Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 31 Washington 17

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Washington Huskies

Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

Why They Played: 

The Hoosiers played the Huskies for the first time as members of the Big Ten. IU last played Washington in 2003.

What The Game Meant: 

All of the hype was in Bloomington for Saturday as ESPN’s College GameDay was in town for their pregame show. IU showed that it could still compete with a good Washington team with a backup quarterback.

Top Offensive Performers:

Justice Ellison, RB, Indiana-  Ellison had an old school Big Ten running game and it pounded the Washington defense into submission. He ran the ball 29 times for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Indiana Offensive Line- This offensive line does not get enough credit. They paved the way for 194 rushing yards (taking out the kneel downs) and did not allow a sack or a tackle for loss. They made the Washington defensive line quit. IU bled out the final six minutes of the game thanks to the big fellas.

Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington- Coleman will be an NFL back when it is time. He sparked the Washington offense with 104 yards on the ground, including a 46-yard run that set up a touchdown.

Top Defensive Performers:

D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana- Ponds set the tone early and sparked Indiana with a 65-yard pick six. He set up Indiana’s second touchdown with a spectacular interception where he knocked the ball up to himself and caught it while falling backwards. In total he made five tackles, half a tackle for loss and held Denzel Boston in check all game.

Alphonzo Tuputala, LB, Washington- Tuputala led all tackles with 14. He had Washington’s only quarterback pressure as well.

Special Teams Performance:

Indiana kicker Nico Radicic is closing in on IU’s single-season record for most extra points (he needs five more to tie). He also made the rare IU field goal attempt. Punter James Evans was solid in the most work he has seen all season.

However, the biggest play of the game came on a 67-yard punt return by Myles Price. That return helped IU put the game away in the fourth quarter.

Key Stat(s):

14-7

IU scored 14 points off of Washington turnovers while the Huskies only scored seven off their only takeaway.

Turning Point:

The game turned on Indiana’s second drive of the second half. After Washington cut IU’s lead to 17-14, the Hoosiers marched 75 yards in 7:42 and capped it off with a Justice Ellison touchdown run. This pushed the lead to 24-14 and IU never really looked back.

I Knew it Was Over When…

Washington decided to kick it deep after kicking a field goal to make it 31-17 IU. The Hoosiers would not give the ball back.

What I take away From the Game:

For the first time all season Indiana faced real adversity. The Hoosiers were without starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke and saw a lead dwindle to three points as the offense sputtered. Everyone wanted to see how the team who has not trailed for a single second this season. The Hoosiers responded, like they have all season, with a 21-3 run and moved to 8-0.

While the offense struggled early, the defense set the tone with pressure on Washington and two interceptions by D’Angelo Ponds. The Huskies are a solid offensive team and Jonah Coleman is a tough runner to stop, but IU answered the bell.

Saturday showed IU could put aside an injury to Rourke and all the hoopla of College GameDay to just out work and out tough a conference opponent for a win. IU has put themselves squarely in the conversation of the College Football Playoff as the calendar flips to November. We’ll see what the committee does, but all IU can do is keep winning.

What’s Next

The Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0) hit the road to face the Michigan State Spartans in the Battle for the Old Brass Spittoon.