'Hoosier Classics' Showing Indiana's Bowl Eligibility Clinching Win Over Ball State in 2007

Image: Indiana University Athletics

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana University athletics has been re-airing classic IU football games over the last four nights. Sunday night will be the fifth installment and feature Indiana’s 38-20 win over the Ball State Cardinals in 2007 in front of 34,406 at Memorial Stadium. After moving to 5-1 against Minnesota in October, the Hoosiers dropped their next three contests in the quest to ‘Play 13’. A November non-conference game against Ball State loomed large as the Hoosiers’ final two games were a road trip to Northwestern and a home date with Purdue.

The Hoosiers journey hit a first quarter road bump as the Cardinals jumped out to a 10-3 lead behind an Ian McGarvey 19-yard field goal and a Chris Clancy four-yard touchdown run. It was understandable that Hoosier Nation would be on pins and needles as it might seem their magical season was slipping away.

However, the Hoosiers put all fans at ease with a 21-point second quarter that saw quarterback Kellen Lewis create big play after big play. Leiws hit wide receiver Ray Fisher for a 60-yard touchdown to tie the score at 10. Lewis finished the day completing 22-of-35 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis did throw an interception that helped set up Ball State’s first score. On the ensuing Ball State drive, Cardinal quarterback Nate Davis threw an interception to Indiana’s Chris Phillips who returned it 58 yards for the go-ahead score. Davis threw two interceptions and one touchdown on the afternoon, but threw for 332 yards on 26-of-48 passing.

The Hoosiers would extend the lead to 24-10 with 3:24 to go before half time as Lewis found James Hardy on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Hardy would add another touchdown in the second half, before Fisher found the end zone again to put the game away early in the fourth quarter.

Led by Lewis and the four combined touchdown catches from Fisher and Hardy the Hoosiers would win comfortably to clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 1994. Defensively, Adam McClurg had 12 tackles and three tackles for a loss and the Hoosier pass defense picked off two throws and had 10 pass break ups. Jammie Kirlew also added three tackles for loss and the Hoosiers totaled nine for the day.

Fans can tune into the re-broadcast of this game from November 3, 2007 on Indiana’s Facebook Page at 7pm on Sunday, April 19.