2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

March 2012 March 2026 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl December 27 2011 2011 Ford Field Detroit, Michigan Western Michigan University Western Michigan Broncos 7–5 Bill Cubit MAC 8 7 10 7 Purdue University Purdue Boilermakers 6–6 Danny Hope Big Ten 7 20 7 3 Purdue by 2½http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/ Las Vegas Odds December 5, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111228054517/http://www.vegasinsider.com/college%2Dfootball/odds/las%2Dvegas/ December 28, 2011 mdy Defense: Joe Holland (LB, Purdue)Offense: Akeem Shavers (RB, Purdue) Robert Cameron (WAC) 46,177 600,000 per team ESPN Beth Mowins (Play-by-Play)Mike Bellotti (Analyst)Eamon McAnaney (Sidelines) 1.66 The 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the 15th edition of the game, was a post-season American college football bowl game that was held on December 27, 2011 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan as part of the 2011–12 NCAA bowl season. The game, which was telecast at 4:30 pm ET on ESPN, featured the Western Michigan Broncos from the Mid-American Conference versus the Purdue Boilermakers from the Big Ten Conference. The Purdue Boilermakers defeated the Western Michigan Broncos 37–32 for the victory. Teams The 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was the third ever football meeting between the two universities. Purdue led the all-time series 2–0 coming into the game.WMU Football Accepts Invite to the 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=24299&SPID=1922&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205342224&DB_OEM_ID=4600 Mat Kanan December 4, 2011 December 6, 2011 March 4, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071711/http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=24299&SPID=1922&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205342224&DB_OEM_ID=4600 dead Purdue Boilermakers 2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team Purdue make its first bowl appearance since 2007, when they defeated Central Michigan in the 2007 Motor City Bowl. In 2011, the Boilermakers finished sixth in the Big Ten Conference. They came into the game with a 6–6 overall record. They were led by an outstanding special teams (first in the Big Ten in kickoff return average2011 Big Ten Conference football stats http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/confldrs.html December 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111203233016/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/confldrs.html December 3, 2011 dead mdy-all and second in the nation) unit that helped them start with favorable field position. Purdue played the game without their leading rusher Ralph Bolden, who tore his ACL in final game of the season.Ralph Bolden of Purdue Boilermakers to miss bowl game with torn ACL https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7317284/ralph-bolden-purdue-boilermakers-miss-bowl-game-torn-acl Adam Rittenburg ESPN.com ESPN December 5, 2011 December 6, 2011 Purdue's spread offense is led by Akeem Shavers in rushing (89 rushes, 370 yards, six TDs), Caleb TerBush in passing (163–264, 1,804 yards, 12 TDs), and in receiving by both Justin Siller (45 catches, 430 yards, one touchdown) and Antavion Edison (43 catches, 561 yards, three TDs). Western Michigan Broncos 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team Western Michigan enters the bowl with a 7–5 overall record. The Broncos are making their first bowl appearance since 2008 when they lost to Rice in the Texas Bowl. It is the Broncos third bowl in the last five seasons. They are led by their passing offense (first in the MAC in passing yards and touchdownshttp://www.mac-sports.com/portals/20/MAC/Stats/2011FB/confldrs.htm 2011 Mid-American Conference football stats December 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120407030940/http://www.mac-sports.com/portals/20/MAC/Stats/2011FB/confldrs.htm April 7, 2012 dead and eighth in the nation). Three of the Broncos' losses are by four points or less. The Broncos are led in rushing by Tevin Drake (102 rushes, 570 yards, four TDs) and quarterback Alex Carder (114 rushes, 253 yards, four TDs); Carder in passing (299–445, 3,434 yards, 28 TDs); and Jordan White in receiving (127 catches, 1,646 yards, 16 TDs). White leads the NCAA FBS in receptions and receiving yards and is second in receiving touchdowns.NCAA Division I-A Player Receiving Statistics – 2011. ESPN. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Game summary Taking advantage of a Purdue fumble, the Broncos scored first on a 49-yard flea flicker to go up 8–0 after making a two-point conversion. Purdue responded by with its own touchdown to cut the deficit to 8–7 at the end of the first quarter. The Boilermakers then recovered an onside kick to keep the ball in their possession.Western Michigan Broncos vs. Purdue Boilermakers play-by-play. ESPN. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Purdue was unable to capitalize on the onside kick, fumbling the ball at WMU's 14-yard line. On the next drive, however, WMU threw an interception, which led to a Purdue field goal. On the next drive, WMU scored on a one-yard touchdown pass to Josh Schaffer to take the lead 15–10. On the ensuing kickoff, though, Purdue's Raheem Mostert returned the kickoff 99-yards for a touchdown, making it 17–15 Purdue. The Boilermakers then recovered their second onside kick of the game on the kickoff. This time, the Boilermakers were able to capitalize, going up 24–15 on a Reggie Pegram rushing touchdown. After the Broncos turned the ball over on downs, the Boilermakers added to their lead on a 19-yard Carson Wiggs field goal to make it 27–15 at the end of the first half. In the third quarter, the Broncos were able to cut the deficit 27–18 on a 21-yard John Potter field goal. Purdue then added to their lead on a 33-yard passing touchdown to make it 34–18. On the next Broncos drive, quarterback Alex Carder's pass was intercepted by Purdue's Gerald Gooden at Purdue's six-yard line. However, Gooden fumbled the ball on the return, giving the ball back to the Broncos at the Purdue 29-yard line. Continuing the drive, the Broncos scored on a one-yard Tevin Drake rushing touchdown make it 34–25 going into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Boilermakers added to their lead on a 26-yard Carson Wiggs field goal to make it 37–25. On the next drive, WMU turned the ball over on an interception. The Broncos were able to get the ball back after forcing Purdue to punt. On the next Broncos drive on a fourth-and-10 play at Purdue's 12-yard line, Carder fumbled the ball after being sacked. Purdue's Ryan Russell recovered the ball but fumbled on the return, giving the ball back to the Broncos. Continuing the drive, the Broncos cut the lead 37–32 on a five-yard touchdown pass to Chleb Ravenell. After forcing Purdue to punt, the Broncos had one last chance to win the game. However, Carder fumbled the ball, giving the ball to the Boilermakers. The Boilermakers were then able to run the clock out to seal a victory. With the win, Purdue won its first bowl game since the 2007 Motor City Bowl. With the loss, WMU fell 0–5 all time in bowl games.Purdue 37, W. Michigan 32. ESPN. December 27, 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Scoring summary SourceWestern Michigan Broncos vs. Purdue Boilermakers Box Score. ESPN. Retrieved December 27, 2011.Western Michigan Broncs vs. Purdue Boilermakers – Drivechart. ESPN. Retrieved December 28, 2011. WMU Purdue 1 9:14 WMU 1 49 0:08 RecTD Jordan White Alex Carder 49 run by John Potter good 8 0 1 0:17 Purdue 9 38 4:05 RecTD Reggie Pegram Robert Marve 1 good Carson Wiggs 8 7 2 10:34 Purdue 4 3 2:07 FG 49 Carson Wiggs 8 10 2 7:00 WMU 12 78 3:34 RecTD Josh Schaffer Alex Carder 1 good John Potter 15 10 2 6:48 Purdue 1 99 0:12 Other Raheem Mostert 99-yard kickoff return (Carson Wiggs kick) 15 17 2 4:57 Purdue 6 61 1:51 RushTD Reggie Pegram 1 good Carson Wiggs 15 24 2 0:00 Purdue 8 42 3:17 FG 19 Carson Wiggs 15 27 3 10:55 WMU 8 66 4:05 FG 21 John Potter 18 27 3 6:49 Purdue 4 80 1:44 RecTD Gary Bush Caleb TerBush 33 good Carson Wiggs 18 34 3 1:55 WMU 6 29 1:43 RushTD Tevin Drake 1 good John Potter 25 34 4 11:41 Purdue 11 64 5:14 FG 26 Carson Wiggs 25 37 4 4:28 WMU 5 87 1:22 RecTD Chleb Ravenell Alex Carder 5 good John Potter 32 37 32 37 Statistics StatisticWMUPurdue First downs 30 23 Rushes–yards (net) 23–46 56–265 Passing yards (net) 439 177 Passes, att–comp–int 58–31–4 21–15–0 Total offense, plays – yards 81–485 77–442 Time of possession 24:06 35:54 References 30em Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Category:Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Category:Purdue Boilermakers football bowl games Category:Western Michigan Broncos football bowl games Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Little Caesars Pizza Bowl