Fumble turns game around for IU

With 10:28 remaining in the third quarter, the Hoosiers looked like a prizefighter hanging on the ropes, bracing for Central Michigan's knockout blow. Senior quarterback Gibran Hamdan had just thrown an interception to Central Michigan sophomore free safety James King, giving the Chippewas the ball at the IU 15-yard line and looking to build on a 29-16 lead.\nTwo plays later, the knockout punch was delivered. But it was the Hoosiers who did the hitting.\nSenior defensive lineman Jeremy Belcher forced the ball out of Central Michigan senior running back Robbie Mixon's grasp at the 12-yard line. Fellow senior defensive lineman Kris Dielman pounced on the ball, allowing IU to dodge a bullet and ultimately reversing the game's momentum.\n"I just hit the guy and I didn't even know the ball came out," Belcher said. "It didn't matter who made that play, I'm just glad someone made it."\nSo was Hamdan.\n"That was a big play for me in bringing my confidence back up where it should have been," Hamdan said. "I can't thank those guys enough."\nHamdan's confidence translated into big plays on the first possession after the fumble. IU marched downfield in 4:07 on an eight play, 88-yard drive. The big plays were two completions to sophomore wide receiver Courtney Roby for a combined 76 yards.\n"He just put the ball on the money," Roby said.\nIt was Hamdan himself who scrambled into the end zone on a four-yard run to cap off the drive and close the gap to 29-23.\nOn the ensuing kickoff, the snowball that was the Hoosiers momentum picked up its pace.\nMixon, who was returning the kick for Central Michigan, took the ball a foot deep in the end zone. Mixon appeared to be confused about whether he should return the kick or take a knee for the touchback. He hesitatingly took one step out of the end zone, and then retreated to kneel down.\nWith the play occurring right in front of the line judge, Mixon had no chance of getting away with the gaffe. Central Michigan was whistled for a safety, giving the Hoosiers two points and the ball on a free kick. From there on, there was no looking back.\nCentral Michigan's defense was able to keep the game close in the third quarter, as they held onto their 29-25 lead. But, the Chippewas' no-huddle offense, which had befuddled IU in the first half, was unable to move the ball productively after the pair of Mixon blunders.\nCoach Gerry DiNardo credited his defensive coaches with drawing up effective plans at halftime to help stymie Central Michigan quarterback Derrick Vickers and the rest of the offense.\n"A lot of the credit goes to the coaches," DiNardo said. "They made good adjustments and put together a solid plan."\nFor DiNardo, Dielman's fumble recovery was the spark that lit up the proverbial gasoline that had been poured by the defensive staff.\n"He made a big play," DiNardo said. "That turnover was critical."\nIU sealed the game with a pair of rushing touchdowns by freshman running back Yamar Washington in the fourth quarter.\nOffensively, Washington and junior Brian Lewis each rushed for over 100 yards. Roby contributed with four catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. But it was the big stop by the defense that Roby attributed to winning the game for the Hoosiers.\n"The defense brought us a lot of momentum," Roby said. "There were so many times they could have bowed down, but they climbed out of the hole they were in. They fought"