No 50,000? No big deal

IU coach Terry Hoeppner didn't get 50,000 fans, but he got something much better. \nHoeppner and his Hoosiers rolled their way to a 46-21 homecoming win against Michigan State on Saturday.\n"This was the (win) that I've been talking about and knowing we had it in us," Hoeppner said. "We are playing like we can play and doing it for 60 minutes."\nIn front of 36,444 fans, freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis and sophomore receiver James Hardy powered the Hoosiers to their fifth victory of the season and third in the Big Ten. Lewis accounted for all six IU touchdowns, with five in the air and one on the ground. The freshman threw for 261 yards and rushed for 75.\nThe five passing touchdowns of the game ties for the second most in IU history. In a 1943 game against Nebraska, quarterback Bob Hoernschemeyer threw six.\nHardy set new marks of his own Saturday as he grabbed a school-record four touchdown receptions.\n"We knew their coverage would be spread out and that I would have the opportunities to go one-on-one, and that's what I want," Hardy said. "I look at it as my job. That's what I'm supposed to do, and that's what I'm here for."\nSophomore running back Marcus Thigpen caught the other touchdown from Lewis, a 26-yard score in the second quarter. \nIn the wins against Michigan State and Iowa, Lewis has thrown for eight touchdowns and more than 500 passing yards while Hardy has totaled seven scores and almost 200 receiving yards.\n"We've just gotten into a flow," Lewis said. "He's got a lot more confidence in me, and I've got a lot more confidence in him."\nTo kick off the game, the Spartans took the initial lead when senior quarterback Drew Stanton hit receiver Devin Thomas for a 38-yard touchdown strike. Down 7-0 in the opening minutes, the Hoosiers cut the deficit to four with a 34-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Austin Starr on IU's first possession.\n"When they scored (first), we knew it was going to be a long game," Thigpen said. "We thought it'd be a shootout. We just kept playing hard and making plays."\nAfter the Hoosier defense forced a three-and-out, Lewis started off his career day with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Hardy to give IU the 10-7 lead. The Michigan State defense couldn't contain the Hoosiers as they took a 30-7 lead into halftime.\nUp by 39 points, IU gave up two late touchdowns after Lewis threw an interception and lost a fumble.\n"I told the team we need to learn how to handle prosperity better," Hoeppner said. "Championship teams finish people off in the fourth quarter. They don't turn it over three times and give them chances to get back in the game."\nWith the win, the Hoosiers move within one game of bowl eligibility. IU has not been to a bowl since the 1993 Independence Bowl.\n"It's been (13) years since we (went to a bowl)," Hardy said. "On our part, we know what we have to do: just go in there with the same motivation week in and week out and get the job done"