Campbell earns first Big Ten win as Penn State coach as Lions beat Purdue
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STATE COLLEGE (AP) -- Cam Wallace never doubted he'd be able to return from a grisly injury that could've cost him his career.
Although it took a little longer than he would've hoped, Wallace finally had his breakout moment for Penn State two years after broken bones in both of his legs kept him sidelined with surgeries and rehab for the better part of two seasons.
The junior Nittany Lion ran for 135 yards with a touchdown, and Penn State beat Purdue 31-17 on Saturday for its first Big Ten win of the Matt Campbell era.
"I've been through a lot in my career, so everything is just falling into place for the work that I put in," Wallace said. "I'm just happy for myself and this team."
Rocco Becht and Carson Hansen ran for scores, and Becht threw a touchdown to Andrew Rappleyea for the Nittany Lions (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten), who snapped a four-game losing streak with their 12th straight win in the series.
Penn State took advantage of a leaky Purdue defense that ranked 119th in the country entering the game. The Nittany Lions, which hadn't eclipsed 100 yards rushing since registering 119 in their Big Ten opening loss to Wisconsin, racked up 269 yards on the ground with 5.3 yards per carry against the Boilermakers.
Wallace, who ran patiently and forcefully all night, had just 22 carries for 125 yards so far this season.
Campbell had a feeling his seldom-used back would add to those numbers in a big way after two weeks of standout practices where Wallace became the focus of the team's inside running game.
"In the bye week, this guy was the shining star," Campbell said. "I said it Wednesday in our team meeting, and then you went out to practice again on Thursday and he was the shining star."
Rappleyea capped Penn State's opening drive after hauling in a short touchdown pass from Becht. A 48-yard burst from Wallace on Penn State's next possession set Becht up to scamper around Purdue's defense for a six-yard score that put Penn State up 14-7.
The Boilermakers (3-5, 2-3), looking for their first win against Penn State since 2004, answered the Nittany Lions' opening points with quarterback Ryan Browne's 33-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Townshend.
Jalil Hall tied it at 14-14 when he returned a blocked punt 31 yards toward Penn State's Halloween-decorated student section with 8:52 left in the first half.
The Boilermakers, though, couldn't get another stop, and Penn State's offense drove 65 yards before Hansen burst over the goal line from a yard out to make it 21-14 heading into halftime.
Penn State's defense took control in the third quarter when Jamison Patton intercepted Browne at midfield. Barker turned it into a 44-yard field goal and a 24-14 lead late in the third.