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Big Boiler Machine

Offense averaging 49.7 points through first three games

Curtis Painter leads the Boilermaker offense that is averaging 49.7 points through three games.

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Sept. 17, 2007

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Major League Baseball featured Cincinnati's Big Red Machine in the mid-1970s.

Through three games, Purdue's football team resembles that of a well-oiled Big Boiler Machine.

The scoring machine has seemingly clicked on all cylinders in amassing 149 points against Toledo, Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan - an average of 49.7 per game.

The total is the second-most points scored by a Boilermaker squad to open a season in the program's 120-year history. And it is the fifth-most scored in a three-game span at any point in a season.

Fortunately, there has been no let up defensively as the opponents have collectively scored 52 points - 17.3 per game.

Saturday's first quarter against Central Michigan before 60,038 Ross-Ade Stadium onlookers was indicative of the earlier 52-24 and 52-6 lopsided victories over Toledo and Eastern Illinois.

The Curtis Painter-directed offense produced 24 points on 27 plays, netting 300 total yards and 13 first downs en route to a 45-22 victory.

"I like the way we came out at the beginning of the game," head coach Joe Tiller said. "Curtis did a nice job of picking out the right guy. For the most part, he was on the right receiver probably 95 percent of the time. He continues to mature and more fully understand the offense. He knows where he wants to go with the ball."

Painter finished 29 of 39 passing for 360 yards and three touchdowns. In three games, he has thrown for 13 TD's without an interception in 118 attempts. The signal-caller has completed 81 passes to 12 different receivers for 952 yards.

"I think there are a lot playmakers," Painter said. "For me, I don't have to do too much. All I have to do is get them the ball and they all make plays. The backs are running hard, and the line is doing a great job. It's a matter of having trust in everyone."

Co-offensive coordinator Bill Legg has been extremely pleased with the play of the Boilermakers, despite four fumbles and an interception off a halfback pass against Central Michigan.

"It doesn't make any difference who has been in the game, we've busted our humps," Legg said. "We've made some mistakes. They have been effort mistakes. Not because we've been loafing or not playing hard.

"This has been what these kids are capable of doing. It goes back to Curtis making the right decisions and the kids playing hard. That's in our control because we can't blame anyone if we don't play hard and if we don't make right decisions."

For Legg, the offense is a reflection of the team's success. He knows it will take the same ingredients the rest of the season.

"If we continue to keep our focus, prepare by practicing hard and play with the same intensity and effort that we have been getting, then we give ourselves a chance," Legg said.

That chance for a fourth consecutive victory comes this Saturday night at Minnesota to open the Big Ten Conference season.