Game Wrap and Reaction: Minnesota 38 Indiana 31
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AP Photo/Stacy Bengs
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Opponent: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Location: TCF Bank Stadium Friday October 26th, 2018 Minneapolis, MN
Why They Played: The Hoosiers and Golden Gophers are meeting in a inter-divisional matchup for the first time since 2013 and are playing in Minneapolis for the first time since 2008.
What The Game Meant: This game could very well be the crossroads of Indiana’s season. The loss pushes the Hoosiers to 4-5.
Top Offensive Performers:
Stevie Scott, RB, Indiana- Scott had a solid game with 96 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, but Indiana abandoned the run early and then fell behind 31-9.
Shannon Brooks, RB, Minnesota- The oft injured running back returned to play and ran 22 times for 154 yards and a touchdown and was gashing Indiana’s defense until he left with an injury.
Tanner Morgan, QB, Minnesota- In his first career start the red shirt freshman threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 12.5 yards a pass attempt. He looked like a seasoned vet in a bad weather game.
Rashad Bateman and Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota- The wide receiving duo for the Gophers combined for nine catches, 210 yards and three scores. IU had no answer.
Top Defensive Performers
Bryant Fitzgerald, Husky, Indiana- On a night where defense was less than stellar, Fitzgerald fueled a comeback attempt with an interception and a forced fumble.
Conner Coughlin, DE, Minnesota-Coughlin made six tackles including the sack-fumble that essentially ended the game.
Special Teams Performance
I really have no answers here. IU was again bit in the rear end by a special teams error as Haydon Whitehead had a critical punt block that ultimately led to a touchdown. Whitehead only netted 31.5 yards per punt.
Logan Justus did his job and hit all three field goal attempts early on, however Indiana needed touchdowns. The kick return game simply doesn’t exist and punters are staying away from J-Shun Harris.
Key Stat(s)
24
The Gophers rattled off 24 straight points between the 6:19 mark in the second quarter to the 5:33 mark in the third to build a 31-9 lead. Ultimately, this hole proved too deep to come back from.
Turning Point
When IU couldn’t convert a third-and-one and Stevie Scott was stuffed on a third-straight run. IU would punt and Minnesota scored on a 67-yard pass the next play.
I Knew it Was Over When…
Rashad Bateman blew by the Indiana defense and hauled in a 67-yard bomb from Tanner Morgan to give the Gophers a 38-31 lead.
Players of the Game
Bryant Fitzgerald, Indiana- The redshirt freshman has been really good and you can add two more takeaways to his ledger.
Tanner Morgan, Minnesota- Indiana made Morgan look like Adam Weber as the redshirt freshman picked apart the IU defense for 302 yards and three scores.
What I took away from the game
The Indiana Hoosiers are seeing a 4-1 start and what looked to be a promising chance at a bowl bid slip through their fingers. Indiana is now 4-5 and are reeling into an open week. Sure, the comeback attempt was agonizingly fun. However, a very slow start and settling for three early field goals doomed the Hoosiers. This game was eerily similar to the Hoosiers last game against the Gophers. A 42-39 loss that cost a great IU offense a bowl game. Like that game, the Hoosiers kicked early field goals and fell behind by a large margin before mounting a comeback. IU just is not good enough to half-ass conference games and win. The defense was torched by a freshman making his first career start and the offense didn’t wake up against a leaky pass defense until the fourth quarter. Head coach Tom Allen has preached ‘Finish’ all year, on Friday night, they forgot to start and that very well may keep them finishing in 2018.
What’s Next
The Hoosiers will limp into the open week before facing Maryland at Memorial Stadium on November 10th.