After an awful couple weeks for Tony Jones, the senior wide receiver found redemption in the form of a 64-yard punt return touchdown about a minute into the second quarter.
On the next Purdue possession, safety Ibraheim Campbell forced and recovered yet another Akeem Hunt fumble. But after a failed attempt on 4th-and-1, quarterback Trevor Siemian suffered what appeared to be a left ankle injury. He would later be ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Zack Oliver came appeared in one play the next Northwestern poseession before Matt Alviti stepped in. He completed his first career pass to Jayme Taylor for three yards, but later fumbled the ball at the 11:54-mark.
Though Northwestern heads into halftime with a 24-7 lead, Siemian’s injury is a cause for concern. The senior played a pretty good first half despite throwing a pick nine seconds into the game. Alviti and Oliver combined to run six times, maybe signaling that the coaching staff doesn’t have much confidence in the arms of their backup quarterbacks. Even on plays where Oliver threw, he was not accurate.
If Siemian is not fit to return next week, then his career comes to an end this afternoon.