By MIKE LOPRESTI
Gannett News Service

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Now boarding ... the Kyle Orton for Heisman bandwagon.

That was the message Saturday, from a quarterback shootout when two teams gained 873 yards through the air, and 175 on the ground.

Purdue coach Joe Tiller, left, and quarterback Kyle Orton celebrate the first win by Purdue at Notre Dame since 1974. (AP photo)

That was the statement, in a game that saw the longest touchdown pass ever against Notre Dame.

That was the implication, in a Purdue offensive tour de force that was not over until Orton had thrown for 385 yards and four touchdowns, and the No. 15 Boilermakers had smashed a 30-year losing streak at Notre Dame Stadium with a 41-16 victory.

Purdue is 4-0, and for real. Orton has become as genuine a Heisman candidate as anyone out there. Not on reputation, but performance.

Especially after Saturday. At Notre Dame, which has produced seven Heisman winners. Leading Purdue, which has produced none.

"There is no choice, but to say he's the frontrunner," said Taylor Stubblefield, whose day included a 97-yard touchdown pass, after which he struck a playful Heisman pose to Orton on the sideline.

A tad early, it would seem on Oct. 2. But then, it was a big day for Purdue after 13 straight losses here dating back to 1974.

"I don't get a vote," Orton said. "I just want to play well every single week."

"I will never be as humble as he will be about this whole thing," Stubblefield said.

"He was," said Notre Dame defensive end Justin Tuck of Orton, "unstoppable."

Orton has stormed on the national stage with an offense putting up numbers that seem to come out of a backyard touch game. The Boilermakers have scored 189 points this season, but no turnovers.

Orton has 17 touchdown passes, but no interceptions.

Poor Brady Quinn. The Notre Dame quarterback passed for 432 yards Saturday, the second most in Irish history. And never had a chance.

An Irish defense that had allowed only two touchdowns and forced 13 turnovers the past three games, was mercilessly picked apart.

"He has complete command of their system," Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham said of Orton, who is not so much a bombardier, but surgeon.

He audibles up to 50 percent of the plays, finds the right receiver, and then usually throws a dart. He hit eight different targets Saturday, and has completed 69 percent of his attempts this season, 21 of 31 against Notre Dame.

"He stands there and he's checking the defenses and making the reads," said Notre Dame cornerback Dwight Ellick. "You don't see many quarterbacks who can do that every play on the college level."

Ellick should know. Sometimes playing tight against Stubblefield in man-to-man - his comments that he intended to do that this week annoyed Purdue - he invited Orton's attention. Twice in the first half, Orton audibled to try to go to Stubblefield over Ellick, and didn't quite connect.

"I won't miss the next time," Orton told Stubblefield on the sideline.

Early in the third period, ahead 20-3 but backed up to his own 3, Orton noticed Ellick pressing close gain. Hand signals went to Stubblefield.

The short lob was precisely placed, just over Ellick, who lost his balance trying for the interception. The play went 97 yards.

"Man-to-man, it's your guy is better than our guy, or our guy is better than your guy," Stubblefield said.

"Whatever motivated them," Ellick said, "they came to play."

Purdue hurt Notre Dame with non-Orton weapons.

There was Jerome Brooks' 100-yard kickoff return, the longest against Notre Dame since 1974.

There was Anthony Spencer stripping the ball loose from Notre Dame running back Darius Walker, to kill an Irish drive that had made it to the Purdue 3, when it was still only 13-3.

And there was the pass rush that sacked Quinn seven times.

But most of all, there was Orton. A quarterback with his helmet in the Heisman ring. And how does that feel?

"Same way it feels," he said, "when you were a nobody."