Hoosiers’ Forced Turnover After 12-Play Drive Embodies Defensive Character

Written by Ethan Roberts

BLOOMINGTON – Sycamore’s Korbin Allen bounced to the outside for a gain of twelve and Indiana State’s first appearance in the red zone. Matt Guerrieri and the Hoosiers’ defense were eager to prevent a Sycamore team with their back against the wall from crawling back into the game.

The Sycamores managed to milk four minutes off the clock for their longest drive of the game up to that point. 

Tom Allen said that he didn’t like the body language from the defense on the drive. The Hoosiers forced a fourth-and-8 situation. Allen called timeout.

“He was just saying to play up to our standard,” Nicolas Toomer said. “We just need to make plays that we make all the time, and he challenged us.”

Message received.

Sycamore’s quarterback Evan Olaes floated the ball into the end zone and Toomer undercut the receiver and comes down with the football.

“Perfect call,” Toomer said. “We’re in zone. We had the play a couple times in practice and coach told me it was coming.”

The Hoosiers making big plays on defense has been the highlight of this team this season. They held the Sycamores to 93 total yards, tallying the net yardage in favor of the Hoosiers by 465 yards. 

Among the miscues that the Hoosiers had throughout the game: Seven penalties, a fumble and not having their new turnover belt on hand. 

Toomer ran to the sideline after the interception to retrieve the newly gifted turnover belt but was left puzzled.

“Who had it? Where was it,” Toomer said. “They had a miscommunication with the turnover belt. It wasn’t in the locker room. That was the first thing I looked for. We’re going to handle (who’s responsible for) it after the game.”

The interception from Toomer was a hopeful symbol of the potential that the defense has this season. 

“You know coming in we all know we played well on defense (against Ohio State), obviously not well enough to win,” Toomer said. "This is really a statement. We wanted to make a statement on defense. I don’t think we even reached our peak of what we can do on defense yet. We still have a lot of small things we need to fix. And if we can get those things together, I think we can be the best defense in the Big Ten.”

Andre Carter also had a big day. 2 tackles for losses helped IU’s defense pitch a shutout. He corroborated the defensive praise.

“Really happy about how we came back together,” Carter said. "Like I said, recalibrating. Our ability to go back out there and lock in on assignment and go again. We got to hit the drawing board and get better at a lot of things but as far as us growing together and getting closer, I’m happy with that aspect of it.”

The Hoosiers beat the Sycamores 41-7 and head to Lucas Oil Stadium next weekend to take on the unbeaten Louisville Cardinals, led by former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm.