Defense gets tough in second half, not enough to cure first half woes in overtime loss

You can see it in the numbers. \nTwenty-four points compared to seven. Two hundred ninety-nine Northwestern yards compared to 59. \nThese were the contrasts from the first to the second half in IU's defensive play of Saturday's 37-31 overtime loss to Northwestern.\nThe defense came out flat, according to senior safety Joe Gonzalez, and fell behind 17-0 before the first quarter ended. IU went into halftime trailing 24-14. And although the Hoosiers played significantly better in the second half, according to IU coach Gerry DiNardo, the defense's first half woes proved to be their ultimate demise as IU gave up 17 early points. That deficit put the Hoosiers in a hole that they recovered from, but in the end gave Northwestern the opportunity to make it close.\nIU outscored Northwestern 17 to seven in the second half but remained tied at the end of regulation and went on to lose in overtime.\n"It was like we hadn't practiced their offense all week," Gonzalez said. "Something clicked in our heads in the second half. But by that time you could argue it was too late. You have to play four good quarters and we didn't."\nThe Wildcats possessed the ball for 18:35 compared to IU's 11:25 in the first half. Northwestern only out-gained the Hoosiers by 37 yards as the offense gained 262 yards, but two plays set the Wildcats up.\nJunior quarterback Matt LoVecchio and the IU offense faced third and five from the IU 45 midway through the first quarter. LoVecchio dropped back to pass, and his pass across the middle was intercepted by linebacker Pat Durr at the 50 who returned it 24 yards to the IU 26.\nAnd five plays later running back Jason Wright scored from one yard out putting NU up 10-0.\nA few moments later, IU's first half defensive struggles reached their climax as quarterback Brett Basanez found wide receiver Brandon Horn for a 77-yard touchdown. Sophomore safety Buster Larkins looked to have good coverage on the play, but went for the interception and missed.\n"I felt like our defense was awful in the first half," DiNardo said. "We weren't playing hard. We were blowing tackles. We weren't lining up right. I felt that was the worst half of football we played all year. The defense obviously played better in the second half."\nIU's defense opened the second half forcing a Northwestern three-and-out for its first of the game. The Wildcats only gained 16 yards of total offense in the third quarter as the defense was reenergized with emotion.\nThe defense remained stout as the Wildcats had been shut out in the second half until a special team's breakdown allowed Northwestern to even the score at 31 midway through the fourth quarter.\nThe Wildcat's Mark Philmore 70-yard punt return put NU in business at the IU six. Four plays later, Wright scored again to tie it at 31.\nJunior safety Herana-Daze Jones said the defense turned it around in the second half.\n"We were very confident in the second half," Jones said. "We had a lot of adrenaline, and we were excited. We were pumped up."\nFor the Hoosiers, practice will continue as the team heads into their bye week before facing Ohio State on Oct. 25. \nOn that day, IU will look to put two halves together.\n"It's pretty gut-wrenching when you come so close," Gonzalez said. "It's tough. We're inches away."\n-- Contact staff writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.