Northern Illinois leads Purdue 27-10 in West Lafayette

Jan.1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Northern Illinois Huskies quarterback Jordan Lynch (6) is force to throw an incomplete pass as Florida State Seminoles linebacker Telvin Smith (22) applies pressure in the second quarter during the 2013 Orange Bowl game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue had no answer for Northern Illinois stud quarterback Jordan Lynch in the first half.

Lynch was 16 of 20 for 195 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 29 yards.

The Northern Illinois defense looked equally impressive for most of the half, especially when defending against the play-action pass.

NIU’s drive to open the second quarter stalled on the Purdue 11-yard line. The Huskies elected to kick a field goal and Matthew Sims was true from 31 yards. Sims also nailed a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Redshirt sophomore receiver Juwan Brescacin reeled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Lynch to put NIU up 20-7. It was Brescacin’s first career TD.

On what appeared to be Purdue’s best drive of the second quarter, Boilermakers quarterback Rob Henry through a bullet that hit receiver Shane Mikesky’s shoulders and deflected into the hands of NIU cornerback Dechane Durante. Durante returned the interception for 50 yards to the NIU 21-yard line.

The Huskies put in work on offense on the ensuing drive. Receiver Da’Ron Brown reeled in his second touchdown pass, as Lynch found a wide-open Brown for a 17-yard score to make put NIU up 27-7. Brown would later score on a 17-yard touchdown with 0:38 remaining in the half.

Purdue replaced Henry with freshman quarterback Danny Etling on the Boilermaker’s final drive of the half. Etling was 2 of 2 for 23 yards to set Purdue up with a Paul Griggs 47-yard field goal before halftime.

Henry exited the game 5 of 16 for 130 yards and one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble.

NIU receives the ball to start the second quarter.