Kane Wommack’s Defense Carries the Hoosiers to 37-21 Victory in Piscataway
/
Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by Amanda Pavelka (@AmandaPavelka3)
Create takeaways.
That was defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s goal last year— to create three takeaways per game. In his second year at the helm of Indiana defense, Wommack and his guys are doing just that.
On Saturday night, the Hoosiers chances were reinforced by the three takeaways and three other fourth down stops the defense created which led them to a 37-21 win in Piscataway.
“Defense was creating takeaways,” Tom Allen said, “we got three of them again today, and protecting the football, that was huge for us. They (Rutgers) created seven takeaways last week against Michigan State. We had zero on offense, I am really pleased with that as it was a big emphasis for us. We had a plus-three turnover ratio, when you do that and are that efficient in the red zone, you are going to win a lot of football games in this conference. which was great.”
The offense had a sluggish start, as they could not make their way down the field in the first quarter, which ended 7-3 in favor of Rutgers. It was two Tiawan Mullen sacks and back-to-back interceptions by a locked-in defense that lit the spark for Mike Penix and the offense.
Junior linebacker Cam Jones caused Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral to throw a bad pass that was intercepted by Indiana defensive lineman Jonathan King. Three downs later the ball was in the end zone, and after the kick was good the Hoosiers took a 13-7 lead.
On the next drive, junior cornerback Jaylin Williams swiped the Rutgers’ football that ended up in the Hoosiers’ end zone once again.
Just like that, the Hoosiers were up at a comfortable 20-7 lead— one that they held for the remainder of the game.
"Momentum is a strong thing in a football game,” Reese Taylor said. “ I do not know how, but it changes the mindset to where it makes the defense have more rage within them and makes them hungrier. The drives we had just put more confidence in our defense. With the play calls that we had we went out and played hungrier, faster, and comfortably all at the same time.”
A third pick by Micah McFadden in the third quarter once again put the Hoosiers in position to secure a bigger lead. A face mask penalty by Whop Philyor caused the Hoosiers to settle for a field goal by Charlie Campbell that was once again successful to give the Hoosiers a comfortable 23-7 edge.
This was the second consecutive game IU’s defense forced three takeaways. The Hoosiers are now 2-0.
"The saying is offense wins games but defense wins championships,” Taylor said. “This defense is always going to have the offense's back whether they come out fast or slow. We are always going to have their back. Like I said we have confidence in this defense so we can go out and prepare for anything. As a defense I feel like if any team steps up, we are going to step up right with them."
It’s a different kind of energy the defense has brought in 2020. Chemistry of the once-young defense has had time to build after a couple years and the unbreakable bind they have on the field is a product of their relentless effort.
"Our confidence has sky rocketed because we all have come to play,” Taylor told the media. “We gel all together as one. We were ready to come out and be prepared for anything. Anybody we play, any formation, we are prepared. We have great cooperation with our coaches and I feel like when we play together as one, we are one of the top defenses in the nation. We can do anything right now."
Without a doubt, a rather large blunder of a final defensive play will be replayed as the Hoosiers prepare for Michigan.
Luckily one of the eight lateral passes was deemed a forward pass, so the touchdown was no good.
"I have never seen anything like that in person.” Allen said. “The year after I left Ole Miss, they had a play against Arkansas that was similar. Not quite as many laterals. I have never seen it in person. That is not a very good feeling when it is happening to you. Because, you think the game is over, you think you have got him and the guy is down, then all of a sudden you do not. One guy literally just heaved it over the back of his head! When the official told me that they thought one of the laterals was forward I just said 'thank you, Jesus'. Are you kidding me? At the point he said it was a penalty from the spot of the foul and a loss of down, which means we had the ball and the game would be over. It was crazy.”
The Hoosiers carry the brief celebrations and momentum back to Bloomington where they will buckle down and prepare to the Michigan Wolverines next Saturday at 12ET.