COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Notre Dame Has Flashbacks, Finally Shakes Purdue, 35-28 : Nonconference: Boilermakers have visions of upset, but No. 25 Irish rally in fourth quarter for Holtz’s 200th college victory. Kinder runs for winning score.

Purdue tossed a 35-28 victory Notre Dame’s way Saturday when the Boilermakers just missed scoring on their last possession.

To the drowning Irish, it felt like a life preserver.

“I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like if we had lost,” said Notre Dame tailback Randy Kinder, who caught one touchdown pass, ran for another score and led all rushers with 142 yards in 14 carries.

One week earlier Northwestern had upset the Irish, 17-15, at South Bend, Ind. Purdue nearly did the same late in the fourth quarter in front of its biggest home crowd (70,569) in 15 years.

Boilermaker quarterback Rick Trefzger had wide receiver Craig Allen open deep in the end zone on third and goal from the Irish 13. But Allen bobbled the ball momentarily and was out of bounds before he could control it.

A battered Notre Dame defense that gave up 478 yards stopped Purdue (1-1) on the next play. The Irish took over on downs. And they ran out the clock.

“This is great progress for us,” said Purdue Coach Jim Colletto, apparently convinced.

For their part, the winners were mostly unconvincing. Despite four touchdown passes by quarterback Ron Powlus, coupled with the stunning debut of freshman tailback Autry Denson (seven carries, 69 yards) the Irish needed a 52-yard touchdown sprint by Kinder with 9:12 remaining to regain a lead that had been as much as 15 points.

The Boilermakers had tied it one play earlier when strong safety Derrick Brown stepped in front of a Powlus pass intended for Derrick Mayes and raced 54 yards for a score. The two-point conversion made it 28-28.

“The guy [Powlus] had a heck of a day except for that one play,” said Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz, who got his 200th victory as a college head coach.

Powlus completed 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards. And he wasn’t sacked once. But the Irish defense yielded 478 yards, including 118 on the ground to Purdue fullback Mike Alstott.

In the second half, three Irish defenders left the game with cramps. It got so bad at one point late in the fourth quarter that Holtz was considering putting Denson back in at defensive back, the position he played against Northwestern last week.

“I know it was ugly,” said Notre dame defensive coordinator Bob Davie. “And I know there were a million mistakes. But don’t ever underestimate a win.”

Brown’s touchdown was the first interception returned for a touchdown against Notre Dame since 1986, when USC’s Lou Brock scored on a 58-yard pickoff.

The Irish took the lead in a game for the first time this season when Powlus drilled a 12-yard slant into the waiting arms of Mayes at the goal line. Kevin Kopka’s extra point made it 14-7. A 25-yard field goal by Purdue’s Brad Bobich closed the Boilermakers to within four at halftime.

The Powlus-Mayes touchdown provided relief for a Notre Dame team that played a first period eerily similar to the loss to Northwestern. After Notre Dame failed on a fourth and two midway through the opening quarter, the Irish allowed Purdue to take took a 7-0 lead on a quick, five-play, 71-yard drive.

The touchdown came on a 42-yard sprint down the right side by Boilermakers’ tailback Corey Rogers. Three different Notre Dame players missed tackles on the play. And the result immediately accelerated the pace of Holtz’ sideline antics.

The Irish tied the game in the second period when Powlus softly lofted a swing pass into the waiting arms of Kinder. Right guard Ryan Leahy’s spectacular cut-roll block wiped out the only Purdue defender with a shot at Kinder. The result was a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Powlus’ third touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to split end Scott Sollman, made it 21-10 Notre Dame early in the third quarter. For Sollman, a junior who hit .406 for the Irish baseball team last spring, it was his second college reception.

“I didn’t know how we’d respond,” Holtz said after the game. “This is a football team that’s gonna struggle.”