Poor Finishes to Halves Ultimately Undo Indiana’s Upset Bid

Photo by joe robbins/getty images

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

On the game’s first drive of the day, a sure pick six went right through the hands of Bryant Fitzgerald and fell incomplete. Looking back, this was a terrific foreshadow of what was to come for Indiana’s defense for the remainder of the day: close, but ultimately falling short at the game’s most critical moments.

The defensive downfall was most evident at the close of both halves. After Michael Penix was able to scramble for a touchdown and tie the game up at 14 late in the first, the defense was unable to stop Spartan quarterback Brian Lewerke from extending the lead back to a touchdown and sucking away all momentum Indiana would have had going into the locker room. Lewerke was able to carve out huge chunks of yardage, capping the drive off with a 26-yard touchdown to Darrell Stewart in what appeared to be busted coverage for Indiana.

“It definitely feels good to be able to score when we need to and drive down there at the end and get points,” said Lewerke post game.

The Hoosiers defense was able to limit the Spartan offense most of the second half having allowed just 10 points with two minutes to play. Penix once again drove the offense down the field and capped off his impressive return from injury with a game-tying touchdown pass to Whop Philyor, who also had a career day. Unfortunately, too much time was left on the clock.

In just two plays, Lewerke once again exploited the Indiana defense and drove the Spartans 75 yards downfield into field goal range. A couple time-wasting kneels later, and the Spartan offense was able to put a bow on a homecoming victory with an extra-point-length game winning field goal.

“That was a tough way to lose. I thought our kids fought. It was hard to face them in the locker room knowing how hard they played,” said Coach Allen.

“We’ve got to find a way to make one more play.”

The opportunities to make one more play slipped away and once again the all-familiar story remained: Indiana sent home packing after a single-digit loss to a ranked opponent that they had battled with the entire day.

Defensively, true freshman Tiawan Mullen showed how much potential he has by making plays on both defense and special teams all day. He was just one of eighteen total freshman or sophomores listed on Indiana’s defensive two-deep today.

“He ain’t very big, but he’s a tough sucker. We want guys that want that challenge and he’s one of them.”

The potential is there. The breakthrough is still waiting to come.

“We’re for real. We’re going nowhere.”

The Hoosiers will have a bye next week before returning home to face Rutgers for homecoming October 12th.