Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 42 Maryland 28
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Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Opponent: Maryland Terrapins
Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Why They Played:
The Hoosiers played the Terrapins as they returned to Big Ten play
What The Game Meant:
Maryland was the best team IU has seen this season and it was a test to see where IU stood. While the Hoosiers didn’t play their cleanest game, they controlled most of the game and walked away with a 42-28 win to move to 5-0 (2-0).
Top Offensive Performers:
Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana- Rourke threw his first two interceptions on the first two drives and fumbled late in the game, but the veteran shook off the mistakes and threw for three touchdowns and 359 yards.
Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana- Sarratt had his most productive game as a Hoosiers. He made seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. He gained the tough yards after the catch and just snatched passes out of the air. He now has caught a pass in 30-straight college football games.
Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana- At the beginning of the year we said Cooper was a candidate for a breakout season. He’s done just that. He made four catches for 83 yards and a beautiful touchdown right before half time.
Roman Hemby, RB, Maryland- Maryland struggled moving the ball on the ground coming into Saturday, but Hemby is an All-Big Ten runner and showed why Saturday. He ran 10 times for 117 yards including a 75-yard touchdown. He also added five catches for 48 yards and another touchdown.
Top Defensive Performers:
James Carpenter, DL, Indiana- James Carpenter’s impact on the defense is not always shown in the box score. However, on Saturday it was. Carpenter had two sacks and was a menace chasing down ball carriers all over.
Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana- Fisher tied his season-high of 12 tackles and laid the boom on Maryland ball carriers multiple times on Saturday. He added half a sack as well.
Michael Harris, LB, Maryland- Harris came off the bench to lead the Terrapins in tackles with 10. He had a tackle for loss and forced an IU fumble.
Special Teams Performance:
On a rainy, windy day the Hoosiers specialists did not make a critical mistake. Were there small issues? Yes, but that happens in bad weather.
James Evans punted four times for an average of 47 yards and hit two over 50 yards and downed two inside the 20-yard line. He did shank his first punt, but was outstanding the rest of the way.
Myles Price had a couple decent returns in the punt game and the second-team punt coverage unit blocked Maryland’s final punt of the day.
Nico Radidic remained perfect on extra points and IU didn’t need to kick a field goal.
Kickoff man Quinn Warren answered the bell after Derek McCormick and Alejandro Quintaro were ruled out before the game. If his kicks did not go for touchbacks, they were held to short returns.
IU’s return game did not attempt a return, but they did recover Maryland’s onside kick attempt with no issue.
Key Stat(s):
4,0 and -8
Indiana’s offense turned the ball over four times. However, the Indiana defense responded in a resounding way. The IU defense held Maryland with zero first downs and to minus-eight yards on the four drives after a turnover. It was the first time IU won a game while committing four turnovers since the 2016 Old Oaken Bucket game.
Turning Point:
The game turned when IU put together three touchdown drives between the end of the third quarter and 4:09 left of the fourth quarter. They took the score from 21-21 to 42-21.
I Knew it Was Over When…
Amare Ferrell recovered Maryland’s onside kick to preserve a 14-point lead.
What I take away From the Game:
The big question heading into this game, besides the weather, was if Indiana was for real as they faced their toughest opponent to date. Maryland came in with the conference’s leading passer and leading receiver with a defense that could take the ball away. Those questions have been answered as IU put a beating on Maryland despite losing the turnover battle 4-0.
On offense, the Hoosiers proved that they could handle some adversity. After four turnovers, three from Kurtis Rourke, they kept their composure and rallied to make big plays and put up 42 points. The Hoosiers ran and threw the ball well with basically everyone contributing. It was great to see Donaven McCulley get into the end zone on his lone look.
The Hoosier fans impressed in the stands as well. Cignetti challenged the student body to show up and they did while 95-percent of them stayed for the entire game in a soaking drizzle. They were loud and showed what kind of atmosphere could be built with more people in the stands in Memorial Stadium.
IU is 5-0 for the first time since 1967 and have not trailed for a second in 2024. They have all the momentum in the world right now and will try and package that up for a road trip to Northwestern. The Hoosiers have not won in Evanston since 1993 (!). Although they have not played up there since 2016 thanks to the Big Ten schedulers.
What’s Next
The Hoosiers (5-0, 2-0) hit the road to Northwestern to play the Wildcats.
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