INDIANAPOLIS — After a pair of lopsided wins, Notre Dame withstood a lengthy challenge from in-state rival Purdue on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
Once again, Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson proved to be the difference.
Golson threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 56 yards and another score to lead No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0) to a 30-14 win against Purdue (1-2). The Boilermakers were heavy underdogs but trailed by only 3 at the half at Lucas Oil Stadium, the latest neutral site to host Notre Dame’s annual “Shamrock Series.”
The start of the game did not resemble the first two contests for Notre Dame, which beat Rice and Michigan by 31 points apiece. But the Fighting Irish erased a 17-14 deficit late in the second quarter with 16 unanswered points, including a sterling 15-yard touchdown pass from Golson to wide receiver Corey Robinson to give Notre Dame a 10-point lead with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza increased Notre Dame’s lead to 27-14 on a 48-yard field goal with 9:31 remaining. Brindza ricocheted a 39-yard attempt of the right upright and through the goal posts to make it 30-14 with 5:30 remaining.
Already depleted by injuries and suspensions, Notre Dame lost a key member of its secondary when safety Max Redfield was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. Redfield jogged toward the locker room after his 15-yard penalty and ejection, which followed his helmet-to-helmet blow against Purdue quarterback Danny Etling at the end of a scramble with 9:14 remaining in the first half.
Backup safety Nicky Baratti replaced Redfield, who will not miss the Irish’s next game because his ejection came in the first half. Etling remained in the game and finished 27 of 40 for 234 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Notre Dame seized an early lead before running into trouble.
After Amir Carlisle returned the opening kickoff 47 yards, Notre Dame marched downfield with an efficient six-play, 45-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Golson to wide receiver Will Fuller with 12:23 remaining in the first quarter. Purdue answered late in the first quarter to tie the game on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Etling to fullback Brandon Cottom.
Notre Dame regained a 10-7 lead on a 19-yard field goal by Kyle Brindza with 11:57 remaining in the second quarter before Purdue rallied again. Purdue cornerback Antoine Lewis punched the ball loose from Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack for the Fighting Irish’s first turnover of the season, and the Boilermakers capitalized three plays later on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Etling to DeAngelo Yancey to take a 14-10 lead with three minutes remaining in the half.
Notre Dame regained a 17-14 lead on Golson’s 15-yard run with 13 seconds remaining in the half. Golson dropped back and scanned the field before tucking the ball and sprinting toward the right pylon.
NOTES: Notre Dame remained without five players amid an academic fraud investigation. … Notre Dame S Austin Collinsworth (knee), WR Torii Hunter Jr. (groin) and LB Jarrett Grace (leg) did not play. … Purdue LB Jimmy Herman (thumb) did not play but is expected to return next week against Southern Illinois.