Hoosiers Lose Heartbreaker in Gator Bowl

Peyton Ramsey (12) looks to pass downfieldImage: Amanda Pavelka

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers were so close to breaking their 28-year bowl win drought. They were so close to their first nine-win season since 1967. While the program has come a very long way and the 2019 season will be remembered as an unquestioned success, coming so close does not lessen the sting of the one-point defeat that could have gone very differently.

Tennessee began with possession but the Indiana defense was able to force them into a three and out. The Hoosiers moved the ball with help from a Tennessee penalty but Peyton Ramsey threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted at the 47-yard line. The Volunteers were in great position to open the scoring and they got inside the 10-yard line. IU’s defense was able to stiffen and held Tennessee to a short field goal that made it 3-0. Indiana’s offensive line struggled mightily with the defensive front of the Volunteers and the Hoosiers offense were unable to stay on the field for long, punting back to Tennessee. Again, the SEC East school from Knoxville was able to get inside the ten-yard line and again the IU defense kept them out of the end zone. Tennessee’s Brent Cimaglia connected on another short field goal to make the score 6-0. The Hoosiers punted back to Tennessee after another unsuccessful drive but the defense came up with a huge play on third down. Jarrett Guarantano dropped back and IU brought pressure. The Hoosiers had multiple players get to the Tennessee quarterback and his pass was intercepted by Micah McFadden at the Tennessee 42-yard line. IU’s offense finally arrived as Peyton Ramsey escaped the pocket for a pair of nice runs that got the Hoosiers inside the ten-yard line as the first half neared its end. With less than ten seconds remaining, Indiana was unable to manage the clock and they were forced to settle for a short field from Logan Justus to make the halftime 6-3. Despite being dominated in time of possession and looking largely ineffective on offense, the Hoosiers were in the game.

IU began the second half with the ball and embarked on their best drive of the contest. They mixed the run and the pass and finished a drive lasting 5:31 with a one-yard quarterback sneak from Peyton Ramsey for a touchdown to give the Hoosiers the 10-6 lead. The Volunteers moved the ball across midfield but Guarantano had his second straight pass intercepted, this time by Jamar Johnson and he sprinted down the field for a touchdown to give Indiana a 16-6 lead. Logan Justus doinked the extra point off the upright to keep the lead at ten points. Tennessee got a nice return from Ty Chandler that gave them the ball on the IU side of the field and they looked to jumpstart their attack by inserting Brian Maurer at quarterback. He was nearly intercepted twice and the Vols were forced to settle for their third field goal of the game. Indiana got the ball back and had two of their best offensive plays of the game as Ramsey connected with Nick Westbrook on a crossing route and then a nice ball to Miles Marshall. The Hoosiers could not move inside the red zone but Logan Justus impressively drilled a 49-yard field goal to restore Indiana’s lead at ten points at 19-9. Tennessee put Guarantano back in the game but failed to move the ball and IU added another field goal on their next possession to move the lead to 22-9 with just more than ten minutes remaining. The Volunteers failed to get a first down and had to punt again, giving the ball to Indiana with 8:50 left in the contest. IU had to punt back without burning too much clock and Tennessee took over again with a bit more than seven minutes remaining. The Volunteers moved quickly into the red zone and a defensive holding penalty on IU’s Jamar Johnson gave Tennessee a first and goal. Three plays later, Quivaris Crouch dove in from one-yard out and the Vols cut the lead to 22-16 with 4:21 remaining. They surprised the Hoosiers with a perfectly executed onside kick. Tennessee took over possession on the 46-yard line. The Volunteers capitalized on their newfound momentum with a 24-yard pass play that had 15-yards added on for a face mask penalty on Reakwon Jones. It only took three plays total as Eric Gray ran in from 16 yards out. Tennessee added the extra point to give the Volunteers the 23-22 lead. IU’s offense, last on the field with a 22-9 lead, took possession again trailing by one point with 3:51 remaining and the ball at the 25-yard line. The first play of the drive saw the Hoosiers go over the top for a 39-yard gain to Ty Fryfogle. After an incompletion on first down, Ramsey was sacked for a nine-yard loss on second down. Facing third and 19, Ramsey scrambled and then pitched to Ronnie Walker for an 11-yard gain. Logan Justus was forced to attempt a 52-yard field goal with 2:17 left in the contest. Justus pulled the kick a yard or two to the right and the Hoosiers had their backs firmly against the wall. A very generous spot initially gave Tennessee a first down but that was overturned and the Volunteers had to punt it away to Indiana with 1:02 left in the game. IU took over with 55 seconds left at the 19-yard line. Ramsey completed a long pass to Peyton Hendershot to get near midfield and then a quick out-route to Nick Westbrook to get to the Tennessee 45-yard line. Three straight incompletions made it fourth and ten with 23 seconds remaining. Ramsey threw to the outside to Whop Philyor but his pass was bounced short and the game ended 23-22 in favor of Tennessee.

The Hoosiers were led by redshirt junior quarterback Peyton Ramsey. He fought behind an offensive line that was overwhelmed for much of the contest by the Volunteers front seven but managed to run for 54 yards and threw for 227 yards. IU finishes the season at 8-5. Hoosier Huddle will have coverage of this contest before turning our eyes to the offseason and the 2020 season.