Rice Has a Field Day as Irish Defeat Purdue

Quarterback Tony Rice passed for a career-high 270 yards and led Notre Dame to four touchdowns on the five first-half possessions he directed Saturday as the top-ranked Fighting Irish defeated Purdue, 40-7.

“I evaluate Tony Rice solely on on how many times he gets the team in the end zone,” Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz said. “He ran the option well and had a strong day passing, but that is not unexpected from a player the caliber of Tony Rice.”

Rice, a senior, also completed a career-high 12 of 15 passes and carried 12 times for 67 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

His previous career bests both came during last season’s national championship year, when he passed for 213 yards against West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl and completed 11 passes against Stanford.

“Purdue played man-to-man defense, and we took advantage of what they gave us,” Rice said. “A game like this gave me and my receivers confidence.”

Tight end Derek Brown caught four passes for 101 yards, Raghib (Rocket) Ismail had four for 93 and Ricky Watters caught three for 58.

The Irish (4-0) built a 34-0 halftime lead behind six- and two-yard runs by senior fullback Anthony Johnson.

Notre Dame rolled up 530 yards total offense to just 219 for the Boilermakers (1-2).

Defensive tackle Jeff Alm scored Notre Dame’s other touchdown when he intercepted a pass by Steve Letnich and returned it 16 yards.

“Once I had the ball in my hands and I saw the end zone,” Alm said, “there was no way that anyone was going to bring me down.”

Letnich, a transfer starting his third game for Purdue, faced constant pressure and threw three interceptions while being tackled or chased. He also fumbled two snaps from center that were recovered by the Boilermakers.

Purdue’s only score came with 33 seconds to play when Letnich threw a shovel pass three yards to Rod Dennis.

Notre Dame substituted freely in the second half.

Purdue Coach Fred Akers said the Irish are tougher than last year’s team that beat Purdue, 52-7.

“They’re just more confident,” Akers said. “Physically, there’s not much difference. That’s the most talented group I’ve seen put together in a long, long time--maybe ever.”