Purdue does it to Michigan, too

November 2, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s Justin Siller and Greg Orton tossed out Michigan’s generations-long streaks of success.

Siller passed for three touchdowns and ran for another in his first career start, and Orton lateraled to Desmond Tardy after a catch for the final score with 26 left in the Boilermakers’ 48-42 victory over slumping Michigan on Saturday.

The win by Purdue (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak and assured Michigan (2-7, 1-4) of its first losing season since 1967, ending any possibility the Wolverines had to extend their streak of 33 straight bowl appearances.

Northwestern 24, No. 20 Minnesota 17

MINNEAPOLIS — Brendan Smith grabbed a deflected ball and returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining, sending Northwestern past stunned Minnesota and spoiling homecoming for the 20th-ranked Gophers.

Mike Kafka replaced C.J. Bacher at quarterback for the Wildcats (7-2, 3-2) after a hamstring injury ended Bacher’s streak of 25 straight starts. Kafka was unstoppable with the ball in his hands and his head pointed upfield, carrying 27 times for 217 yards — a school record for a quarterback — to make up for two costly interceptions.

With second-and-7 at his own 29-yard line and 26 seconds left, Adam Weber dropped back to pass and looked for the Big Ten’s leading receiver, Eric Decker. He got a hand on it, as did Northwestern’s David Oredugba, and the ball was about to harmlessly hit the turf at midfield until Smith plucked it out of the air and zig-zagged his way to the end zone.

Weber finished 31-for-51 for 328 yards and a touchdown, plus 53 yards on 16 rushing attempts, for the Gophers (7-2, 3-2).

No. 22 Michigan St. 25, Wisconsin 24

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State avoided a letdown, keeping its hopes alive to play for the Big Ten title.

Brett Swenson kicked a 44-yard field goal with 7 seconds left, lifting the 22nd-ranked Spartans to a comeback win.

Michigan State (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) came out flat and seemed to be headed for a 1-5 record in games following its last six wins against Michigan, but took its only lead of the game when the game was on the line.

Wisconsin (4-5, 1-5) hurt its chances of playing in a seventh straight bowl game after leading in the fourth quarter for the seventh time in nine games.

Central Michigan 37, Indiana 34

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Central Michigan left its best player on the bench Saturday and didn’t miss him at all.

Backup quarterback Brian Brunner threw for a school-record 485 yards and four touchdowns, then ran 1 yard for the go-ahead score to send the Chippewas past Indiana.

Central Michigan (7-2, 5-0) won its fifth straight overall.

Illinois 27, Iowa 24

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois sweated through a fourth-quarter comeback by Iowa. The victory moved Illinois to within a game of bowl eligibility.

Illinois (5-4, 3-3) won on a 46-yard field goal by Matt Eller with 24 seconds left.