UNR Football over Purdue in Breathtaking Close

By Jayden Wassmuth – Last Friday, UNR Football stunned Power 5 school Purdue with a 17-point comeback in the second half and a 34-31 victory over the Boilermakers. The game started slowly for the Wolf Pack with Purdue outscoring the Pack 10-0 in the first quarter. The second quarter was better, with quarterback Carson Strong passing for a touchdown. The halftime score was 24-7 with Purdue on top. During the third quarter Strong and the Wolf Pack really started getting into a rhythm. With Strong passing for another touchdown, and Brandon Talton scoring a field goal, the score going into the fourth quarter was 31-17 with the Boilers still ahead. The fourth quarter started and ended hot with Purdue scoreless through the fourth. UNR rushed a 7-yard touchdown from Toa Taua, and Strong passed for another connecting with Elijah Cooks for a 20-yard touchdown. This tied the game with 52 seconds on the clock. UNR gained possession and got into field goal range with three seconds on the clock. Walk-on freshman Kicker Brandon Talton was about to attempt a 56-yard field goal. The ball was snapped and spiraled in right through the middle of the uprights as time expired. Brandon Talton was lifted on the team’s shoulders as they went into the locker room. Once inside he was awarded the game ball and a scholarship from head coach Jay Norville. Although the game was exhilarating, fans were also excited to meet UNR basketball players walking around during the game. From new head coach Steve Alford to standouts like Jazz Johnson and some of the new players, fans had a good time chatting up the players about their upcoming season. Jayden Wassmuth is junior at Churchill County High School and a member of the "Greenwave Flash" journalism club.       Read more local news – return to the home page at www.thefallonpost.org/ Support your local news source, make a contribution today. www.thefallonpost.org/support-our-work/