Jerod Void ran for 101 yards and a score, helping Purdue to a 49-24 victory on Saturday.

Last season, Purdue recorded more than twice as many passing yards as running. Against Akron, the Boilermakers passed for 267 yards and rushed for 211.

``We ran more than we probably really wanted,'' Purdue coach Joe Tiller said. ``For this game, though, it was a wise decision.''

Void's 46-yard burst for a touchdown in the second quarter was a career long. He made the most of his 10 carries.

``I felt I ran well,'' he said. ``The offensive line really opened some holes for me, and I was able to pick up some big gains.''

The Boilermakers found immediate success with their new option game, a wrinkle they added in the spring.

On a third-and-short on the opening drive, quarterback Brandon Kirsch got the one yard he needed on an option keeper. On a second-and-goal from the Akron 13, Kirsch took the snap out of the shotgun, ran left, and delivered a pitch to Ray Williams, who scored just over six minutes in.

The passing game worked well, too. In his first game as the full-time starter, Kirsch completed 22 of 34 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns for the Boilermakers (1-0).

``He did a nice job for the first time out,'' Tiller said. ``He missed some reads, but he made some plays that looked good.''

Dorien Bryant caught nine passes for 70 yards, and Dustin Keller caught two touchdown passes.

Purdue led 28-14 late in the third quarter when the Zips got down to the Purdue 5. They were held to a 22-yard field goal by Jason Swiger, however, and Purdue quickly took control. The Boilermakers went 77 yards on their next drive, which culminated with a 3-yard run by Bryant that made it 35-17.

``Purdue is a great team,'' Akron coach J.D. Brookhart said. ``We did the best job we could.''

Luke Getsy, getting his first start for the Zips (0-1) after four-year starter Charlie Frye went to the NFL, was 25-for-44 for 283 yards and two touchdowns.

Jason Montgomery caught five passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns for Akron.

The Zips haven't beaten a Big Ten opponent in more than a century and are 1-14 against the conference. Their only win came over Ohio State in 1894.

The Boilermakers converted four third-down situations on the opening drive before Williams took an option pitch 13 yards for a touchdown.

Purdue's Kory Sheets recovered Bernard Pollard's blocked punt and ran 13 yards for a touchdown to give the Boilermakers a 14-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.

``The two wings jumped out at Dorien and I, and that freed up Pollard to make the block,'' Sheets said. ``The ball just bounced up, and I was able to get in.''

Akron's offense got untracked early in the second quarter. Getsy's 8-yard touchdown pass to Montgomery concluded a five-play, 81-yard drive that trimmed Purdue's lead to 14-7.

Purdue responded less than a minute later when Void broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run.

Akron running back Brett Biggs completed a 79-yard touchdown pass to Montgomery to cut Purdue's lead to 21-14 with 1:31 left in the first half.

Purdue responded by going 65 yards on six plays. Kirsch's 4-yard touchdown pass to Keller gave Purdue a 28-14 halftime lead.

Though Purdue scored six offensive touchdowns, the Boilermakers fumbled five times and lost one.

``There were signs of greatness, but we obviously didn't play up to our potential or as well as we wanted to play,'' Kirsch said.

Keller's two touchdowns were a surprise. The tight end caught three passes for 53 yards.

``He's improved,'' Kirsch said. ``He understands the offense better and where he needs to go on the field.''

Brookhart was pleased that his offense gained 385 yards against a defense that returned all 11 starters and ranked 15th in scoring defense last season. Still, the 25-point loss stung.

``We did some things in the passing game that we wanted to do, but overall, we have a lot of work to do,'' he said.