth-and-2, defensive captain Levelle Bailey got a hand on a Hudson Card's attempt to seal the game.
Up Next
Fresno State hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday, Sept. 9 for its home opener. Tickets are available here.