September 17, 2022 | DaddyHoosier | iufb.net
It looked bleak. Again. Then it didn’t. Again.
The Indiana Football Hoosiers bucked the probabilities one more time mounting another fourth quarter comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday in Bloomington.
Western Kentucky amassed 545 total yards of offense including 329 through the air and 216 on the ground. At times WKU was gashing the Hoosier defense but Indiana was able to come up with big plays when they needed it the most.
Trailing 24-13 in the latter part of the third quarter the Hilltoppers were driving and looking to make it a three-score game. With the ball on the Indiana 11 yardline Senior Linebacker Bradley Jennings Jr. was able to tip a ball that deflected to Sophomore LB Myles Jackson for the crucial Interception. Jackson also had two tackles and a fumble recovery on the afternoon.
The play was potential game-saver as it kept Indiana within striking distance. The Hoosiers took advantage taking the ball 9 plays for 90 yards, capped by a 19 yard Josh Henderson touchdown run. IU went for the two point conversion to make the difference a field goal but failed to convert.
The Hilltoppers responded with an eight-play 73-yard drive of their own, but the Indiana defense was able to hold WKU to a field goal, keeping it a one-possession game (27-19).
The two teams then swapped field goals making the score 30-22. Indiana took possession with 3:46 remaining in the fourth quarter needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie.
Ask and ye shall receive. Indiana marched down the field on a 9-play 75-yard drive, ending with a 4 yard TD pass from Junior Quarterback Connor Bazelak to to Junior Wide Receiver Cam Camper. But Indiana needed the two-point conversion to tie still and Bazelak was able to find Sophomore Quarterback-turned-Wide Receiver Donaven McCulley in the back of the end zone.
Indiana nearly gave it away after that when Kickoff Specialist Chris Freeman kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, setting WKU up with good field position, needing only a field goal to win. WKU kicker Brayden Narveson missed a 44 yard attempt as time expired sending the game to overtime.
The Indiana Defense was up to the task in OT, forcing WKU into another field goal attempts that was blocked by Senior Safety Devon ‘Monster’ Matthews and nearly returned for a score by fellow Senior Safety Bryant Fitzgerald.
The Indiana Offense went backwards on its OT possession but Senior Kicker Charles Campbell nailed a clutch 51-yarder to seal the victory for the Hoosiers.
Between dropped balls and missed throws the Indiana Offense left many yards on the table. They also turned the ball over in the red zone on a drive that appeared certain to result in at least a field goal.
But it was the Defense that seemed to be struggling for parts of the afternoon. Indiana missed a ton of tackles and gave up seemingly explosive play after explosive play. WKU had four passes of over 20 yards and four runs of over 15 yards.
Indiana knows they have to continue to get better as they prepare for a Top 25 Cincinnati team on the road next weekend and then the Big Ten gauntlet after that.
Purdue fans are complaining that they could easily be 3-0 right now but instead are sitting at 1-2. Indiana conversely is sitting at 3-0 ‘but could easily be 1-2’.
Indiana has much to work on for sure but their wins are in the reality column, not the hypothetical one. They ended the first quarter of their 2022 campaign 3-0 and all of their goals are still in front of them.
It looked bleak. Again. Then it didn’t. Again.
The Indiana Football Hoosiers bucked the probabilities one more time mounting another fourth quarter comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat Saturday in Bloomington.
Western Kentucky amassed 545 total yards of offense including 329 through the air and 216 on the ground. At times WKU was gashing the Hoosier defense but Indiana was able to come up with big plays when they needed it the most.
Trailing 24-13 in the latter part of the third quarter the Hilltoppers were driving and looking to make it a three-score game. With the ball on the Indiana 11 yardline Senior Linebacker Bradley Jennings Jr. was able to tip a ball that deflected to Sophomore LB Myles Jackson for the crucial Interception. Jackson also had two tackles and a fumble recovery on the afternoon.
The play was potential game-saver as it kept Indiana within striking distance. The Hoosiers took advantage taking the ball 9 plays for 90 yards, capped by a 19 yard Josh Henderson touchdown run. IU went for the two point conversion to make the difference a field goal but failed to convert.
The Hilltoppers responded with an eight-play 73-yard drive of their own, but the Indiana defense was able to hold WKU to a field goal, keeping it a one-possession game (27-19).
The two teams then swapped field goals making the score 30-22. Indiana took possession with 3:46 remaining in the fourth quarter needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie.
Ask and ye shall receive. Indiana marched down the field on a 9-play 75-yard drive, ending with a 4 yard TD pass from Junior Quarterback Connor Bazelak to to Junior Wide Receiver Cam Camper. But Indiana needed the two-point conversion to tie still and Bazelak was able to find Sophomore Quarterback-turned-Wide Receiver Donaven McCulley in the back of the end zone.
Indiana nearly gave it away after that when Kickoff Specialist Chris Freeman kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, setting WKU up with good field position, needing only a field goal to win. WKU kicker Brayden Narveson missed a 44 yard attempt as time expired sending the game to overtime.
The Indiana Defense was up to the task in OT, forcing WKU into another field goal attempts that was blocked by Senior Safety Devon ‘Monster’ Matthews and nearly returned for a score by fellow Senior Safety Bryant Fitzgerald.
The Indiana Offense went backwards on its OT possession but Senior Kicker Charles Campbell nailed a clutch 51-yarder to seal the victory for the Hoosiers.
Between dropped balls and missed throws the Indiana Offense left many yards on the table. They also turned the ball over in the red zone on a drive that appeared certain to result in at least a field goal.
But it was the Defense that seemed to be struggling for parts of the afternoon. Indiana missed a ton of tackles and gave up seemingly explosive play after explosive play. WKU had four passes of over 20 yards and four runs of over 15 yards.
Indiana knows they have to continue to get better as they prepare for a Top 25 Cincinnati team on the road next weekend and then the Big Ten gauntlet after that.
Purdue fans are complaining that they could easily be 3-0 right now but instead are sitting at 1-2. Indiana conversely is sitting at 3-0 ‘but could easily be 1-2’.
Indiana has much to work on for sure but their wins are in the reality column, not the hypothetical one. They ended the first quarter of their 2022 campaign 3-0 and all of their goals are still in front of them.
