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Rees leads No. 22 Notre Dame to late win over Purdue

Sep 9, 2012 - 1:47 AM South Bend, IN (Sports Network) - After sitting on the bench for most of the game, Tommy Rees entered with 2:12 remaining and led No. 22 Notre Dame on a game-winning drive.

Kyle Brindza's 27-yard field goal capped the deciding march with seven seconds left, as the Fighting Irish edged Purdue, 20-17, on Saturday.

Everett Golson started for Notre Dame and threw for 289 yards and a score, but he fumbled late in the fourth quarter, which led to Caleb TerBush's 15-yard, game-tying touchdown pass to Antavian Edison.

Rees, who was suspended for Notre Dame's season-opening win over Navy, completed 3-of-8 passes, including a 21-yard strike to Robby Toma, on the final drive.

Golson also ran for a touchdown, while Tyler Eifert had 98 yards on four catches for the Fighting Irish (2-0).

"Everett was having a hard time gripping the football," said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. "This is not going to be an excuse for Everett that he's pulled out because of an injury.

"We also made the decision with the flow of the game that Tommy could come in there and manage our two minute and he did a great job. I will further say, there is no quarterback controversy. Everett Golson is our starter."

TerBush, who was also suspended for the season-opener, got the start and threw for 79 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions on 8-of-19 passing.

Robert Marve split time with TerBush and completed 11-of-18 passes for 119 yards and a score for the Boilermakers (1-1), who have dropped five straight meetings with Notre Dame and haven't won in South Bend since 2004.

"We were only a few plays away from knocking off a really good football team at their home place," said Purdue coach Danny Hope. "Certainly we're disappointed with the loss. Disappointment is an emotion and we'll get over that. We have nothing to be discouraged about."

Brindza missed a 40-yarder in the early going, but Notre Dame still managed to strike first.

Late in the second quarter, Golson found a wide open DaVaris Daniels behind the defense for a 41-yard completion to the 9-yard-line. A few plays later, on 3rd down, the sophomore signal caller rolled to his right and was shoved out of bounds as he dove and extended the ball towards the pylon. After an official review, the play was ruled a three-yard touchdown.

Purdue, which punted on its first three possessions, responded on the ensuing drive.

Marve, who threw for a career-high 295 yards and three touchdowns in the season-opening rout of Eastern Kentucky, extended the march on 4th down when he rolled to his left and threw across his body to Crosby Wright for 11 yards. He hit O.J. Ross for a 16-yard completion on the next play before four straight rushes by Akeem Shavers set up a 2nd-and-goal at the 2-yard line. The senior quarterback then found Edison in the end zone for the game-tying score with nine seconds left in the half.

Despite Marve's strong showing, TerBush started the third quarter and the Boilermakers went three-and-out on their opening drive.

On Notre Dame's first touch of the quarter, Golson extended the drive with a 22-yard completion to Eifert on 3rd-and-16. Another catch by Eifert, this time of 25 yards, moved the Irish to Purdue's 3-yard line. Golson then found T. J. Jones for a score and a 14-7 lead.

TerBush was intercepted by Bennett Jackson two plays into the ensuing drive and Brindza capitalized with a 30-yard field goal with 9:02 left in the quarter.

After another Purdue three-and-out, Marve re-entered and quickly moved the Boilermakers to the Notre Dame 1-yard line behind a 27-yard pass to Ross and a 20-yard completion to Dolapo Macarthy.

The drive stalled due to a false start and a Stephon Tuitt sack on third down, leading to Sam McCartney's 33-yard field goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

Late in the fourth, Josh Johnson stripped Golson and recovered the loose ball at the Note Dame 13. TerBush found Edison across the middle several plays later and the wideout crossed the goal line as he was being tackled to notch the tying score.

Game Notes

Rees was suspended due to an offseason arrest ... TerBush was suspended for violating team rules ... Golson made his first collegiate start in the season- opener ... The Boilermakers were attempting to start 2-0 for the first time since 2007.