Hoosiers Rally For 34-32 Win Against Maryland

Indiana players celebrate a win over Maryland Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Winter came early to Bloomington as a fresh dusting of snow covered the field early Saturday morning before turning into a crisp, cold sun-splashed afternoon.  A sparse crowd of 35,264 braved the sub-freezing temperatures saw the Indiana Hoosiers (5-5, 2-5) jump out to a 31-15 lead halfway through the third quarter only to need a late field goal by Logan Justus and a fumble recovery from Nile Sykes to seal a 34-32 win over the Terrapins and keep their bowl hopes alive.

Maryland controlled the pace of play early on jumping out to a 6-0 lead by the end of the first quarter on two red zone field goals.

The tables turned in the second quarter as Indiana put up 21 unanswered points off of two big takeaways. The Hoosiers got on the board when quarterback Peyton Ramsey juked defenders on to way to a 35-yard touchdown run. The next two scores, a 37-yard touchdown pass from Ramsey to Donavan Hale and a two-yard run by freshman Stevie Scott, were set up by a Jaylin Williams interception and a Jerome Johnson fumble recovery to put Indiana ahead 21-6. For the game IU scored 17 points off of four Maryland turnovers. Maryland would close to 21-15 before halftime as they scored 10 points in the final 3:04 of the first half.

The Hoosiers came out aggressively in the third quarter and pushed their lead to 28-15 on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ramsey to Nick Westbrook, that was reviewed and ultimately upheld. The touchdown was set up by a gutsy call on fourth-and-three where Ramsey picked up 11 yards on a run.

Indiana head coach Tom Allen explained after the game that, “I just want to be more aggressive. I just think that's how you win.”Aggressive is what the Hoosiers were most of the day as they threw the ball down field often. Ramsey finished the day 16-for-28 for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hoosiers would grab their biggest lead of the day at 31-15 after Justus turned a Lance Bryant fumble recovery into three points. From there the Hoosiers saw Maryland chip away at their lead using backup quarterback Tyrell Pigrome, who replaced an injured Kasim Hill, and running back Anthony McFarland. The Terrapins scored 17 unanswered points to grab a 32-31 lead after a failed two-point conversion on a Jeshaun Jones 15-yard touchdown catch.

As the natives became restless having seen this all before, the Hoosiers were putting together the game-winning drive. The Hoosiers got a boost from a 23-yard kick return from Marcelino Ball which set them up with terrific field position at their own 40-yard line. The Hoosiers quickly were into Maryland territory after Stevie Scott broke loose for a 27-yard run to the Maryland 33-yard line. IU would gain nine more yards on three plays before running Logan Justus out for a 42-yard field goal attempt with 2:32 left in the game. The ball sailed through the chilled air and split the uprights giving the Hoosiers a 34-32 lead.

Maryland’s final drive gained 30 yards on six plays, but was snuffed out when Pigrome fumbled and Indiana defensive end Nile Sykes fell on the ball.

The win evens the Hoosiers record at 5-5 as they were led by Ramsey’s arm and big days from Donavan Hale (three catches for 92 yards and a touchdown) and Stevie Scott who racked up 103 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Indiana heads to Ann Arbor next week to face the Michigan Wolverines.