WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (Ticker) -- John Standeford became the all-time leading receiver in the history of the Big Ten Conference as 15th-ranked Purdue rolled to a 34-14 rout of overmatched Northwestern.
Playing in coach Joe Tiller's wide-open offense, Standeford became the conference's all-time leader in receiving yardage with a 31-yard catch early in the fourth quarter. The senior has 3,418 career receiving yards to surpass David Williams, who had 3,392 for Illinois from 1983-85.
"I'm overwhelmed right now and really can't say too much," said Stadeford, who had four catches for 88 yards. "I've been given an opportunity to come out here and play. There have been so many successful receivers in the Big Ten. I'm just glad to be up at the top right now."
Standeford also is chasing Williams for the receptions mark. He is 22 behind Williams' conference record of 262 catches.
Over the years, the conference has featured some prolific receivers, including the likes of Anthony Carter, Andre Rison, David Boston and Charles Rogers.
Jerod Void added 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Purdue (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten), which rebounded from last week's loss at Michigan to remain in the thick of the conference race.
Quarterback Kyle Orton and wide receiver Ray Williams also ran for touchdowns for the Boilermakers, who built a 20-7 lead at halftime and cruised the rest of the way.
Noah Herron and Derell Jenkins had touchdown runs for Northwestern (4-5, 2-3), which could not build on last week's surprising 16-7 win over then-No. 17 Wisconsin.
The Wildcats were uncharacteristically sloppy for much of the contest. They came into the contest leading the nation with just two fumbles lost, but lost four Saturday.
"You can't beat a good football team and turn the ball over deep in their territory like we did," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "A fast, hard-hitting team like Purdue has the ability to continually knock the ball out of our hands, and it did that today."
In the first quarter, Wildcats quarterback Brett Basanez fumbled on consecutive possessions, leading to a pair of touchdowns for the Boilermakers.
Linebacker Gilbert Gardner recovered Basanez's first fumble at the Northwestern 45. Seven plays later, Orton ran three yards for a touchdown, giving Purdue a 7-0 lead with 6:45 left in the opening quarter.
"They always remind me to try to get turnovers," Gardner. "Turnovers just don't happen, you have to create them."
Orton was efficient through the air, completing 14-of-24 passes for 210 yards. He rushed for 28 yards on eight attempts.
On the Wildcats' ensuing possession, Basanez fumbled as he was being sacked by Shaun Phillips and fellow defensive end Ray Edwards recovered for Purdue at the Northwestern 12.
"We knew it was important to create havoc in their backfield," Phillips said. "Our defensive line could disrupt some of their game by being in their backfield."
Basanez completed 12-of-20 passes for 142 yards, fumbled three times and was sacked four times.
"(Purdue) proved they're one of the best defenses in the Big Ten," Basanez said. "You can't dig yourself a hole and expect to come out against them."
Tiller went to some trickery on th next play as Williams scored on an end around, extending the Boilermakers' lead to 14-0.
"We knew we had to jump on them early," Void said. "We came out and did that and never let up."
After Ben Jones kicked an 18-yard field goal with 4:18 left in the first half, the Wildcats finally got on the board with 45 seconds left before intermission.
Terrell Jordan fumbled near the goal line, but Herron picked up the ball and ran two yards for a touchdown, pulling the Wildcats within 17-7.
But Jerome Brooks returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards, setting up Jones' 28-yard field goal as time expired in the half.
Early in the third quarter, the Wildcats drove to the Boilermakers 2 but Herron was stopped on a 4th-and-1 play.
The Boilermakers responded with a 12-play, 98-yard drive that Void capped with a six-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 27-7. Void also scored on a one-yard run early in the fourth.
