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Elliott leads Purdue to 24-14 win over Illinois

Oct 24, 2009 - 7:26 PM By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.(AP) -- Joey Elliott passed for 166 yards and ran for 62 yards and a touchdown, and Purdue beat Illinois 24-14 Saturday to avoid a letdown after upsetting Ohio State last week.

Ralph Bolden ran for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Jaycen Taylor ran for 71 yards and a score for the Boilermakers, who rushed for 220 yards on 39 carries.

Mikel LeShoure rushed 15 times for a career-high 122 yards for the Fighting Illini (1-6, 0-5 Big Ten). Illinois lost its fifth straight, and all have been by double digits.

Juice Williams started at quarterback despite Illini coach Ron Zook's decision not to commit to him during the week. Williams completed 9 of 18 passes for 77 yards and ran 14 times for 38 yards.

The Boilermakers (3-5, 2-2) won back-to-back games for the first time this season. It was Purdue's first turnover-free game this year.

Leshoure got off to a good start. He went 65 yards on an option play in the first quarter before Daniel Dufrene scored on a 4-yard run on the next play to make it 7-0.

Taylor's 44-yard run tied the score for Purdue.

After Williams threw an interception, Purdue went 68 yards in 10 plays to take the lead. Bolden scored on a 3-yard run, his first touchdown since Week 2, and the Boilermakers took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Williams was benched and replaced by redshirt freshman Jacob Charest on the next drive, but Illinois went three-and-out. On Purdue's next possession, Elliott scored on a 5-yard quarterback draw to make it 21-7.

Illinois had the ball fourth-and-4 at the Purdue 35 when Charest completed a pass to tight end Hubie Graham for 31 yards. A face-mask penalty moved the ball to the Purdue 2-yard line. On second down, Arrelious Benn scored on an end-around, but the play was called back because of holding. Illinois' Matt Eller missed a 23-yard field goal wide left to close the half.

Williams came back to start the second half, and he took advantage by scoring on a 6-yard run to cut Purdue's lead to 21-14.

Purdue's Carson Wiggs kicked a field goal late in the third quarter to extend Purdue's lead to 24-14.