NOTRE DAME --- It's a swing game the Irish had to have. Behind a long-awaited balanced offensive attack, a 21-point 3rd quarter is the difference. Notre Dame sends the retiring Joe Tiller and Purdue packing, 38-21.

For a young and improving team, the difference between 3-1 and 2-2 can't be understated.

"We've won every game we've played at home this year. I think the fact that we had another big win, and we have another big game next week, the confidence continues to grow in that situation. So I'd say it's huge," said head coach Charlie Weis.

The Irish hadn't scored in the 3rd quarter yet this year. That, along with the game's momentum, changed Saturday.

"It seemed like everything we did clicked, we got it done," said David Grimes.

"It looked like we were getting into a ping-pong scoring situation with them, and they just executed better," admitted PU coach Joe Tiller.

Career efforts from Armando Allen -- 134 yards rushing -- and Jimmy Clausen -- 275 yards and three scores -- paved the well-rounded way over Purdue.

"We wanted to make sure whether it was run, whether it was shots, regardless of what we were doing, we weren't going to sit back and let them dictate the tempo," said Weis.

"To spread the wealth like that, it's good to know we have those kind of weapons," said Clausen.

"It feels good to show people that we can run the ball," said Allen.

And maybe kick the ball, too. The cherry-on-the-top moment had to be Brandon Walker's made 41-yarder, his first in five tries this year.

"That was a big kick for him and a big kick for the team, obviously.
But I think just as important it was a big kick for him knowing that when he had an opportunity to kind of put the game away, he made a big kick," said Weis.

ND hosts Stanford next Saturday at 2:30.