Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 52 Charlotte 13

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Charlotte 49ers

Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

Why They Played: 

The Hoosiers played the 49ers as part of a non-conference game agreement.

What The Game Meant: 

This was a chance for IU to start the season 4-0 for the first time since 2020 and second time since 2015. Curt Cignetti also became the first, first year coach at IU to win his first four games. IU also has scored 202 points over its first four games, the most in any four game stretch in program history.

Top Offensive Performers:

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana- Rourke has been a revelation for the Hoosiers this year. He once again commanded the offense to an outstanding performance. He completed 16-of-20 passes for 258 yards and a score. He added 34 yards on the ground and another touchdown.

Indiana Run Game- Every game it is someone different in the running game for the Hoosiers. This week five scholarship running backs got carries and the Hoosiers ran the ball for 222 yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries. The blocking, from everyone, has been tremendous and has allowed the running backs to find the holes and get up field.

Henry Rutledge, RB, Charlotte- Rutledge proved to be as dangerous as advertised with 138 all-purpose yards. IU kept him out of the end zone, but he was clearly the 49ers most explosive player.

Top Defensive Performers:

Jamari Sharpe, DB, Indiana- Sharpe started for the suspended D’Angelo Ponds and came up with a huge game. He made five tackles and broke up four passes.

Demon Clowney, DL, Charlotte- Clowney made a few plays for Charlotte early and in total had four tackles including one for a loss.

Special Teams Performance:

The Hoosiers saw some explosiveness in the punt return game as Myles Price had a pair of 20 yard returns. James Evans saw the field once to punt and booted a rocket 50 yard kick. Nico Radicic was perfect again, hitting seven extra points and a field goal.

IU may have another issue with their kickoff specialist as Alejandro Quintero was injured and Quinn Warren filled in. Warren has a huge leg and could be the answer there, but health and depth is now an issue.

Key Stat(s):

35-0

After Charlotte closed the gap to 17-14, IU went on a 35-0 run to end the game and walk away with another blow out win, 52-14.

Turning Point:

The turning point came in the middle eight minutes (Ok, nine and a half) as the Hoosiers scored twice to close out the final five minutes of the first half and scored a touchdown on the first possession of the second half to pull away 38-14.

I Knew it Was Over When…

When IU put their third-straight touchdown on the board to make the score 38-14.

Players of the Game:

Indiana Run Game- IU did whatever they wanted with whoever had the ball out of the backfield. The running back room was an area of depth and strength, but their production has exceeded expectations.

What I take away From the Game:

IU is 4-0 for the first time since 2020 and the momentum is slowly building back up as the Hoosiers host Maryland in another “toss up” game on Saturday. The Hoosiers offense had little to no issues on Saturday slicing up the Charlotte defense. Rourke looked sharp and the production came from all over the field.

Defensively, IU started slow and it is a little bit of a concern heading back into Big Ten play that they allowed Charlotte to run for more yards than they had all season in the first half. There were missed tackles and missed assignments. The good news is IU turned it around and shut out Charlotte in the second half.

Looking forward, IU faces a tough Maryland team that has given IU everything they could handle since joining the conference in 2014. It seems like nearly every game is a one score game. IU came out of this week’s game healthy and without suspension, which is what you need heading into this matchup.

What’s Next

The Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0) are back at home to take on the Maryland Terrapins at noon in IU’s Big Ten conference home opener.