Purdue pulls out overtime win at Illinois, 34-31

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Purdue came to Illinois Saturday reeling from a 43-point loss at Maryland and living with growing pressure on its coach, Darrel Hazell, to win. The Boilermakers got just what they needed from a freshman kicker who had missed more field goals this season than he had made and a freshman running back starting his first game, knocking off the Illini in overtime, 34-31. The running back, Brian Lankford-Johnson , carried the ball 18 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. The kicker, J.D. Dellinger , had missed three of his five field goals on the season. But he hit from 28 yards on the game's final play, and set off a wild celebration. The Boilermakers (3-2, 2-1 Big Ten) rushed for the Illinois sideline, mistakenly thinking they would find the Cannon trophy the teams play for there, before finally mobbing their band in the south end zone.