November 20, 2022 | Daddy Hoosier | iufb.net
The Indiana Football Hoosiers did it. Not many thought they had what it took but they did. IU went into East Lansing, stomped Sparty on the heel, and snagged a trophy. They had what it took and now they have the Old Brass Spittoon.
It was a season defining win. It breathed life into a program needing some positivity in a pretty big way. And it was a reminder that football can be fun.
Improbable
In a game where Indiana only completed two passes and trailed by 17 on two occasions, this team battled and clawed and showed the grit that Head Coach Tom Allen has talked about throughout his tenure. According to ESPN, Michigan State had a 96.9 percent chance of winning - leading 24-7 at halftime. IU got a quick stop and a 79-yard Shaun Shivers touchdown to open the second half, but when the Spartans responded with a touchdown of their own to make it 31-14, MSU’s odds improved to 97.1 percent. Jaylin Lucas ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown keeping IU’s chances alive. The Hoosiers fought all the way back to tie it in the 4th quarter.
But as time bled away in the final regulation period Michigan State drove the ball down to the Indiana 5-yard line, setting up a 22-yard field goal attempt that would have won the game for MSU as time expired. The analytics gave MSU a 95.5 percent chance of winning. But as fate would have it Spartan placekicker Ben Patton pushed it left sending the game to overtime.
In overtime Indiana won the toss and elected to defend first. They forced another MSU field goal attempt that James Head Jr. blocked. This gave Indiana possession needing only a field goal to win. IU ran 5 plays and gained 16 yards but Michigan State returned the favor and blocked Charles Campbell’s 37-yard game-winning attempt.
At that point the Hoosiers could have easily buckled but instead Dexter Williams II started the 2nd OT by completing a quick seam route to AJ Barner for a gain of 24, setting up First and Goal from the MSU 1. Shivers punched it in on the next play and Williams completed another pass to Barner on the two-point conversion, giving IU a 39-31 lead – which meant the best MSU could do in the 2nd OT was a tie.
The Hoosier Defense held though with a Noah Pierre pass breakup sealing the deal on 4th and 7 from the Indiana 10.
MSU outgained IU 540 yards to 288. The Hoosiers had just 31 passing yards. Michigan State dominated time of possession 36:33 to 23:27 and led by 17 with 6:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter. It was Indiana’s biggest 2nd half comeback since 2003 and only the 7th time IU has ever won in East Lansing.
Standouts
The Hoosier Offensive Line facilitated 257 yards and 4 touchdowns on 44 attempts (5.8 yards per carry). This position group has taken a lot of criticism this year but without Kahlil Benson, Zach Carpenter, Luke Haggard, Mike Katic and Joshua Sales Jr. this win would not have been possible.
Shaun Shivers had 13 carries for 115 yards and 2 TDs, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.
Dexter Williams II got the win in his first career start at QB. He had 16 rushes for 86 yards, including a 34 yard jaunt to paydirt on IU’s first possession. He also completed 2 passes for 31 yards and the crucial two-point conversion.
Jaylin Lucas averaged 42.0 yards on 4 kickoff returns, including the 88-yarder in the 3rd quarter to keep Indiana in the game.
Bryant Fitzgerald has been a Safety / Husky throughout his Hoosier career but he made his first start at Stinger (Weakside Linebacker) as Bradley Jennings Jr. and Matt Hohlt were both not available to play. Fitz didn’t just fill in, he lead the Hoosiers with 14 Tackles, including 6 Solo Tackles and 1 Tackle for a Loss. He also had a QB Hurry. It’s remarkable to do that at a position you’ve never played before in a game.
Really the entire team is to be commended for showing that Grit and LEO are not just abstractions and hype but true attributes of the culture of this program.
Tom Allen & the Coaching Staff
Tom Allen and the entire coaching staff also deserve a lot of credit. To have a team playing that hard on the road in the cold when everybody had counted them out and with Bowl eligibility likely not on the table, that’s a really great job. The gameplan by Offensive Coordinator Walt Bell and company was outside-the-box and put IU in a position to succeed. Tom Allen and Defensive Coordinator Chad Wilt found a way to keep Michigan State from scoring in the final quarter and a half and two overtimes.
The entire team – the players, the coaches, and the staff – had what it took. And now they are Spittoon havers for the next year.
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