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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Tech quarterback Brenden Motley threw two touchdown passes and ran for one, and Tech’s defense and special teams also scored as the Hokies pulled away from the Boilermakers 51-24 at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Tech moved to 2-1 on the season. Purdue fell to 1-2.

Motley, making his second straight in place of injured quarterback Michael Brewer, completed 15 of 23 for 220 yards, with the two touchdowns and no interceptions. Behind Motley, Tech amassed 471 yards of total offense – a balanced 238 rushing and 233 passing – and played the main role in the Hokies scoring 27 straight points to break open a close game.

Defensively, Chuck Clark returned a fumble for a touchdown for the Hokies, and Terrell Edmunds’ blocked punt in the third quarter was returned by Anthony Shegog for a touchdown.

This game marked the first time since the Clemson game in 2007 that the Hokies scored in all three phases of the game.

“I think we’re going to look back and appreciate this win,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said. “I think this is one of those that can get us rolling. Our offense was efficient for the most part, but we still had a few passes we should have hit and had a few we should have caught. Defensively, we’ll look back and see. I think we got better. We did some good things in the kicking game. We had some nice returns.

“This was a game against a good team. They’re getting better. So I think this is going to be a good win when we look back on it.”

Tech grabbed the lead for good on a 5-yard touchdown run by Motley with 1:08 left in the first half that gave the Hokies a 24-17 edge. The Hokies then put the game away with 17 third-quarter points.

An 82-yard kickoff return by Der’Woun Greene to open the second half led to a 42-yard field goal by Joey Slye that gave the Hokies a 27-17 lead. Then on Tech’s next possession, a 42-yard drive ended when J.C. Coleman scored from a yard out. Slye’s extra point gave Tech a 34-17 bulge with 5:10 left in the third quarter.

The Hokies closed the quarter with Edmunds’ blocked punt. Shegog picked up the loose ball and ran it back 15 yards for a touchdown, and Slye’s extra point gave the Hokies a 41-17 advantage with a minute left in the quarter.

Slye added a field goal in the fourth quarter and a 3-yard touchdown pass from Motley to Bucky Hodges – their second hookup of the day – accounted for the final margin.

“We had a great game plan,” Motley said. “We knew what we wanted to do coming in. Our line did a good job against these guys and protected me all game. The backs ran the ball well. That helped out a lot, and the receivers made plays. It was a good team win.”

“I think he’s doing well,” Beamer said of Motley. “I like how he’s handling things. He doesn’t flinch. He hangs right in there, and he’s a good quarterback for this football team.”

Tech’s defense held the Boilermakers to just 265 yards of offense. Purdue quarterback Austin Appleby completed just 9 of 28 for 110 yards, with two interceptions.

Slye made three field goals for the Hokies, who also got six receptions and 128 yards from Isaiah Ford. Trey Edmunds paced Tech’s 238-yard rushing day with 72 yards on nine carries.

The Hokies continue non-conference action next Saturday with a game at East Carolina. The kickoff time has not yet been announced.

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