Hoosiers Go West and Blast the Bruins 42-13

Written by: TJ Inman

The Indiana Hoosiers have not played in the Rose Bowl since 1968. Tonight’s game was not the New Year’s bowl game so often associated with Pasadena but the Rose Bowl venue hosted the Big Ten opener for the UCLA Bruins and IU’s return to the West Coast was eye-opening. Indiana got off to a 21-0 start and never let up, hammering the UCLA Bruins 42-13 to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Hoosiers began with the ball and Kurtis Rourke quickly settled in with a 23-yard strike to Myles Price on the first play of the game. Indiana converted multiple third downs on the drive and finished the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the endzone to Miles Cross to go ahead 7-0. It was a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly 6:30 off the clock. UCLA lasted only one play on offense as Ethan Garbers had the ball knocked away from him by his running back and Mikail Kamara pounced on the fumble to give Indiana the ball back at the Bruins’ 17-yard line. On third down, IU cashed in for a touchdown as Ke’Shawn Williams dove in for a 14-yard score to put Indiana ahead 14-0. It was a perfect start for the road team and they were not done yet. The Bruins took advantage of a roughing the passer penalty that extended a drive to get into scoring position but they missed a 41-yard field goal. The Hoosiers took over at the 23-yard line and picked up a few first downs before failing on a fourth-down play. James Carpenter forced a three and out with a sack and the offense got back to work with a 90-yard drive that included a beautiful one-handed catch for Miles Cross and a one-yard run for Justice Ellison. Ahead 21-0 with 4:15 to play in the first half, UCLA got into the game with a nine-play drive for 78 yards and a T.J. Harden short touchdown. The Hoosiers led 21-7 at the half but UCLA had the ball to begin the second 30 minutes.

The first play of the second half began much like UCLA’s first offensive series as Ethan Garbers dropped the snap. CJ West dove for the fumble and collided with Garbers and was called for targeting. In the past, IU teams have crumbled after unlucky calls went against them but the Hoosiers held UCLA to a field goal and then took the ball and drove 87 yards for a touchdown as Ke’Shawn Williams made a great catch and dive to make it 28-10. The game got a bit farcical on the next drive for UCLA as an interception by Aiden Fisher was voided by a pass interference on D’Angelo Ponds and then Lanell Carr was confusedly called for roughing the passer on a sack. A touchdown run by UCLA was called back due to holding and then D’Angelo Ponds extended the drive for the Bruins as he was ejected for targeting. Ultimately, UCLA settled for a field goal to cut it to 28-13 in the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers erased any doubt as they again drove the length of the field and Omar Cooper scored on a jumpball near the end zone that he beat the corner on. Despite the penalties from the Hoosiers and unfortunate defensive ejections, IU was in complete control and ahead 35-13. Amare Ferrell intercepted an Ethan Garbers pass and Elijah Green added another score as the clock continued to wind down. Indiana completed the blowout with another defensive stop and the offense ran out the clock with the backups in the game.

Indiana moved to 3-0 and 1-0 in the conference as Kurtis Rouke led the way with a magnificent performance. The senior quarterback was 25 for 33 for 307 yards with four touchdowns. Indiana outgained the Bruins 430 to 238 and the defense forced a pair of turnovers. Curt Cignetti has very quickly changed the culture and expectations surrounding this program and tonight proved that he has changed the product on the field as well. IU returns home for a noon contest against the Charlotte 49ers next Saturday and they have a chance to improve to 4-0.

Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of this victory and begin preparations for the week four game against Charlotte.