WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- John Standeford caught seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, including a 30-yarder with 5:26 left, as Purdue rallied past stubborn Western Michigan, 28-24.
One play after grabbing a 45-yard pass from Kyle Orton, Standeford hauled in the game-winner as Purdue (2-1) bounced back from last week's loss at Notre Dame.
Western Michigan (1-2) moved into Boilermakers territory on its final possession but turned over the ball as a fourth-down pass was broken up.
Orton overcame five sacks and completed 16-of-30 passes for 216 yards. He helped Purdue avoid a fourth-quarter collapse after the Broncos rallied for 10 points and a 24-21 lead.
Western Michigan's Jon Drach was 13 for 26 for 203 yards and a touchdown and ran 15 yards for a score midway through the final period that forged a 21-21 tie. Less than two minutes later, Anthony Apa kicked a 46-yard field goal to put the Broncos in front.
The teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 91 seconds of the first quarter. Orton hit Standeford for a 35-yard touchdown, after which Drach connected with Mobolaji Afariogun for a 20-yard score and Philip Reed dashed 59 yards for a touchdown.
Reed carried 14 times for 81 yards and added two receptions for 82 yards.
