Indiana Shut Out for the First Time Since 2000, as Offense Loses Penix
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Image: Scott Taetsch, Getty Images
Written by Matt Smith
The Hoosiers played their first division opponent of the season Saturday as they traveled to Happy Valley to take on the number four team in the country in Penn State. For the offense, the storyline remains the same, disappointing.
Michale Penix began the game going 1 for 10, with the sole completion being a 35-yard pass to Peyton Hendershot in the first quarter. Other than that play Indiana’s offense struggled to move the ball down field.
Penix finished the game throwing for 118 yards with an interception on 10 of 22 throws. However, Penix went down in the second half with an injury to his throwing shoulder on an awkward scramble.
Before the interception Penix had two nice throws on the drive before floating the ball over Ty Fryfogle into the arms of a Penn State defender.
Backup Jack Tuttle then came into the game and led a nice drive that ended up in a blocked field goal. Tuttle went 6 for 12 with 77 yards and an interception as well.
“I thought Jack gave us a little spark,” Tom Allen said in his post game press conference.
On the receiving side of the ball, last year’s standout wide receiver Ty Fryfogle, had multiple drops throughout the game. He finished with five receptions for 48 yards. Peyton Hendershot was the leading receiver with five receptions for 88 yards.
According to Fryfogle, he attributed his drops to him trying to make a play before the ball is in his hands.
To continue, in the run game, Stephen Carr had 15 carries for 50 yards, with the offensive line barely able to win the battle upfront against the stout Penn State front seven.
The closest Indiana got to scoring was in the first quarter following an interception by Raheem Layne. The offense went for it on fourth down at the four yard line. Allen said that the decision was made because you need touchdowns on the road.
Indiana’s offense has struggled throughout the season, the play calling is predictable, with most first down plays being a run to Carr. In addition, the offensive line has not been able to control the line of scrimmage and Penix does not look the same as last year.
“I’m just very disappointed in our performance. Especially our offense,” Allen said. “It’s just not good enough.”
The Hoosiers have a lot of thinking to do going into the bye week this upcoming week.
“We’re going to be better going forward,” Fryfogle said. “We have two weeks to figure this out and we’re going to figure it out.”