CREAM OF THE CROP

IU coach Terry Hoeppner asked for execution in Saturday's spring game. What he got was eight touchdowns and more than 700 yards of total offense. \nThe Cream squad fought back from a ten-point deficit going into the fourth quarter to claim the 31-27 victory.\n"I wanted execution on both sides of the ball," Hoeppner said. "It wasn't necessarily horrible plays by the defense. I think it was just some really great throws and catches from the (first string) and the (second string)."\nIn the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, junior quarterback Blake Powers hooked up with freshman receiver Andrew Means on a 76-yard touchdown pass to bring the Cream within three points.\nAfter the Cream defense prevented the Crimson squad from scoring, Powers and company took the field hoping to reclaim the lead. With just more than three minutes remaining, Powers found sophomore receiver James Bailey streaking down the sideline for an 84-yard touchdown pass, Powers' third touchdown pass of the day and Bailey's second scoring reception.\nWith star sophomore receiver James Hardy sitting out with a groin injury, the other receivers had a chance to step into the spotlight.\n"(Hardy)'s definitely our go-to-guy so we had to have somebody step up," Powers said. "Jahkeen Gilmore and James Bailey played a real nice game, and that's what they're both capable of. The receivers are definitely getting a lot better."\nThe Cream defense was able to shut down the Crimson offense again and hold on for the 31-27 victory.\nIn temperatures normally associated with July than April, the two squads got off to a fast start Saturday afternoon, including two touchdown passes of more than 60 yards, one each from Powers and senior Graeme McFarland, respectively.\nNot to be left out of the quarterback discussion was Kellen Lewis. The redshirt freshman showed off his versatility, leading the Crimson squad while showing off his ability to throw and run.\n"Kellen (Lewis) is a special player, a special talent," Hoeppner said. "When he's on the field, the defense has to be careful because you'd better capture him. \nAlthough their play might be overshadowed by their counterparts on the other side of the ball, the IU defense for the Cream and the Crimson had their moments Saturday afternoon. Senior defensive end Kenny Kendal had two sacks -- the spring game equivalent of "two-hand touch" on the quarterback -- while junior defensive lineman Charlie Emerson picked up a McFarland fumble and ran it back 23 yards for the score late in the second quarter.\nPowers finished the game with seven completions for just under 300 yards passing -- 289 on the day -- to go with his three touchdown passes. McFarland started for the Crimson but ended up seeing time on both squads during the scrimmage, throwing a touchdown for both sides.\nWhen asked if he would take some credit for the win even though he started for Crimson, McFarland joked.\n"If I didn't fumble that one and negate it, I would," he said. "I felt like I had to redeem myself a bit so they didn't pin it on me that I was shaving points."\nSaturday's game wrapped up the spring schedule for the Hoosiers, but Hoeppner is excited to see where this team will go this summer and in the upcoming season.\n"(We had) a productive spring," Hoeppner said "We are a much faster football team, but we need to have a good summer. We've laid the foundation for a great 2006"