IU wins ‘tough game’ on road

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Although IU hosted a mini marathon Saturday morning, Hoosier football fans were treated to a full marathon of a football game Saturday night in Kalamazoo.\nAfter a grueling four-hour game that went from a potential shut-out to a closely contested match, the Hoosiers emerged victorious, defeating Western Michigan 37-27. The win improved IU’s record to 2-0 – one-third of the way to qualifying for their first bowl game since 1993.\n“That’s the longest football game I’ve ever been involved with,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “It’s a really good win for us. Coming up here we knew it was going to be a tough game, and I think our kids really got themselves prepared for it.” \nIU became the first Big Ten team to ever play a game at Western Michigan, and at halftime it was clear which team was from the power conference.\nLeading 10-3 going into the second quarter, the Hoosiers’ defense took over the game. IU forced four consecutive turnovers in the frame, three of which led to touchdowns. The first turnover was an interception by freshman safety Mitchell Evans, who played in place of injured sophomore starter Austin Thomas. It was the first of two interceptions for Evans in the half.\n“I had an opportunity to come in today, and I had to make the best of it,” said Evans, who switched to the defensive side of the ball this summer after being recruited as a quarterback.\nWith just more than six minutes left in the half, junior tackle Greg Brown forced a fumble that was recovered and returned 44 yards for a touchdown by sophomore Greg Middleton.\nTwo more turnovers from two different Bronco quarterbacks led to IU touchdowns – both compliments of sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis and junior wide receiver James Hardy – that put the Hoosiers ahead 31-7 at halftime. The second touchdown was the 24th of Hardy’s career, making him second on IU’s list of career leaders in receiving touchdowns, six short of the all-time leader Jade Butcher.\nThe Hoosiers cooled off in the second half, and Western Michigan took advantage to get back into the game. IU’s only second-half points came off two field goals by junior Austin Starr, who paces all Big Ten kickers in points scored through two weeks of games. And while the defense continued to make plays, the Broncos’ sophomore running back Brandon West returned a third-quarter kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown that cut the lead to 34-14 at the end of the quarter.\nRefusing to go quietly, the Broncos scored on their first drive of the fourth quarter to cut the lead again to 34-21. The touchdown was made by WMU’s reigning Mid-American Athletic Conference player of the week, receiver Jamarko Simmons, who ended his night with 14 receptions for 158 yards. It marked the third straight game that Simmons hauled in more than 10 receptions.\nDespite Simmons’ impressive statistics, the Hoosiers said they defended him well in the game. \n“(Simmons) is a big guy. He can be pretty physical, but we were prepared,” senior cornerback Tracy Porter said. “Our coaches did a great job devising schemes for us to limit his catches and not let him get loose, and I think we did a great job of that, but he’s a great receiver.”\nIU quickly responded after the Simmons’ touchdown with another Starr field goal to push the lead to 16, this one good for 48 yards and a new career high for the kicker.\nBut once again, IU was unable to put the Broncos away. Western Michigan tallied another touchdown to make the score 37-27. After a failed two-point conversion, Western Michigan was unable to score for the rest of the game and the Hoosiers hung on to win by 10. \nThe resolve of Western Michigan came as no surprise to Lynch, who faced the Broncos regularly as the head coach of Ball State from 1995 to 2002. After the game, he credited the opposition for clawing back.\n“If you got a chance to put a game away, you need to,” Lynch said. “Because against a good football team like that – that can throw the ball – they can get right back in it and they did.”