• Recap
• Bleachers

Clausen, Notre Dame pull away from Purdue

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:32 PM SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- Four games into Jimmy Clausen's sophomore season, Notre Dame's sputtering offense finally showed signs of potential.

Clausen threw three touchdowns Saturday as the Fighting Irish scored on their first four second-half possessions en route to a 38-21 victory over Purdue.

Last season, Notre Dame was last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense and had only modest success in its first three games this year.

That offense was unstoppable in the third quarter against Purdue, however, as the Fighting Irish (3-1) strung together touchdown drives of 81, 78 and 54 yards to pull away from a 14-14 tie at halftime. Notre Dame also reached the end zone late in the first half.

Brandon Walker, who had missed nine of his previous 11 field goal attempts dating to last season, converted a 41-yarder in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

"I just think the game came real easy to me and the offense," Clausen said. "We're real comfortable in this offense."

Clausen tossed TD passes of 5 yards to Kyle Rudolph and 30 yards to David Grimes in the 21-point third quarter.

Still, Curtis Painter and the pass-happy Boilermakers (2-2) posed problems for Notre Dame's secondary. Painter threw two TDs, including a 54-yard strike to Desmond Tardy that pulled Purdue within 28-21 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Trailing, 35-21, the Boilermakers had a chance to get back in the game, reaching Notre Dame's 13 early in the fourth quarter. However, they turned the ball over on downs as Painter threw four straight incomplete passes.

Purdue jumped to a 7-0 lead and threatened to increase its lead. But the Boilermakers stalled after reaching Notre Dame's 11-yard line, and Chris Summers missed a 28-yard field goal.

Notre Dame's offense struggled early, but cornerback Robert Blanton provided a spark, returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown that tied the contest at 7-7.

The Boilermakers struck again, taking a 14-7 lead on Painter's 3-yard TD pass to Aaron Valentin with 4:46 remaining in the first half.

Clausen answered that score with a 6-yard TD strike to Golden Tate just over two minutes later, giving Notre Dame momentum heading into the second half.