Hoosiers Lose Heartbreaker to #10 Nebraska

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers gave the #10 Nebraska Cornhuskers everything they could handle but ultimately fell on Homecoming, 27-22 in a thrilling contest. The Hoosiers fell behind 17-0 after a rotten start and it appeared it would be a long afternoon in Bloomington. However, the Hoosiers battled back and clawed their way to within two points at the end of the third quarter, 17-15. Nebraska scored on a broken play with a 72-yard completion to Stanley Morgan Jr. that put them ahead 24-15. The Hoosiers quickly answered with a lightning quick scoring drive that ended with a Devine Redding four-yard catch on a screen pass to crawl back within two points. The Cornhuskers killed off the game with a lengthy drive and Drew Brown connected on a field goal for the game's final score of 27-22. 

Nebraska scored first as Drew Brown nailed a 40-yard field goal on the opening drive to make the score 3-0. Indiana turned it over on downs and Brandon Reilly made a circus catch on a pass nearly intercepted by IU's Marcelino Ball. The Huskers quickly punched it in from four yards out as Terrell Newby found pay-dirt to make it 10-0. Richard Lagow overthrew his intended receiver and Nebraska's Chris Jones intercepted it and ran it in to make it 17-0. The team's traded three-and-outs to close the first quarter but IU's Chase Dutra blocked a punt that rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Zander Diamont entered the game for Indiana and provided a spark running the ball on zone read plays. The Hoosiers marched inside of the five-yard line but they had to settle for a Griffin Oakes 36-yard field goal to make it 17-5. Jonathan Crawford intercepted a Tommy Armstrong pass that was tipped by his intended receiver and IU added another field goal before the half. 

Both teams struggled offensively for much of the third quarter. A Mitchell Paige punt return set Indiana up with great field position as the Nebraska 33 and Devine Redding scored on a sweep play to make it 17-15 at the end of the third quarter. Tommy Armstrong was again intercepted, this time by Tony Fields, but IU's offense was extremely conservative and went three-and-out. The Huskers scored on a broken play that sent Tommy to the outside. He hurled the ball deep for Stanley Morgan and IU's two safeties collided, leaving Morgan wide open to catch and run it in from 72-yards out to give Nebraska a commanding 24-15 lead late in the fourth quarter. IU did not go quietly as Richard Lagow connected with Mitchell Paige and then Luke Timian and then Ricky Jones to move IU to the four yard line. He then found Redding on a screen pass to get Indiana back within two. Nebraska ran the ball effectively and chewed the clock before Terrell Newby fumbled and was recovered by the Hoosiers. However, as is nearly always the case for the Hoosiers, the play was reviewed and the ball was returned to Nebraska as time dwindled down. Drew Brown hit a field goal with 45 seconds left and Richard Lagow was intercepted to end the game and preserve Nebraska's perfect record. 

The Huskers outgained the Hoosiers 362-333 but IU's defense was tremendous for much of the afternoon. Tommy Armstrong was only 10-26 but Terrell Newby paced the Huskers with 102 yards on the ground on 22 carries. Richard Lagow was 19-32 for 196 yards with a touchdown and Zander Diamont was 5-7 for 49 yards. Diamont also ran 31 yards and Devine Redding had 57 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with his receiving touchdown. Mitchell Paige was the standout receiver, catching nine passes for 101 yards. 

Indiana is now 3-3 on the season heading into a clash with the Northwestern Wildcats next Saturday at noon. Nebraska is 6-0 and they will certainly stay in the top ten and atop the Big Ten West division.