Hoosier Heartbreak

The Hoosiers found out the hard way why the last yard to the end zone is called the "longest yard" in their 22-18 loss Saturday to Penn State on Senior Day.\nFacing third and nine, senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio winged a pass to fellow senior, wide receiver Travis Haney. Haney worked his way down the field stretching his 6-foot-5-inch frame for every inch toward the end zone before being pulled down just shy of the goal line. \nThe play put IU in prime position to get its first win against Penn State in team history. But four plays later those dreams were dashed as junior running back Chris Taylor was stuffed at the goal line -- inches short of the go-ahead score.\nAfter the catch, Haney, like many of his other teammates, thought the win was theirs, he said.\n"All I could think is that we're going to win. We're going to take this game," said Haney, IU's leading receiver on the day with three catches for 74 yards. "I knew I was a couple of inches away, I was just stretching all I could to get in the (end zone)."\nThe Hoosiers worked the clock down by going up the middle with Taylor on first and second down. Instead of scoring, Taylor actually lost one-yard on second down, setting up a third and goal with just more than a minute remaining.\nThe option play, which IU has used more as the season has wound down, was used again on the third down. The team had success with it earlier in the game when senior wide receiver Courtney Roby took an option 26 yards for a touchdown -- giving IU the lead early.\nBut on the third down, LoVecchio went right and found little running room, resulting in no gain and setting up a fourth and goal with one minute remaining.\nTaylor went up the middle picking up the lost yard and more. But once the pile cleared, he was short as white and navy clad Nittany Lion defenders celebrated with the ball just inches shy of the goal line.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo faced criticism after the game for running on all four downs, but he said it was the best way to go.\n"I thought that is how we could win the game," he said. "We felt good with the guys that were in there. We don't have any preference in that situation with either one of our tailbacks."\nIn a back-and-forth game, Penn State had the ball with less than nine minutes remaining in the game trailing 16-14 after IU senior kicker Bryan Robertson nailed a 23-yard field goal.\nThe Nittany Lions quickly worked down the field as senior quarterback Zack Mills orchestrated the drive as PSU gained large chunks of yards at a time. IU didn't help its cause with two penalties before sophomore running back Tony Hunt put the ball in the end zone, giving the Nittany Lions the lead 22-16 after a successful two-point conversion.\nThe big penalty occurred after Mills had completed a pass to junior wide receiver Michael Robinson -- gaining 12 yards and the first down. As Robinson was going out of bounds, senior offensive lineman Chris Voltattorni threw a forearm to the chest of Robinson, which resulted in a 15-yard personal foul penalty.\nHaving a lack of discipline by someone who wasn't in the game was something DiNardo won't put up with, he said.\nPenalties plagued IU all day, racking up eight for 63 yards. \nImproved discipline on defense will be important against Purdue next week, senior defensive lineman Jodie Clemons said.\n"If you see something you know there is a good chance you might get a flag, don't do it," Clemons said. \nThe Penn State defense, which came in as one of three teams in the country along with Wisconsin and Auburn yet to allow more than 21 points in a game, lived up to that claim in the second half. But the Hoosier defense made some noise of its own. All of IU's scores in the first stanza were set up by interceptions.\nThe first pick was made by junior linebacker Paul Szczesny, which quickly resulted in Roby's touchdown. With the score tied at seven, junior linebacker Kyle Killion picked off freshman Anthony Morelli's pass and took it 46-yards for a touchdown, giving IU a 13-7 lead going into halftime. Robertson's point after attempt was missed -- marking the third game in a row where at least one extra point was missed.\nPenn State got on the board when Mills connected with Robinson on a 33-yard touchdown pass. Originally it was ruled incomplete, but after it was reviewed, PSU was rewarded a touchdown. \nLosing close games has taken its toll on the team as the Hoosiers have now lost four games during conference play where they lead in the fourth quarter.\n"It sums up our season, that close and we can't do anything with it," Roby, who was held without a reception, said. "I can't put it into words; that is how frustrated I am right now."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.