Game Wrap and Reaction: No. 2 Indiana 55 Maryland 10
Opponent: Maryland Terrapins
Location: SECU Stadium College Park, Maryland
Why They Played:
The Hoosiers and Terrapins have met annually since 2014 as members of the Big Ten conference.
What The Game Meant:
The Hoosiers entered the game pretty banged up as they were without All-American Aiden Fisher and starting guard Drew Evans. The pressure on the Hoosiers gets turned up a notch every game with Big Ten title and College Football Playoff implications.
Heartwork Brewing Players of the Game
Offense
Indiana Running Game- The Indiana running backs and offensive line mauled Maryland (after a slow start). The Hoosiers ran the ball 52 times for 367 yards and four touchdowns. When the IU passing game wasn’t being taken away, the Hoosiers just bullied Maryland and ran it down their throats. Even Fernando Mendoza got in on the rushing action with 24 yards and a touchdown.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana- Cooper was IU’s leading receiver on a day when IU lost Elijah Sarratt early to a hamstring injury. He had seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Dejuan Williams, WR, Maryland- WIlliams had four catches for 78 yards and Maryland’s only touchdown.
Defense
Devan Boykin, Rover, Indiana- Boykin has emerged from under the radar the last two weeks to have a couple of IU’s biggest plays. On Saturday his highlight of the day was when he poked the ball loose from Maryland quarterback Malik Washington, picked it up and ran 32 yards before diving into the end zone for a touchdown. He finished with four tackles, a tackle for loss and the scoop-and-score.
IU Pass Rush- In a game where IU had no sacks, it may be odd that IU’s pass rush is listed here. However, the pass rush caused plenty of issues for Maryland. On multiple throws the rush forced Washington into bad throws which caused interceptions or forced a fumble. This is a beyond the box score type of accolade.
Indiana Special Teams Performance
It was a blustery first half at SECU Stadium, which allowed for IU to return a few kickoffs. Maryland kicked short of the end zone allowing Roman Hemby to get a few chances. He had three returns for 62 yards.
Punter Mitch McCarthy only punted once. It was into the 20 mph wind and only traveled 36 yards. Returner Jonathan Brady did not get a chance to return a punt.
Quinn Warren (8) and Nico Radicic (2) handled kickoffs for IU Saturday in the absence of Brendan Franke. There were no touchbacks, but IU’s coverage teams did not allow a big return.
Radicic nailed both field goals despite Maryland’s best score board efforts to distract him and made all seven of his extra points. The IU record book is close to being re-written by Radicic.
Key Stat(s):
24 From 5
The Hoosiers forced five turnovers and scored 24 points off of them. If the last of the five didn’t occur in the final minute of the game, IU probably scores more.
Turning Point
With IU up 7-3 reserve linebacker Kaiden Turner intercepted a pass at the Indiana 33-yard line. IU would extend the lead to 10-3 on the ensuing drive. On the next Maryland drive Louis Moore made a great play and intercepted another pass. IU would score a touchdown off that and make it 17-3.
I Knew it Was Over When…
When Indiana rover Devan Boykin stripped Malik Washington, picked up the fumble and ran 32 yards for a touchdown to give IU a 34-10 lead.
What I take away From the Game
For the first five minutes of game time Hoosier Nation was on pins and needles. IU was already without Drew Evans and Aiden Fisher when Elijah Sarratt went to the injury tent. There was also an interception on IU’s first drive and Evans’ replacement Zen Michalski looked like a turnstile. However, IU’s defense collectively put on the Superman cape and righted the ship.
IU survived that frantic first five minutes and ended up dominating Maryland 55-10. The ground game and the defense forcing turnovers was the story of the day. Maryland did a really good job of taking the passing game away from IU. They got their hands up at the line of scrimmage, took some passing lanes away and forced an early interception. The good news for the Hoosiers is that this is not a one-dimensional offense.
After the defense pulled IU through rough waters, it was the running game that powered the engines to get the Hoosiers safely into harbor. Even without Evans, the Hoosiers ran for 367 yards and four scores.
The biggest concern coming out of this game are the injuries. With Sarratt being held out of most of the game with hamstring tightness and Aiden Fisher not playing injuries are mounting. Linebacker Kaiden Turner left the game early as well and did not return with a calf injury. Kahlil Benson limped off, but returned. IU will already be without Drew Evans for a couple weeks, but all eyes will be on the injury report next Saturday morning.
The silver lining for the Hoosiers is that they got to see who the next man up is at a few positions and they played well. Charlie Becker filled in nicely for Sarratt and Kaiden Turner made a big play, even though he also got hurt. When Jeff Utzinger came in for him, he immediately had a tackle for loss.
With each win the outside pressure on IU gets higher and higher. This week the Hoosiers travel to Penn State to take on the reeling Nittany Lions who have lost five in a row.
What’s Next
IU is 9-0 and will head to Happy Valley, a place they have never won, to face a reeling Penn State team.