Game Wrap and Reaction: Ohio State 38 Indiana 17

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Ohio State Buckeyes
Location: Saturday October 8th, Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
Why They Played:  The Hoosiers and Buckeyes clash annually as Big Ten East Foes. 

What The Game Meant:

The Hoosiers were coming off a win over then-No.17 Michigan State and looking to for a win over the No. 2 Buckeyes in Columbus for the first time since 1987.

Top Offensive Performers:

Richard Lagow, QB, Indiana- In his first Big Ten road start Lagow acquitted himself nicely as he completed 14-of-28 passes for 182 yards and two scores. The only knock on Lagow today was his controversial fumble and a pick that came late in the game. 

Mitchell Paige, WR, Indiana- Paige led the Hoosiers in receptions with four and scored on an 18-yard reception before half time. He finished with 44 yards.

J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State- He is one of the best in the country for a reason. The redshirt junior ran the read option about as well as one can on Saturday. Barrett led the Buckeyes in rushing with 137 yards on 26 carries including a touchdown. Indiana held his passing in-check, as Barrett was only nine-for-21 for 93 yards through the air with one touchdown and one interception.

Mike Weber, RB, Ohio State- The freshman running back was effective in rushing for 71 yards and two touchdowns even if Indiana held him to just a long run of nine yards. Weber also added 10 yards receiving.

Curtis Samuel, RB, Ohio State- The third part of the rushing trio of Ohio State was their most dynamic as he averaged 9.1 yards per carry. He finished with 82 yards and a touchdown.

Top Defensive Performers:

Tegray Scales, LB, Indiana- Like we said last week the junior linebacker is playing the best football of his career at IU. Scales led the Hoosiers again in tackles with 10, had a pass break up, and put pressure on quarterback J.T. Barrett.

A’Shon Riggins, CB, Indiana- In his first career start the Ohio native proved he belongs on a Big Ten field. Riggins had three total tackles along with a pass break up and an interception which he returned 31 yards.

Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State- Baker set a career high with 11 tackles including two coming for a loss. He led a linebacking corps that held Indiana to just 99 yards on the ground and a ridiculously stout 2.5 yards per carry average.

Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State- Lewis was in on one of the controversial calls that turned the tide in the favor of the Scarlet and Gray. Lewis forced the fumble by Richard Lagow that looked to be an incomplete pass but the ruling on the field of a fumble stood. Lewis had five tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack.

Special Team Performance

Aside from a 91-yard return that set up a critical touchdown for Ohio State before half, the special teams unit was solid. Oakes hit his only field goal, a short 22-yard chip shot. Punter Joseph Gedeon consistently pinned Ohio State back, even if a nice roll aided his kicks, and Devonte Williams had his best day as a return man.

It was odd to see Oakes attempt to not kick the ball out of the end zone, as Parris Campbell is a very good return man. His kickoffs were consistently short. Wilson cited a swirling wind in Ohio Stadium, as the reason Oakes was not getting touchbacks.

Key Stat(s):
2.5

We’ll get into some more numbers in our weekly “Numbers That Mattered” piece on Sunday, but that stat that kept coming back to haunt the Hoosiers was their 2.5 yard per carry average. Indiana just could not run the ball against Ohio State’s defense. The IU runners were not quick enough to set the edge and a depleted offensive line did not get much of a push.

Turning Point

The turning point came late in the second quarter when IU had pulled within 17-10 and would get the ball coming out of the half. However, Ohio State’s Parris Campbell took the kick off 91yards to set up a five yard touchdown run from J.T. Barrett that pushed the Buckeye lead back to two scores. 

I Knew it Was Over When…

IU failed to convert a fourth-and-one from inside the Ohio State 10-yard line down 31-17. 

Players of the Game

Tegray Scales, Indiana- Scales has been tremendous in the first five games this season. One of the reasons why this defense is so improved. 

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State- Barrett was the difference in the game for OSU offensively even though Ohio State was held under 100 yards passing. 

What I Took Away From the Game

Indiana came into Saturday’s game as a four-touchdown underdog against arguably the best team in the country and they looked like they belonged on the field with them. I am not one for moral victories, however the Hoosiers accomplished the goals I had set for the week. Play well, and come out healthy. They did.

As far as the game is concerned, there is a lot left to be desired. Indiana got off to a perfect start getting an early takeaway on a fumble recovery by Patrick Dougherty. They moved the ball 20 yards and settled for a field goal. Indiana needed seven points there, and on that drive it was clear they were going to be conservative early again as they ran the ball seven times. Get a touchdown there and it’s a different game. Let’s get to that play calling.

Look, there were some great play calls from IU Saturday, the touchdown to Danny Friend, the tunnel screen to Ricky Jones and the touchdown to Paige. On the flip side though, there were some stinkers. Indiana averaged just 2.5 yards per carry and yet they continued to run the ball up the middle and to the outside with Devine Redding, who just isn’t fast enough to hit the quick closing holes or gain the edge. The best rushes for IU usually came after some sort of passing play that loosened up the defense. Granted it doesn’t help that IU is missing two of their best offensive lineman still, but come on, the run just was not working.

Playing in Columbus is hard enough, and you’re not going to beat the Buckeyes playing it close to the vest. I would have liked to see a little bit more out of the passing game and a few shots down field.

Defensively, IU played a heck of a game. Ohio State came into this game averaging 57 points per contest and out scoring opponents on their home turf 61-4. Indiana held them to just 383 yards, 93 through the air, and just 38 points. Of the 38 points 21 of them came on short fields, 14 as a result of getting the ball inside the IU 10.

Freshman cornerback A’shon Riggins shined in his first career start recording an interception and making a spectacular play to break up a pass in the end zone. Rashard Fant played well too while Tegray Scales continued his march to All-Big Ten honors.

Overall, the Hoosiers acquitted themselves nicely. Would I rather be driving home with a W and maybe a goal post from Ohio Stadium? Of course, but there are seven games left and six of them look extremely winnable. IU is sitting pretty right now, looking at least six wins, maybe seven or eight.