IU contains All-American in loss

Through the first quarter of Saturday's game against Kentucky, it looked like star Wildcat wideout Derek Abney was on his way to another offensively potent game. On Kentucky's third drive, the senior -- who came into the game third in Wildcat history in pass receptions -- caught one ball for a first down, took a reverse for 24 yards, and then split the IU defense for a 29-yard touchdown reception and the early lead.\nIt seemed like the beginning of a long day for the Hoosier defenders. But IU regrouped and held Abney without a catch and only one more carry for the rest of the game. Sophomore cornerback Leonard Bryant said the team didn't make any changes after the first quarter. However, he said the defense settled in and began to play according to their initial game plan.\n"We didn't really make any adjustments," he said. "We came in with our own defensive scheme, and it was perfectly choreographed and put together. That first touchdown, it was just a matter of coverage. The coverage we had picked wasn't absolutely perfect for the play they ran. That's one you just have to chalk up to the offense. Their job is to score, our job is to stop them."\nSenior cornerback Duane Stone, who covered Abney for much of the game, said stopping him wasn't anything to brag about.\n"That's just what we're supposed to do," Stone said. "I wasn't super impressed. I know I'm a good player, he's a good player and we went out and I did my job. Whenever you do your job, it's not a sense of being impressed, it's a sense of doing what you were coached to do, and I did what I was coached to do."\nThe speedy Abney has earned much praise for his play at Kentucky. He was named first team All-American by eight organizations, including The Associated Press, The Sporting News and ESPN.com. He has also received a slew of honors for special team plays. He returned kickoffs and punts and his seven career returns for scores leave him one away from the NCAA mark. But IU was able to contain that aspect of his game as well.\nFreshman punter Tyson Beattie pinned the ball inside the 15-yard line four times in the first half, three of which he landed inside the five, negating any chance for a return. On two second-half punts from further away, Bryant raced down the field on special teams to meet Abney with a jarring hit. Abney recorded no yards on his two returns in the game, both thanks to Bryant.\n"I can talk to you about (the hits)," Bryant said after the game with a big grin on his face. "The new rule, without the halo rule, I can just run down as fast as I can and be reckless and make a play. He came in with all that hype about him and this and that, so it was fun. He was a good sport about it. He was congratulating me as we were on the ground in the dog pile."\nThe Wildcats did branch out to other receivers and other offensive weapons rather than Abney. Senior wideout Chris Bernard had three catches for 100 yards and a touchdown, and tailbacks Arliss Beach and Draak Davis combined for 89 yards and a touchdown each. But it was a few breakout plays that ruined an otherwise strong defensive effort, said junior linebacker Josh Moore.\n"We came out pretty hard today and we played well, but we have to eliminate the breakout plays," he said. "We had two touchdown passes -- you eliminate those plays and it's a totally different game. We had a lot of young guys playing, so I feel like we're progressing. We've just got to come out, play 60 minutes and get a win." \nSenior KU quarterback Jared Lorenzen echoed those sentiments and said he was impressed with IU's defense -- both overall and in stopping Abney.\n"They're tough, they really are," he said. "They are definitely hard hitters and they've got some pretty good linebackers in there. Those freshmen are going to be extremely good. Those boys can play and you'll definitely hear their names in the next couple years."\n-- Contact staff writer Gavin Lesnick at glesnick@indiana.edu.