Hoosiers Hapless in 45-14 Drubbing Against Penn State

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers entered Saturday’s game as losers of five straight. They were also coming off of a bye week and had a chance to reset the season before the final four games. The coaching staff settled on starting Jack Tuttle, despite knowing he was transferring at the end of the season. Penn State has two defeats on the season but rumors about a quarterback change for the Nittany Lions swirled like the strong winds that blew through Bloomington and Memorial Stadium. Just two short seasons ago, Indiana defeated the Nittany Lions in a thrilling 36-35 contest but the two sides could not have looked more different today. Penn State blasted IU as Jack Tuttle exited in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and the Hoosiers offensive line was overmatched all game. PSU outgained IU 457-196 and scored 38 straight points to pull away and move to 7-2 on the season with a 45-14 walloping of Indiana.

Penn State began the game with the ball, earning one first down before a sack by Alfred Bryant forced a Nittany Lion punt. The Hoosiers quickly went three and out as a negative play put them behind the chains. A short punt gave Penn State the ball at the 47-yard line. A pair of great catches on third downs helped move the ball downfield and Nicholas Singleton scampered to the outside for a short touchdown to put the Nittany Lions ahead 7-0. IU took over after a touchback and orchestrated its best drive of the game. Andison Coby had a long catch and run on a crossing route, Jack Tuttle scrambled for a first down and then AJ Barner caught a touchdown pass from 11 yards out to tie the game. On the very next play, Tiawan Mullen intercepted a tipped pass and the Hoosiers had the only momentum they would have all day. It would not last long. They went backwards on offense, losing yardage on multiple plays and punting on fourth and 35. The punt pinned PSU on the two and after a couple of first down, the Hoosiers forced a punt. IU went three and out followed by a Penn State three and out and then another from Indiana. A nice punt return from the Nittany Lions set the road team up on the Indiana 38-yard line and unlike the Hoosiers, they were able to take advantage. Kaytron Allen went for 27 yards followed by an 11-yard touchdown run and in just two plays, the Nittany Lions led 14-7. The Hoosiers went three and out yet again as the offensive line struggled to block for even the shortest amount of time. A late hit on Devon Matthews gave PSU a first down and then Kaytron Allen took over on the ground, pounding it into the end zone and bulldozing IU defenders to give Penn State a 21-7 lead. Indiana’s next drive saw Jack Tuttle sacked and land on his shoulder. He had to exit the game and headed to the locker room, forcing freshman Brendan Sorsby into the game. He was sacked on the next two plays meaning the offensive line gave up three sacks on three plays. Penn State again had the ball in IU territory and Jake Pinegar hit a 50-yard field goal with less than one minute before the end of the first half. As the teams headed to the locker room, the Hoosiers trailed 24-7.

The second half began much as most of the first half went as the Hoosiers went three and out and failed to block at all. Penn State was unable to generate any offense and had to punt the ball back to Indiana but Brendan Sorsby’s deep pass was intercepted by the Nittany Lions. A penalty backed them up to the three-yard line but that did not matter to the Nittany Lions. Penn State marched down the field and Kaytron Allen scored yet again, this time from six yards away to go ahead 31-7. Indiana went three and out yet again and Penn State turned to backup quarterback Drew Allar. The Nittany Lions punted the ball away and IU gave the keys to their Ford Pinto of an offense to sophomore Dexter Williams. A couple of first downs put the Hoosiers inside the red zone but they came up short on a fourth down attempt and gave the ball back to Penn State. The Nittany Lions scored on a one-yard pass from Allar to Harrison Wallace to go ahead 38-7. On the next play, Dexter Williams sailed the ball high and Penn State returned an interception to the Indiana four-yard line, scoring one play later with Allar finding a wide-open Theo Johnson to make it 45-7. Dexter Williams was able to pick up a pair of first downs but that was all as IU chose to punt in Penn State territory. It was another good punt from James Evans and Penn State started the possession on the one-yard line. The Nittany Lions went three and out and gave the ball back to IU at the 42-yard line and a personal foul on Penn State gave the Hoosiers a first down. Jaylin Lucas got into the end zone with a short touchdown run to make the score 45-14. Penn State ran the final six minutes of the game out with the ball to cap off the 45-14 victory.

Indiana will now travel to Columbus to play the Ohio State Buckeyes and a loss would officially eliminate them from bowl contention. Hoosier Huddle will have ongoing coverage of this defeat and the continued unraveling of the Indiana football program.