Freshman rack up yards on the ground in losing effort

EVANSTON, Ill.-- Early on during Saturday's football game, the Hoosiers' game plan on offense was quite clear. IU took to the ground early and often but still came up short at Northwestern 41-37.\nIU running backs carried the ball 14 straight times to start the game before senior quarterback Gibran Hamdan even attempted a pass. Coach Gerry DiNardo said running the ball was the plan going into the game.\n"We thought that was the way to win the game, beat the clock, keep the defense off the field," DiNardo said. "I think it proved it was a good plan."\nLed by the legs of a pair of freshmen, the Hoosiers racked up 232 yards on the ground. It was the second highest output of the season from the IU backfield. IU had 243 yards against Central Michigan on Sept. 21.\nFreshman Yamar Washington was the leading rusher for the Hoosiers. He ran eight times for 66 yards and a touchdown on the opening possession of the game. He finished the game with 31 carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns. Even so, Washington said he felt he didn't do enough to help his team win.\n"We started off good, and the line came off the ball," Washington said. "We should have had some more yards and had more touchdowns, but it didn't work out. I feel like it wasn't enough because we are in the losing locker room. So I wasn't impressed or anything."\nWhen junior running back Brian Lewis went down this week in practice with an injury, freshman Chris Taylor stepped up. Taylor hadn't played since Sept. 14 against Kentucky. Taylor had planned to redshirt this season but took the opportunity to play when DiNardo gave him the chance. Taylor had 21 carries for 102 yards.\n"It feels good to get back out there and everything, but we came up short," Taylor said. "I had to do what was best for the team. I thought I was going to redshirt, but coach gave me the call and said I had to go. It was an opportunity I had to do."\nOn the day, the IU coaching staff called 56 run plays and 21 pass plays. Senior offensive lineman Enoch DeMar said the team was very determined to run the ball.\n"We were very focused on running the ball," DeMar said. "They have a lot of young guys up front. That's an advantage for us because we're older, and we know what we are doing out there. If we create the holes, the running backs are going to run through them."\nHamdan said he didn't think the team needed to throw the ball more. He finished the day 13 of 21 for 150 yards. Hamdan said the offense was very effective in running the ball, and the game plan was a good one.\nDespite the few number balls thrown at them, DiNardo said he knew the receivers would have to make some plays.\n"We weren't going to throw as much today, but they had to stay engaged," DiNardo said. "I told them at halftime don't get down because sooner or later you're going to have to make a play."\nThe Hoosiers did have one last chance to take the lead when they got the ball back with 2:07 left in the game. On fourth and four from the IU 36, sophomore wide receiver Courtney Roby was asked to make a play. Hamdan fired a pass that would have been a first down, but Roby failed to secure possession of the ball.\n"The ball was in our hands, and we had an opportunity to seal the game," Hamdan said. "It's tough in those games because often times it's the guy with the ball last who wins. We could have secured the victory, and we didn't"