Hoosiers Fall Short Against Louisville 21-14 at Lucas Oil Stadium

Written by: TJ Inman

The Indiana Hoosiers (1-2) and Louisville Cardinals (3-0) met at Lucas Oil Stadium in front of a split crowd. Despite a second half comeback by the Hoosiers, Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals hung on for a 21-14 victory to stay unbeaten on the young season and winning the first meeting between the two schools since 1986. It was a tale of two halves with Louisville dominating the second half and then needing a goal line stand to survive a Hoosier surge late.

The Indiana Hoosiers began with the ball and drove into Louisville territory by featuring Jaylin Lucas on the first three plays of the game. The drive stalled just outside of scoring territory and James Evans pinned Louisville inside the ten-yard line. The Louisville Cardinals moved the ball well with a mix of the pass and the run but the Hoosiers stopped them at the 21-yard line and forced a field goal attempt from 38 yards out. The kick was missed wide and the game remained scoreless. The Hoosiers again got a few first downs and marched near scoring territory but Tayven Jackson fired high on third and 12 and Louisville’s Cameron Kelly intercepted his pass. Two plays later, Jack Plummer lofted the ball to a wide open Jamari Thrash and he pulled away from the Hoosiers defense for an 85-yard touchdown. IU got one first down but had to punt and Louisville’s offensive speed again proved to be a problem for the IU defense. The Cardinals converted multiple third downs and methodically moved into the red zone where Maurice Turner punched it in for a two-yard touchdown to put Louisville ahead 14-0. The IU offense struggled to get anything going, getting one first down before a poor snap backed them into a second and 22 situation that ended in an eventual punt. Louisville got another long completion to Jamari Thrash and Jawhar Jordan paid off the drive with a 25-yard run to put the Cardinals ahead 21-0. It was a nightmare first 30 minutes for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Tom Allen attempted to jumpstart his team with an onside kick try to start the second half. It was perfectly executed by Indiana’s Chris Freeman and Louis Moore and the Hoosiers recovered on the 46-yard line. Jaylin Lucas had a nice gain for a first down and Tayven Jackson connected with Lucas for a 30-yard score to put the Hoosiers on the board and cut the deficit to 21-7. A holding penalty moved Louisville back and IU’s defense forced a punt. The kick was shanked, setting the Hoosiers up with good field position at the 44-yard line. Indiana could not take advantage of it though and failed to convert a fourth and three. IU’s defense refused to surrender though and a deep pass by Jack Plummer was intercepted by Philip Dunnam at the three-yard line. Tayven Jackson was faced with a long field but delivered a terrific drive with completions to Cam Camper and Bradley Archer setting up a powerful touchdown run for Josh Henderson to make it 21-14. Indiana’s defense seized on the momentum and stopped Louisville, giving the Hoosiers the ball back with a chance to tie the contest. The Hoosiers went nowhere and had to punt back to Louisville but the defense stood tall and got the IU offense the ball back at the ten-yard line with less than nine minutes remaining. Tayven Jackson moved the offense down the field and into scoring territory as Louisville was called for a pass interference penalty that put the Hoosiers at the two-yard line. A false start penalty moved IU back to the seven-yard line and two short runs set up a third and goal. Tayven Jackson scrambled to his right and dove for the end zone but was ruled down at the two-yard line. A video review moved the ball inside the one-yard line for a fourth down play but a handoff up the middle to Josh Henderson was stuffed by Louisville. The Cardinals took over possession and did not relinquish it, running out the clock and ending IU’s comeback effort short.

After allowing 21 points and more than 300 yards of offense in the first half, IU’s defense shutout Louisville in the second half and the offense was lightyears better in the second thirty minutes as well. In total, Louisville outgained IU 422 to 357 with Tayven Jackson throwing for 299 yards on 24 of 34 passing. Jaylin Lucas led the Hoosiers in receiving with 98 yards and a touchdown. The Hoosiers will head back to Bloomington and play the Akron Zips next Saturday before diving back into Big Ten play on September 30.