Purdue Football NCAA 13 Simulation: Week 8

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 afternoon 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 eight the Boilers open Big Ten play against Ohio State.

Simulation 1: Robert Marve

The Boilers went into Columbus facing a struggling OSU (4-4, 2-2 Big Ten) team, hoping to capitalize on their recent success against the Buckeyes.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. The game started with a 3-yard OSU touchdown run just three minutes into regulation. The Buckeyes added a field goal a minute into the second quarter and an 8-yard touchdown run seven minutes later to go up 17-10 with 7:18 left in the first half.

Purdue’s offense was nowhere to be found, as it trailed by 17 at halftime.

The Boilers continued to struggle to find their offense in the third quarter, until they finally crossed the goal line with a Robert Marve 3-yard rush with 2:22 to go in the second-to-last quarter, making the score 17-7 and giving Purdue signs of live.

An Akeem Shavers 7-yard touchdown run four minutes later cut the score to 17-14 OSU with 13:21 to play. Unfortunately, the Boilers’ offense disappeared again, while the Buckeyes added a 10-yard Braxton Miller touchdown pass to win the game 24-14.

Marve was 14-for-34 on the day for 188 yards, but was held scoreless and threw four interceptions. He was sacked four times as well.

Akeem Shavers led the Boilers in rushing, with 66 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Akeem Hunt added 34 yards on eight carries, while Marve had 14 carries for 5 yards and a touchdown.

Crosby Wright led Purdue’s receivers with five catches for 81 yards. Antavian Edison also had five catches, totally 46 yards, while Shavers had three snags for 32 yards.

Simulation 2: Caleb Terbush

The Boilers (4-3, 1-2) went into Columbus hoping to end their two-game losing skid, while the #10 Buckeyes were riding an a deep winning streak.

The Buckeyes drew first blood with a Braxton Miller 2-yard rushing TD with 8:55 left in the second quarter. Purdue’s offense couldn’t respond; Ricardo Allen, however, was a different story. Moments later, after Terbush’s unit went 3-and-out, Allen Intercepted Miller and returned it for a 69-yard touchdown, evening the score at 7. Ohio State added a 44-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in the half to take a 10-7 lead.

The Boilers took the lead in the third quarter, with Terbush connecting with Antavian Edison for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 8:38 left in the quarter, putting Purdue up 14-10.

Purdue added to its lead with 11:28 left in the game when Paul Griggs hit a 22-yard field goal. The Boilers and Buckeyes traded possessions for several minutes, until the very end of the game. It seemed like the Boilers had snuck into Columbus and stole the game when Braxton Miller connected with his tight end for a 72-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left in the game to tie the game up and force overtime.

Purdue won the toss and played defense first, holding the Buckeyes to a 42-yard field goal. Purdue’s offense couldn’t get into the end zone and win the game, however, and had to settle for a 39-yard Griggs kick.

On the next series, Purdue was unable to find the end zone on its first two plays and fumbled on its third, ending the series. Instead of taking the kick and winning the game, Ohio State attempted to play the overtime out, eventually winning with a 5-yard rush, 26-20.

Terbush was 10-26 on the day for 120 yards and one touchdown. He also led the team in rushing attempts with 21 for 50 yards.

Akeem Shavers led the team in rushing with 69 yards on 14 attempts, while Akeem Hunt had 21 yards on four carries.

Gary Bush led the Purdue receivers with three catches for 51 yards. Crosby Wright added 18 yards on three catches and Antavian Edison had 42 yards on 2 catches.