Hoosiers' Big Ten road woes continue

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Just 13 seconds into Saturday's game, the Hoosiers found themselves in a familiar position: forced to come from behind on the road against a Big Ten opponent. \nMichigan State's Demond Williams returned IU's opening kickoff 98 yards for the first score of the game, en route to the Spartans' 46-15 victory. \nIt marked Michigan State's first touchdown on an opening kickoff return since 1947.\n"From the opening kickoff, we didn't execute," said IU coach Terry Hoeppner. "You've got to kick the ball where you're supposed to kick it. And even if you don't, somebody's gotta get off a block and make a play."\nAfter the IU offense went three-and-out on its first series, the defense put the Hoosiers on the board when senior linebacker Kyle Killion pressured Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton in the back of the end zone. Stanton threw the ball down the sideline but was penalized for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety for the Hoosiers. \n"(The defense) felt pretty confident after that, but we always feel confident," said senior linebacker John Pannozzo. "We knew what they were going to run, but they're a good team. They spread us out to pass the ball."\nThe Spartan offense responded to the safety on its next two possessions with a touchdown pass and a running score by Stanton. The score remained 23-2 until IU sophomore quarterback Blake Powers threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver James Hardy. However, Michigan State's Ashton Watson blocked Joe Kleinsmith's point-after attempt and returned it for a two-point conversion before the end of the half. \n"It's the first thing we do everyday in practice, and you can't take a play off," Hoeppner said. "We continued to not execute. and the other guys delivered. Michigan State took advantage of it, and that's what good football teams do."\nThe Hoosiers took the kickoff to start the second half, but gave the ball back to the Spartans on a Powers interception and a fumble by senior receiver Jahkeen Gilmore in their next two possessions. "We just made too many mistakes at the wrong times," said Hardy. "When it goes wrong for us, it goes wrong."\nThe Spartans reeled off three consecutive touchdowns starting late in the third quarter and ending early in the fourth to increase their lead to 46-8. Hardy finished the day with eight catches for 77 yards and caught his second touchdown of the game as time expired to finalize the score.\n"We need to continue to grow as a team," Hoeppner said. "We've improved in some areas, and in others we've deteriorated. I told them I still believe in them, and I believe they'll come out and be ready to practice and have a great week of practice."\nThe loss dropped IU to 1-4 in the Big Ten conference and 4-4 overall. But despite their .500 record, Powers said the Hoosiers know the importance of the next few weeks. \n"We've gotta win two out of the next three," Powers said. "We can win three or we can win zero, it just depends on the mental approach that we take into the next three games. If we're gonna turn this program into a winning program, then the approach that we take as a team and individually is to take a look in the mirror and find that winning spirit side and find that confidence."\nThe conference road loss marked the 16th straight for the Hoosiers and one Hardy said is tough to swallow.\n"I'm tired of losing. I don't like (anything) about it," Hardy said. "We had the plays, but we didn't make them happen. I hate feeling this way"