For Hoeppner, Hoosiers, it comes to one chance

Though they may not come out and say it, the Hoosiers know it. Saturday is their one chance.\nThe Hoosiers have one chance to finish two wins better than last year's campaign, one chance to break a five-game losing streak and one chance to salvage their season by capturing one of college football's oldest trophies -- the Old Oaken Bucket -- when they welcome rival Purdue to Memorial Stadium Saturday. \n"It's a one-game season now," junior safety Will Myers said. "We obviously didn't do everything we hoped to do with this year, but it's not over yet. It's important for us to go out and finish our year with a win."\nThe 4-6 Hoosiers were officially eliminated from bowl contention in last Saturday's rout at Michigan, a season-clinching fifth Big Ten loss in a row. \nThis week, IU will play its first game without the potential for postseason play. \nIU opened the season with high hopes that ran wild after a 4-1 start featuring offensive excitement between sophomore quarterback Blake Powers and freshman wideout James Hardy. \nBut since then IU has been overwhelmed by Big Ten opponents, only topping Illinois before dropping five straight games. \nAs the Hoosiers have lost momentum, Purdue has gained it. \nAfter winning their first two games over Akron and Arizona, the Boilermakers struggled in Big Ten play, losing their first six conference games and taking themselves out of bowl contention.\nPurdue has made a late-season push, though, winning its last two over Michigan State and Illinois, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Curtis Painter's insertion into the offense. Since Painter has taken over the reins, Purdue has utilized an option attack that helped them get past MSU and roll over the Illini.\n"Purdue is a talented team no matter what their record is," Hoeppner said. "I have admired their offense from afar. Now they have the aspect of the option. It presents a great challenge." \nThat challenge will be presented to IU's defense, a unit that has given up an average of 42 points in their last five games. \n"You've got to be ready to rebound," senior middle linebacker Kyle Killion said. "It's been a tough few weeks (losing John Pannozzo and Russ Richardson) but we need to come back and take care of this week." \nIU's offense will look to rebound, as well. Powers, who threw 18 touchdowns in his first five games, has thrown only four in his last five amid a Hardy hamstring injury and the loss of No. 2 wideout James Bailey. \nAfter opening the game with a touchdown pass last week, Powers went on to struggle and was benched in the second quarter.\n"We felt pretty good about our passing game going into the game," Hoeppner said when asked about restoring Powers' early-season confidence. "We'll keep working at it. There are some technical things we can help him with. You analyze why and try to fix it."\nFor Myers, the game is IU's chance to put a positive footnote to the end of a recent rough stretch for players and fans alike.\n"It's Purdue. It's big," Meyers said. "We're like a big family here. We understand the importance of this game and we want to win one for everyone -- for us and for the fans"