Moore big numbers for Boilermakers

Star WR has career day, Sindelar throws for 5 TDs in win over Vanderbilt

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue senior quarterback Elijah Sindelar and speedy sophomore Rondale Moore are developing into a powerful duo.

Sindelar passed for 509 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another TD in the Boilermakers' 42-24 victory over Vand e r b i l t o n Sa t u rd ay. Purdue caught 13 passes for 220 yards, both career highs.

Moore pulled in 13 catches for a career-high 220 yards and a touchdown.

“My view is pretty high of Rondale so I don't know if it can get much higher,” Purdue coach Jeff Brohm said. “But for someone to continually come through every week and raise the bar and not be satisfied, that's Rondale Moore. He was tremendous.”

Moore took his career day in stride.

“I'm just going out there and doing my job,” he said. “Whether that's getting someone else open or me being the first read on the play.”

Tight end Brycen Hopkins, from Nashville, caught two touchdown passes.

“That's probably the best game I've seen Elijah throw the rock,” Hopkins said. “He was zipping it in there when he needed to, he was putting air under it when he needed to. He knows what he's doing and I put my trust in him.”

The Boilermakers (1-1) scored quickly after taking the second-half kickoff to take a 21-10 edge. Jared Sparks hauled in a wideopen 50-yard TD pass from Sindelar as one Vanderbilt defender fell down on the coverage. It was junior Sparks' first TD and the longest catch of his career.

Sindelar's 20-yard TD pass to, pushed the lead to 28-10. The play was set up after a 15-yard penalty for helmet targeting by Vanderbilt cornerback Randall Haynie, who was disqualified.

Vanderbilt (0-2) closed the deficit to 28-16 on Riley Neal's 10-yard touchdown pass to Cam Johnson early in the fourth quarter.

Moore's 34-yard TD grab gave Purdue a 35-16 lead.