Purdue Football NCAA 13 Season Simulation: Week 5

TheBoilingPoints.com will be simulating the 2012-13 college football season in NCAA Football 13. In case you were sitting at home trying to figure out how to spend the next three weeks while you wait for the Olympics to begin, check back at TheBoilingPoints.com every weekday at noon eastern to see the results.

We’ll be doing one game per day, but will simulate each game three times: once with Robert Marve at quarterback and once with Caleb Terbush at quarterback. We began one with Rob Henry at quarterback, but he made it through just three weeks before being injured and missing the rest of the season. Sorry Austin Appleby fans, we’ll hook you up when NCAA Football 14 comes out.

In week five the Boilers play in Ross-Ade Stadium against Marshall.

Simulation 1: Robert Marve

Marve led the Boilersto their second straight win with a 28-16 victory over Marshall (2-3) in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the score would seem to indicate.

The Boilers jumped out on top with an 8-yard touchdown run by Akeem Hunt with 10:35 left to go in the first quarter. Marshall would cut that deficit nearly in half with a 31-yard field goal seven minutes later for their only points of the half. Purdue added to its lead with 7:24 to go in the half when Crosby Wright caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Marve to make the score 14-3. That was the only scoring of the half.

In the second half, Hunt again struck first with a 3 yard run just under five minutes into the second half. Purdue’s 21-3 lead would not last long, however, as Marshall responded less than a minute later with an 82-yard touchdown pass for their first touchdown of the day.

Things only seemed to be getting worse for Purdue, as on the first play of the next possession Marve was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Purdue fans’ worry didn’t need to last long, however, as a minute later backup Caleb Terbush connected with Antavian Edison on a 40-yard bomb to give the Boilers their final points of the day and make the score 28-10.

The Boiler offense cooled off from their, but the defense responded. Purdue’s defense held Marshall scoreless for the final 20+ minutes of the game, until the Herd connected on a 49-yard Hail Mary pass with 42 seconds left.

Marve finished the day 7-of-14 for 87 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw any interceptions, but was sacked twice. He also rushed five times for four yards.

Terbush was 5-of-14 for 90 yards and a touchdown in his backup role. He was sacked three times and rushed six times for six yards.

Akeem Shavers led the Boilers in rushing, with 95 yards of 15 attempts. Akeem Hunt was Purdue’s leading scorer, finding the end zone on two of his 12 rushing attempts. He finished with 69 yards.

Antavian Edison led Purdue’s receivers with 83 yards on three catches, including his 40-yard touchdown snag. Gary Bush led the team in receptions, with four for 58 yards.

Joe Gilliam led the defensive effort with 10 tackles. Will Lucas added nine, Dwayne Beckford eight and Bruce Gaston seven.

Simulation 2: Caleb Terbush

Terbush led the Boilers to another win with a 31-21 score over Marshall (3-2) in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Marshall struck first in a low-scoring first half, with a 22 yard field goal with 6:41 to go in the opening quarter. Purdue responded on the next possession with a 46-yard Paul Griggs kick with 2:50 to go in the quarter to tie the game up.

Purdue was the first team to find the end zone, however it took a defensive play to do it. Max Charlot returned an interception 37 yards to give the Boilers a 10-3 lead with 7:29 to go in the half. The only response Marshall could muster was a 45-yard field goal 3 minutes before halftime. Purdue went into the break up 10-6.

Purdue’s offense finally hit paydirt on its first possession of the second half, when OJ Ross caught a 35-yard pass from Terbush to push the Purdue lead to 11, 17-6.

Marshall held tight for the next 15 minutes, before the Herd came thundering back with 13:10 left in the game. Marshall cut the lead to three with a 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion completion. Two minutes later Terbush answered with an 8-yard touchdown scramble of his own. Purdue sealed the game with a 7-yard Akeem Hunt touchdown run with five minutes to play.

Marshall did find the end zone once more, with a 3-yard run with just under two minutes to play, but it was too little to late for the Herd.

Terbush was the game’s MVP, going 14-for-31 on the day for 219 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception and wasn’t sacked. He also rushed seven times for 42 yards, including a long run of 17 yards and the 8-yard touchdown run.

Akeem Shavers led Purdue’s ground game with 14 carries for 54 yards. Akeem Hunt added seven carries for 50 yards.

OJ Ross was the leading receiver with 83 yards on 4 recptions. Hunt and Antavian Edison both had 41 yards receiving.