Lewis, Hoosiers run roughshod over Akron defense

With the defensive formations they used Saturday, it seemed as if Akron thought IU was a pass-happy offense. \nThey thought wrong.\n“We had a lot of fun today,” sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis said. “It was one of those games where I was proud of my receivers, because they never once complained about how many throws they were getting, how many catches they were getting. They just kept blocking the corners and that allowed us to get a lot of rushing yards.”\nThe Zips played a 3-3-5 defense, and sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis was all too happy to exploit that in a ¬¬41-24 Hoosier victory. IU gained 338 yards on the ground – 198 coming from Lewis. It was the highest rushing total the Hoosiers recorded in a game since running for 305 yards against Kentucky in 2005.\nRacking up 475 yards, the IU offense exposed holes in an Akron defense that held Ohio State to just three points in the first half last week. And while the defense gave up 350 yards, the Hoosiers still managed to force two turnovers and add four sacks to their NCAA-leading total of 17.\nThough IU coach Bill Lynch said total offense is not a stat the Hoosiers focus on, junior running back Marcus Thigpen took satisfaction with the job the offense did against Akron.\n“There’s a lot of pride in that because early on, we couldn’t really get the running game established at all,” Thigpen said. “Seeing 330 yards and all, it’s a good thing.”\nThe ball bounced the Hoosiers way at the start of the game. Just 1:30 into the first quarter, a botched snap led to a fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Will Patterson. The Hoosiers ended up taking their first lead on a field goal by sophomore kicker Austin Starr. \nA stagnant Akron defense then produced a quick three and out, punting to the IU 31. On the first play from scrimmage, Lewis faked a handoff and sprinted downfield 64 yards – his longest run of his career. \nFrom inside the five, the Hoosiers were unable to put the ball in the end zone on the first three plays – evoking memories of a turnover on downs from the one-yard line on Western Michigan last week. But on fourth down, Lewis found a wide open Josiah Sears in the flat for six on a play action fake.\n“It was one of those things where we were getting down to the goal line and we kind of had a lot of mental mistakes,” Lewis said. “In some cases, we’re not even blocking guys on the sides that we’re running to, so it’s something we have to work on.”\nAfter an Akron field goal, IU began to drive again through the use of its running game. This time, it was sophomore Demetrius McCray who gained 39 yards on four carries during the drive. However, Lewis was intercepted at the goal line, causing a momentum shift.\nWith new quarterback Carlton Jackson inserted into the game, Akron went back to work. Jackson led the Zips on a 10 play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown. The Hoosier offense, on the other hand, was unable to find its receivers or gain any yards on the ground.\n“I thought their quarterback was pretty good,” Lynch said. “He was slippery, and he made us miss some. We hadn’t seen a whole lot of him on tape, but he was a difference.”\nOn the Zips’ ensuing possession, Jackson led another touchdown drive. In just seven plays, Jackson led the Zips 78 yards, capping the drive with a 21-yard strike over the middle.\nThough only minutes remained in the half, the Hoosiers responded. Starting on their 23-yard line, Lewis led IU on a drive that nearly died at the Akron 24. Lewis threw to a heavily covered Ray Fisher in the flat on third down. The sophomore wide receiver made a defender miss and scampered 24 yards to tie the game at 17-17 going into the half.\n“I’m glad halftime came, because I think we had a chance to go in and regroup,” Lynch said. “We had two straight football games where we were ahead 31-7 at the half. Guys think that’s the way it’s going to be every week – it’s not. We kind of got hit in the mouth there in the second quarter and kind of took it.”\nA reenergized Hoosier team came out to start the second half. Lewis handed off to Thigpen on the first play of the drive, and the running back took ran down the left side of the field for 59 yards. After again stalling inside the 10-yard line, Starr hit a field goal to give the Hoosiers back the lead.\nOnce again, the IU defense forced Akron to a three and out. Taking advantage of Lewis’ ability to scramble out of the pocket, the Hoosiers embarked on a 14-play, 81-yard drive. Accounting for nearly half of the yardage, Lewis ran up the middle for a touchdown to give IU a 27-17 lead.\nAnd yet Akron did not go away.\nWith his team down 10 points and time dwindling, Jackson orchestrated an 80-yard drive that ended on a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to cut the deficit to three.\nBut for every play, every touchdown Akron made, the Hoosiers answered.\nHelped by a couple of defensive pass interference calls, Lewis, McCray and Thigpen ran through the Zips defense en route to Lewis’ second rushing touchdown of the afternoon. Up 34-24 with six minutes left in the game, there was too little time left for the Zips to make up the difference. Just to make sure, Lewis found junior wide receiver James Hardy in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 17.\nNow with non-conference play all but over, the Hoosiers will prepare to welcome Illinois to Bloomington next weekend.\n“This team is not the team we’ve been in the last couple of years,” Hardy said. “I feel each and every guy has the determination to get victories, and now it’s time to get ready and look forward to the Big Ten season.”