Hoosiers Defense Continues to Cash in Takeaways in Spittoon Game Win

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

It was Kane Wommack’s defense that won the Old Brass Spittoon for Indiana who moves to 4-0 in East Lansing on Saturday. A common theme in 2020 is that takeaways have made the difference. The Hoosiers defense took the ball away from Michigan State’s offense four times and scored 17 of their 24 points from them. On the season Indiana has scored 51 points off of their opponent’s 12 turnovers. That’s 4.25 points per takeaway.

It was not a hot start for the Hoosiers offense in East Lansing as Mike Penix’s floater intended for Miles Marshall was intercepted by Shakur Brown in IU’s first possession of the football on Saturday and their second drive resulted in a punt. However, Indiana’s defense lit the fire that was needed for the offense to score enough points.

The first Indiana touchdown was set up by Tiawan Mullen’s first career interception, a diving grab on an under thrown ball by Spartan quarterback Rocky Lombardi. The Hoosiers would find the end zone on a Stevie Scott touchdown seven plays and 50 yards later.

Two plays later James Head Jr. recovered fumble forced by Thomas Allen for the second takeaway for Hoosier defense in the first quarter and set the Hoosiers up at the Spartans 16-yard line. Two plays later an angry Ty Fryfogle, who dropped a pass in the end zone on the previous play, rumbled over several defenders and refused to go down before he broke the plain of the goal line.

“I mean that is just how you win football games and you got to go on the road and win some ugly ones sometimes” Allen said. “Especially how the game started, I thought we kind of put ourselves in a tough spot, but our guys bounced back, they got a 14-point lead and then never looked back, so I am proud of this team.”

Penix threw another interception to Brown early in the second quarter as the Hoosiers were again looking to score, but Mullen squashed any Michigan State momentum on the next play, which led the Hoosiers to field goal range and to a comfortable 17-0 lead— one they would stretch to 24-0 going into halftime. 

“To keep it simple, I saw the ball and attacked it,” Mullen said after the game, “I was in the right position, had the right technique, and had one the best cornerback coaches in the game, Brandon Shelby. I listened to him and he puts you in the right position to where all you have to do is go out there and execute. That is what I did today.”

The Hoosiers defense nearly scored points of their own when Reese Taylor picked off a Payton Thorne, who replaced Lombardi in the second quarter, pass in the fourth quarter, but was knocked out of bounds inside the 10-yard line. However, the Hoosiers would not score as they turned the ball over on downs.

The IU defense held Michigan State to 60 rushing yards and 131 yards through the air. The Hoosiers did not allow the Spartans to reach the red zone on Saturday.

“Last year we left a lot on the field,” Mullen said, referring to IU’s 40-31 loss to Michigan State last season, “we gave up plays that we should not have, but this year as a unit we came together and the numbers we’re 11 strong out there. Once everybody was together, headed in the right direction, nothing could break us. We improvised, played as a unit and the numbers were strong to come out with the win.”

Indiana’s largest challenge of the 2020 season yet lies ahead in Columbus, where IU faces No.2 Ohio State. With a week to iron the wrinkles on offense, the Hoosiers have a good chance to prove themselves against the Buckeyes on Saturday at Noon.