Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers have been here before. There were expectations and hopes and optimism as IU was off to a 4-2 start and facing a team that they were capable of beating. Indiana (5-2) entered Saturday’s contest at Maryland (3-4) as slight favorites but both teams were pointing to this game as the “50/50” bout in the Big Ten East. Things seemed headed for a very familiar outcome, a crushing defeat the deflates the momentum surrounding the program. However, Tom Allen’s squad changed the story on Saturday evening in College Park as they seized a 34-28 victory that puts them one win shy of a bowl game. Javon Leake had 158 yards rushing with two touchdowns for the Terrapins but it was not enough as IU’s defense had back-to-back takeaways to close the contest.

The Indiana Hoosiers offense continued to play well as they took the opening possession 69 yards and Michael Penix Jr. connected with Donavan Hale for a 28 yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Maryland responded with a nice drive of their own that was greatly aided by Indiana penalties. The Hoosiers gave Maryland 40 yards and the Terrapins took advantage. Tyrell Pigrome completed an 11 yard touchdown pass to Chigoziem Okonkwo to tie the game. Indiana kept clicking on offense on the ensuing possession, this time mixing in the running game. Stevie Scott pounded it into the end zone from three yards out and IU regained the lead, 14-7. Maryland’s offense faltered as the Terrapins went three and out. The Hoosiers were on the verge of going ahead 21-7 but Penix’s pass bounced off the hands of Peyton Hendershot and Maryland’s Antoine Brooks Jr. made an athletic catch in the end zone to give the ball back to the Terrapins. Running back Javon Leake made the Hoosiers pay just a couple of plays later, breaking through the defense for a 60 yard touchdown to tie the game at 14. IU was forced to make a change at quarterback as Penix left with an injury and was replaced by Peyton Ramsey. The redshirt junior led the Hoosiers on a nice drive but it sputtered just short of the end zone and IU settled for a 21 yard field goal from Logan Justus. Maryland took their first lead of the contest on the next drive with Terrapin receiver Dontay Demus catching a pair of passes, including one for a touchdown to make it 21-17. IU responded with a very nice drive to take the lead back before halftime as Peyton Ramsey threw to the end zone and Nick Westbrook made a phenomenal catch for a 26 yard touchdown with just 24 seconds left in the half. The Hoosiers went into the locker room ahead 24-21.

Maryland began the second half with the ball but IU forced a three and out. Both defenses played better in the second half as the two sides traded punts until the Hoosiers turned to the running game for the first score of the second half. Indiana ran it on every play and Stevie Scott dove into the end zone for a nine yard score to put the Hoosiers ahead 31-21. Maryland had their backs to the wall facing a third and 17 and down by ten but they converted that play and then scored on a two yard run by Javon Leake to cut the deficit to three at 31-28 at the end of the third quarter. The two teams traded punts with the Hoosiers taking possession again with 5:22 remaining. Indiana’s offense failed to do anything, going three and out and giving Maryland the ball back at the 18 with 3:50 remaining. On first down, Juwan Burgess ripped the ball from Javon Leake and recovered the fumble at the 15 with 3:42 left. IU’s offense again failed to put Maryland away as they were forced into a field goal. Logan Justus connected on his second field goal of the day and IU went ahead 34-28 with 2:49 to play. Maryland started at the 25 and was faced with a fourth and three with 1:22 left and Pigrome scampered away for a first down. However, just two plays later, Tyrell Pigrome threw it deep and overshot his receiver and Reece Taylor intercepted the pass and sealed the thrilling victory for the Hoosiers.

Peyton Ramsey and Mike Penix combined to lead the Hoosiers to 520 yards of offense as Indiana outgained 520 to 383. Ramsey was 20-27 for 193 yards with one touchdown and Stevie Scott ran the ball 18 times for 108 yards with two touchdowns. The Hoosiers are 5-2 for the first time in more than a decade as they found a way to win a toss-up game on the road. They are now just one game away from bowl eligibility and will look to reach the postseason with a win next Saturday at Nebraska. Hoosier Huddle will have coverage of the game as well as any update on the injury to Michael Penix.

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Hoosiers Grab Colossal Win in College Park

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