IU comes Alive

In college football, it's not an uncommon sight to see the crowd rush the field. But after IU's 36-13 Homecoming win over Illinois Saturday, it was the team that rushed the crowd. \nAnd it was head coach Terry Hoeppner leading the charge.\nIn front in 35,829 fans, the Hoosiers triumphed over the Illini for their fourth win of the season, pushing them two wins away from bowl eligibility. Though attendance dropped from the previous home game, Hoeppner stressed quality over quantity.\n"I really don't care what they say the attendance was, I know the students were there for us," Hoeppner said. "I made a pledge to them at the pep rally that I would be in the crowd with them and I'm going to make a habit of that. I appreciate them tremendously."\nThe Hoosiers rode the crowd's support to an early lead after senior running back Chris Taylor scampered for a 12-yard touchdown. He finished the game with 132 yards on 18 carries -- nearly 100 yards more than he tallied in last week's loss to Wisconsin. \n"The linemen, the receivers, everybody was on the same page and everybody was doing their job," Taylor said. "That is our style of football. If we go out there and do what we are supposed to do, then we can (have success) every game."\nThe Hoosiers led 14-10 in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Blake Powers hit freshman receiver James Hardy for the first of two touchdown connections for the duo. With the second score, Powers broke the Hoosiers' single-season touchdown passing record previously held by Antwaan Randle El. The touchdown came with 25 seconds left in the half and gave Powers and Hardy seven touchdowns for the season.\n"Sometimes, we know what the other person is thinking because we are good friends off of the field," Powers said. "He is probably 50 percent of the reason why we have thrown for so many touchdowns. There is definitely some chemistry there and most of that is because we get along so well."\nIllinois added a 52-yard field goal late in the third quarter after a 49-yard touchdown pass was overturned after review. Officials ruled that Illini receiver Derrick McPhearson stepped out at the Indiana 33-yard line. Hoeppner said the ruling played a crucial role in the remainder of the game. \n"I knew he stepped out of bounds and I told him that he did," Hoeppner said. "Instant replay is a good thing."\nAfter the field goal, Illinois failed to score for the remainder of the game. Powers tallied two more touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, including an 18-yard strike to freshman wideout Marcus Thigpen and an eight-yard score to Hardy. The pass to Hardy gave Powers his record-breaking 18th touchdown pass of the season. He finished the game 22-for-35 with 198 yards and four touchdowns.\n"(Powers) gets too much credit and too much blame, and I remind him of that," Hoeppner said. "That's why he's the confident leader, though. He never points fingers, he only points thumbs."\nWhile Powers and Hardy paced the offense and broke IU individual records, it was the defense that contained Illinois' option attack and running game. The Hoosier defense limited the Fighting Illini to 113 rushing yards and forced three turnovers, including a forced fumble and an interception by junior defensive back Will Meyers. IU also recorded a safety late in the game after the Illini were called for a holding penalty in its own end zone. Meyers led the defense with 11 tackles, while senior linebacker John Pannozzo contributed seven.\n"We're out there playing fast and we're fired up," Pannozzo said. "The reputation that we hope to build is that we are a tough defense."\nWith a 1-1 conference record and at least two more wins needed for a bowl game berth, Hoeppner said there is no reason the Hoosiers should be counted out of Big Ten contention.\n"We're 4-1, so why wouldn't we be favored to win?" Hoeppner said. "That doesn't make any sense to me. I'm favoring us to win the rest of (our games)"