Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 30 Ball State 20
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Nick Westbrook (15) races down field for a 79-yard TD. Image: Cam Koenig Hoosier Huddle.com
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Opponent: Ball State Cardinals
Location: Saturday September 10th, Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
Why They Played: Indiana and Ball State meet as the schools renew their series.
What The Game Meant
Indiana had lost the last three games in this series dating back to 2008, and that just is not a good look for a program trying to improve its image. A win would right a lot of wrongs, but more importantly the win gives IU two on the year in two games and makes the road to six a heck of a lot easier.
Top Offensive Performers
Nick Westbrook, WR, Indiana- Indiana was dealt a major blow Saturday afternoon as stud wide receiver Simmie Cobbs was potentially lost for the season to an ankle injury that will require surgery. Good news for the Hoosiers though, sophomore Nick Westbrook is ready to fill his shoes. Westbrook had three catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns. The first score was a beautiful diving grab on a 43-yard pass from Richard Lagow. The second took a little more work from Westbrook as he flashed his speed (even if Mitchell Paige thinks he’s slow) taking a screen pass 79-yards.
KeVonn Mabon, WR, Ball State- Coming into the game, Mabon was the matchup to watch for HoosierHuddle.com writer Alex Compton and he had the best day of all the offensive players for the Cardinals despite not reaching the end zone. He made five catches for 84 yards, ran the ball once for five, and 34 yards on kick return. IU did a nice job of limiting him, but he was still Ball State’s most dangerous player.
Top Defensive Performers
Marcelino Ball, Husky, Indiana- Ball, just 17 years old, has quickly become a fan favorite and for good reason as well. Ball led the Hoosiers in tackles with eight tackles, all solo. He also had his first career interception as Ball State quarterback Riley Neal tried to beat him over the top. Ball has the potential to be a freshman All-American if he keeps playing the way he has.
Marcus Oliver, Linebacker, Indiana- Oliver has become one of Indiana’s most consistent defensive players over the past two seasons. He finished the day with eight tackles, one for a loss, and a forced fumble.
Martez Hester, Safety, Ball State- Hester had a very solid afternoon for the Cardinals compiling seven tackles, including a sack.
Anthony Winbush, Defensive End, Ball State- Winbush was a pain in the back-side for the Hoosiers Saturday as he was extremely disruptive in the backfield. He only tallied two tackles, but both were sacks.
Special Team Performance
Special teams once again,was good, but in need of cleaning up and more consistency. Joseph Gedeon started off well, but a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown pulled his net average down to just 29.3 yards per punt. However, he did pin Ball State inside the 20 four times.
Griffin Oakes was perfect on field goals going three-for-three with a long of 49 yards. He was solid as usual on kickoffs and was given a rest late in the game as Aaron Del Grosso took the final kick for the Hoosiers.
Both return units were good, even though a holding penalty negated a nice punt return from Rashard Fant. In the second half the Hoosiers used freshman Cole Gest on kick returns and received a good effort as Gest averaged 24 yards per return.
Key Stat(s):
2-for-13
One of the biggest complaints about the win on Saturday was the lack of flow on offense from the Hoosiers. While Indiana did put up 30 points, they probably should have put up much more. However, going a paltry two-for-13 on third downs will bog down any offense. A 15.4 percent success rate on third down is absolutely awful. IU needs to get into better third down situations and cut out the penalties and sloppiness that puts them in those situations.
Turning Point
The turning point in this game came early. Ball State was trailing 10-0 but had put together a very good drive covering 72 yards on seven plays and were set to get back in the game when James Gilbert fumbled at the Indiana three-yard line. If Ball State scores there, it is a different game. They didn’t and Indiana went on to open a 30-point lead.
I Knew it Was Over When…
When Indiana got one first down on their final drive. Ultimately, they gave Ball State the ball back with 34 seconds left, but down 10 it would have taken a miracle to tie the game or take the lead.
Players of the Game
Nick Westbrook, Indiana- The Hoosiers will need more of this from Westbrook since Cobbs is sidelined. Westbrook has both the size and speed to be a very good, if not elite receiver in the Big Ten.
KeVonn Mabon, Ball State- Mabon put up 126 total yards, he did everything but find the end zone.
What I took away from the game
Yes, it is just Ball State, a Mid-American Conference team coming off a 3-9 season, but this game meant more than that for IU. Ball State came in having won the last three games in the intra-state series. The game started well for the Hoosiers, showing flashes of the big-play offense that was at the top of the Big Ten last season, but they still battled consistency issues and injuries to two of their top offensive players in wide out Simmie Cobbs (ankle) and guard Dan Feeney (concussion). Cobbs is likely out for the season and Feeney could be back for the Hoosiers next game against Wake Forest on September 24th. The loss of Feeney hampered the Hoosiers offense more so than Cobbs.
After putting together a solid performance against FIU, quarterback Richard Lagow started hot hitting 16-of-25 for 254 yards with two scores through three quarters. However, in the final 29:17 of the game was just 2-for-6. Whether it was because of the game plan or just sitting on a 30-0 lead, the Hoosiers became extremely conservative and took the ball out of Lagow’s hands.
What may be of a bigger concern though, is the play of the Indiana offensive line. Losing Feeney was a huge blow, but IU had issues before he left the game. Fifth-year senior Dimitric Camiel was flagged for a personal foul that took the Hoosiers off the Ball State goal line and probably took four points off the board for IU on their first drive. The offensive line also allowed four sacks of Lagow. Indiana was not great running the ball, a main reason for the bogged down offense late in the game. As a team, the Hoosiers averaged just 4.2 yards per carry. While Redding cracked the 100-yard threshold for the fifth-straight game dating back to last year’s game at Maryland, he struggled to get going finishing with 110 yard on 26 carries. 4.2 yards per rush against a MAC school just isn’t going to cut it for an offensive line that is supposed to be one of the best in the country. On the plus-side Indiana has to like what they received from Mike Majette (six carries 57 yards) and Devonte Williams (seven carries for 36 yards).
On the other side of the ball the Hoosiers continue to impress. Indiana had not had a shutout since 1993 and was threatening to break that streak late into the third quarter. The defense carried IU most of the day again taking the ball away three times in the first half leading to six points. A week ago Ball State ran for 325 yards, IU held them to 140 and just 3.7 a carry with no touchdowns. Ball State only totaled 371 yards of offense and just 18 first downs, two coming by way of soft pass interference calls. The Hoosiers got better pressure accounting for seven tackles for loss and two sacks. Even though the Hoosiers let up 17 points in the fourth quarter because they were on the field over half of the quarter, the defense played very, very well.
Indiana heads into their open week at 2-0, exactly where they want to and expect to be. There is plenty to clean up heading into the final non-conference match-up in two weeks against Wake Forest. The week “off” will allow some players who are banged up to get healthy and for the offense to find a better rhythm. This defense was more than a one-game fluke and should continue to improve as the season goes a long.
Was it a thing of beauty on Saturday? No, but Indiana knocked off Ball State for the first time under Kevin Wilson and that is fine for now.