Huskies hold off IU

The IU quarterback controversy changed Saturday afternoon against the University of Connecticut -- and not for the better. Junior Blake Powers and freshman Kellen Lewis struggled to get on track, gaining just 192 total yards of offense in a 14-7 loss to the Huskies.\n"It's a little tough, but we've got to find a way to put points on the board," Lewis said following the game. "We didn't do a good job of that today."\nIn less than favorable weather, Powers started the game after sitting out the previous two games with a leg injury. The junior showed some early signs of rust in his first three drives, all three-and-outs.\nOn IU's fourth drive of the game, Lewis replaced Powers at quarterback but got similar results, throwing an interception that Husky linebacker Danny Lansanah returned 39 yards for a touchdown.\nHeading into the game, interim head coach Bill Lynch informed his quarterbacks they would both play.\n"Blake (Powers) was finally healthy enough to play this week," Lynch said. "But we also thought that Kellen (Lewis) had some things that could help us in a game like this because of the nature of the Connecticut defense."\nThe offensive struggles continued through the first half with Powers once again replacing Lewis, wasting a strong defensive effort on the other side of the ball. Junior cornerback Tracy Porter had two interceptions and blocked a field goal attempt, and senior safety Will Meyers recovered a Connecticut fumble.\nIn the second half after the Huskies rushed for a touchdown on their first possession, sophomore running back Marcus Thigpen fielded the kick-off and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown. Thigpen is the first Hoosier to ever return two kickoffs for a touchdown in a season.\n"It felt like I was untouched," Thipgen said. "I saw the hole, and I took it."\nDown 14-7 midway through the third quarter with Lewis back under center, the Hoosiers gained two first downs but then reverted back to their first half ways with Lewis throwing his second interception of the day. However, the IU defense continued to hold Connecticut in check.\nSince Lewis struggled at quarterback, Powers returned for a second time but still couldn't get the Hoosiers into the end zone heading into the fourth quarter.\nIn the game's final minute on a fourth-and-sixth, Powers attempted to rush for the first down but was tackled short of the marker by Connecticut's Tyvon Branch.\n"It was fourth down, and nobody was open so I tried to get the first down on my feet," Powers said following the game. "I just didn't make the play when I needed to." \nFor the game, IU (2-2) actually had more first downs (10) than the Huskies (9), but the Hoosier offense was never able to get on track, wasting the defense's strong showing.\n"The defense did a great job today, only allowing one touchdown," Lewis said. "The offense knows we can play better. We've just got to put it together, defense and offense as a team."\nLewis would finish the loss 6-for-13 for 64 yards with two interceptions, while Powers completed 14 of 30 passes for 128 yards with an interception.\nLynch was unwilling to commit to either quarterback for this weekend's Big Ten opener against Wisconsin.\n"The (quarterback situation) is of great interest to people, but there are some other things that we have to do offensively to help that position out," Lynch said.\nIU coach Terry Hoeppner is expected to be back on the sidelines when the Hoosiers take on Wisconsin Saturday. Hoeppner has been out for the past two weeks after undergoing brain surgery Sept. 13.