WEST LAFAYETTE – A heated Purdue redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Browne walked to the sideline during the second quarter looking visibly frustrated.
It wasn’t for the lack of effort for Browne, doing all he could to ignite another collectively stale first half performance from the Boilermakers in another loss, this time to No. 2 ranked Oregon at Ross-Ade Stadium on Friday night.
A completed 5-yard pass to Max Klare that was fumbled and recovered by Oregon highlighted another historically dubious night at Ross-Ade. Purdue was shutout for the first time since 2013.
Browne completed 9 of 19 passes for 95 yards, rushed for 71 yards and threw an interception on his final throw.
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The Boilermakers didn’t attempt a pass in the first quarter. And while senior running back Reggie Love III rushed for 93 yards but Purdue systemically struggled to string together any large gains under the offensive playcalling led by head coach Ryan Walters.
Purdue has scored 37 points in the first half all season, 21 of which came against Indiana State.
Oregon quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate Dillon Gabriel was unbothered by a 4-man pass rush that was fanned away most of the night by the Duck’s offensive line, led by sophomore center Iapani Laloulu.
Gabriel completed 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns for Oregon (7-0).
The Ducks entered Friday ranked tied for 89th in red zone offense. Purdue was the remedy for its woes, scoring all five of its touchdowns in the red zone.
A 36-yard field goal attempt missed by freshman Spencer Horath in the second quarter was Purdue’s best chance at adding points to the board.
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Instead of adding points, the missed kick was met with a chorus of disapproval from Purdue fans.
The Oregon Duck who traveled to West Lafayette, collided with a player at the introductions before kickoff and nearly lost its head.
Even with an interception made in the second quarter by Gabriel and a costume mishap, the Ducks looked seemingly flawless yet again.
Purdue meanwhile continued its downward spiral with its sixth straight loss.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football shutout by No. 2 ranked Oregon
