- Martez Harrison scored 22 points and UMKC held off Drake down the

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- During coach Darrell Hazells first three seasons at Purdue, defense certainly hasnt been the Boilermakers forte, explaining in large part why this program entered Saturdays opener 6-30 beginning with 2013.Seven of last years 12 opponents scored at least 41 points in a 2-10 season, but defense provided all the momentum Purdue needed against Eastern Kentucky in Ross-Ade Stadium.Leroy Clark and Gelen Robinsons first-quarter interceptions helped Purdue build an early 21-0 lead, and the Boilermakers outlasted the Football Championship Subdivision Colonels 45-24 in the season opener for both teams.Clarks interception of Maty Mauk, the fifth-year graduate transfer quarterback from Missouri, set up Purdues second touchdown and a 14-0 lead, and Robinsons 78-yard interception return for a score pushed the Boilermakers advantage to 21-0 with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter.Markell Jones scored on a 3-yard run to cap an efficient opening drive for Purdue.Obviously, we like to win the turnover battle, and that was a huge part of our preparation, as it is for every team, said Robinson, the son of former Purdue All-American basketball standout and NBA player Glenn Robinson.For me, it was great to do my part to help the defense win that battle. On my interception, as soon as I saw the quarterback flare out, I knew my job. I had help scoring when (cornerback) Myles Norwood blocked the quarterback.Eastern Kentucky turned the ball over four times. The Boilermakers were guilty of one.While Eastern Kentucky out gained the Boilermakers 284-243 during the first 30 minutes, Purdue built a led 28-18 at halftime, thanks to the 14 points as a result of interceptions.Any time you can play out front like we did, it takes a little bit of stress off you, coach Hazell said, So it was good for us to get those turnovers and convert those turnovers into points. Then I thought our guys responded well in the second half by playing great defense and penetrating well.First-year Eastern Kentucky coach Mark Elder said the first-quarter turnovers provided this games storyline.You are not going to have a chance to win many games with three turnovers in the first quarter, Elder said, We have to do a better job of protecting the ball. Our guys fought and played hard all game, but we got down by too much too early.Boilermaker redshirt sophomore quarterback David Blough ran for two touchdowns and threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey, giving Purdue a 28-8 lead late in the second quarter.I thought we moved the ball really well, said Blough, who was 1-7 as a starter in 2015. We sustained some drives and picked up some crucial third downs, but theres so many little things that we can do to make it that much better. We didnt score on one drive when we got inside their 10.Jones carried 24 times for 143 yards for a Purdue team that now has won 13 consecutive home openers, including 4-0 for fourth-year coach Hazell, now 7-30 with the Boilermakers. Hazell is 4-0 against FCS opponents.You have to know that those 143 rushing yards all start up front, Jones said. Those guys did a good job of imposing their will, which made it pretty easy for me to find holes and seams and hit them.Each team struggled to generate any third-quarter offense, especially after Colonels quarterback Bennie Coney, who replaced Mauk in the first quarter, took a hard hit while scrambling and was helped to the sideline, prompting Mauks return.Purdue finally broke the second-half scoring drought on Bloughs second TD run, a 1-yard plunge with 12:48 remaining in the game to extend the lead to 35-18.J.D. Dellingers 30-yard field goal with 4:56 to play capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive and gave the Boilermakers a 38-18 lead.Blough finished 25 of 43 for 245 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Domonique Young caught eight passes for 74 yards.Purdue capped its scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run from freshman Brian Lankford-Johnson with 4:23 left. The Colonels got a TD with 1:34 remaining to complete the scoring.TAKEAWAYPurdue: While the Boilermakers pulled away during the final 12:48, they led their FCS opponent by just 10 points heading into the final quarter in front of only 32,074 fans on a gorgeous September afternoon. Purdue finished with 512 yards of offense and snapped a four-game losing streak to end the 2015 season. The 32,074 was the smallest home crowd for a Purdue home opener since 25,000 watched the Boilermakers defeat Missouri 31-0 on Sept. 25, 1954, almost 62 years ago.Eastern Kentucky: If Coney is able to play next week after taking a hard hit in the second half, the Colonels coaching staff will have a difficult decision to make at quarterback. Mauk struggled at Purdue, but he was 17-5 as a starter at Missouri. It was clear Saturday that the Eastern Kentucky offense had a better rhythm with Coney under center.Our plan from the get-go was that we were going to put Mauk in for the first two series and Coney was going to play series three and four and we were going to go from there, Elder said. Bennie had a hot hand, so we kept him in there. For the second half, we had the same plan.KEY NUMBERSPurdue: The Boilermakers key to limiting Eastern Kentucky to six second-half points centered on third-down conversions. The Colonels were 10 of 14 in the first half when they scored 18 points and 0 for 6 in the final 30 minutes when they scored six.Eastern Kentucky: Coney finished 13 of 23 for 158 yards and a touchdown, while Mauk was only 2 of 7 for 18 yards with two picks. Mauk did rush eight times for 39 yards.INJURY REPORTPurdue was without starting cornerback DaWan Hunte (sprained ankle) and defensive end Austin Larkin (sprained ankle). Each starter, according to Hazell, should be ready for the Sept. 10 game against Cincinnati.THE LAST WORDWe did not come here to play close, and we certainly did not come here to lose by 21. We came here to win the game. --- Eastern Kentucky coach Mark Elder.UP NEXTPurdue: The Boilermakers are home again on Sept. 10, hosting Cincinnati at noon. The Bearcats defeated Purdue in September of 2013 in Hazells first game with the Boilermakers, 42-7 in Cincinnati. The Bearcats opened the season Thursday night with a 28-7 victory against Tennessee-Martin.Eastern Kentucky: The Colonels will attempt to give coach Mark Elder his first victory at EKU on Thursday when they play Pikeville. Adidas Nick Ritchie Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Wholesale Ducks Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. http://www.cheapducksjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-andrej-sustr-jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Adidas Ryan Miller Jersey . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Adidas Luke Schenn Jersey . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Marshall has never had four consecutive 10-win seasons in its history. While that might seem like a stretch in 2016, coach Doc Holliday is confident in the ability of quarterback Chase Litton to put the Thundering Herd in the hunt for a Conference USA championship.Holliday has gone 33-8 since 2013, including a conference title in 2014 and a 10-3 finish last season when Litton was a freshman.We just cant forget what got us to where we are these last three years -- thats going to work every day, Holliday said. You cant get complacent. You cant get selfish. Youve got to hold each other accountable. The last three years weve done that, and that cant change this year.Litton took over as starter for Michael Birdsong in the third game last season, tossing four touchdown passes in his debut. Litton won his first seven starts and led the Thundering Herd to a 16-10 win over Connecticut in the St. Petersburg Bowl. For the season Litton completed 60 percent of his pass attempts for 2,605 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.All Holliday asks of Litton is just continue to grow.I thought he exceeded his expectations as a true freshman, Holliday said. But now hes got to take that next step. Hes not a freshman anymore. Just take that next step as far as leadership things go and understanding the offense.Some things to know about the Thundering Herd in 2016:KEY GGAMESMarshall, which has seven home games for the first time since 1996, hosts Louisville on Sept.dddddddddddd 24 and travels the following week to play Pittsburgh. The Thundering Herd are expected to battle favorite Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky for the East Division crown and play both at home.RB MIXConverted wide receiver Hyleck Foster could be the primary running back again this season after he subbed for the injured Devon Johnson over the second half of last season. Foster finished with 453 yards, including a pair of 100-yard games. Junior college transfer Anthony Anderson, who is 240 pounds, has drawn size comparisons to the beefy Johnson.HELP AT LBThe departure of 2015 Conference USA defensive player of the year and team leading tackler Evan McKelvey left a huge hole at linebacker. Damien Dozier has moved over from the defensive line to help out. And Davon Durant joins Marshall after sitting out last season following his transfer from Arizona. The Sun Devils dismissed the top junior college prospect after he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation in a domestic violence case.PREDICTIONAn 8-4 finish should get Marshall into a bowl for a fourth straight season.SEASON OPENERMorgan State, Sept. 10, in Huntington. ' ' '