Tevin Coleman Rushes for 307 yards, but Hoosiers fall 45-23 at Rutgers
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Tevin Coleman's career day could not lift the Hoosiers over the Scarlet Knights. Image Source: OntheBanks.com
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
--Piscataway, NJ- The Indiana Hoosiers (3-7, 0-6) clinched another losing season despite a record day from running back Tevin Coleman in a 45-23 loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-4, 2-4). The Hoosiers wasted a career high 307 yards rushing performance by Coleman. The Hoosiers started the game with a gutsy onside kick call that resulted in a Griffin Oakes 48-yard field goal. Rutgers tied the game at three with 3:12 left in the first quarter and took a 10-3 lead on freshman Robert Martin’s 2-yard run with 6:12 left in the half. The last thirty seconds of the first half provided more fireworks than the first 29:30, as Tevin Coleman broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown to put the Hoosiers up 13-0. Janarion Grant of the Scarlet Knights then took the ensuing kickoff 71 yards down to the Hoosier 29-yard line. Rutgers’ kicker Kyle Federico ended up hitting the cross bar on a 46-yard field goal attempt. Indiana received the second half kick and Coleman nearly went for another touchdown as he scampered 68 yards down the sideline to the Rutgers five. The Hoosiers could not punch it in from there and had to settle for a 28-yard Oakes field goal to push the score to 16-10. Rutgers would grab the lead back on their next drive going 80 yards in six plays capped off by a 47-yard run by Martin. After a three-and-out by the Indiana offense, Rutgers increased their lead to 24-16 when quarterback Gary Nova found Leonte Carroo for the first of his two scores on the day. The Scarlet Knights would take advantage of a fumbled fake punt by Erich Toth and score on a nine-yard Josh Hicks run. The Hoosiers trailed 31-16 heading into the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers got right back in the game when quarterback Zander Diamont found Shane Wynn wide open in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown. It was Diamont’s first career touchdown pass and the Hoosiers’ first passing score since October 11th against Iowa. From there the wheels feel off for Indiana. The Hoosiers had just received the ball at their own 41-yard line down one score when Tevin Coleman carries the ball six yards, but after the play true freshman tight end Jordan Fuchs, a one-time Rutgers commit, was called for a personal foul. This killed any and all momentum Indiana had as Diamont was sacked two plays later and IU punted back to Rutgers, who scored on a 56-yard pass from Nova to Carroo to go back up two scores. Rutgers would cap off the scoring with another short run by Martin to make it 45-23.