Lewis to Hardy...

In just 20 seconds, Kellen Lewis and James Hardy stole the show.\nSophomore quarterback Lewis and junior wide receiver Hardy were responsible for two one-play touchdown drives in the first half. The first was a 58-yard strike that took just six seconds. The touchdown pass was Lewis’s career best – for less than a quarter. In the second quarter, the pair hooked up on a 79-yard pass-and-catch to once again put the Hoosiers up by 14 points at 21-7. That drive lasted only 14 seconds. Indiana State never scored after that play, and the Hoosiers never looked back, reeling off 34 more points in the route.\n“It’s huge, big plays like that,” IU coach Bill Lynch said. “It’s something we talk a lot about. We got to get big plays, and we got to keep other people from getting them, and we got some guys that can do that.” \nLast season, Lewis and Hardy connected for 10 touchdowns after Lewis won the starting quarterback job. With an entire offseason to get better acquainted, the pair expects even bigger numbers in 2007.\n“Last year, I didn’t get any reps with him, basically I was the (third-string quarterback) when I got thrown into the starting role,” Lewis said. “We met up a couple of times this summer when I was down in Florida, we worked out every day here and he told me how he liked the ball to be thrown.”\nLewis also said that, in addition to the duo’s chemistry being better, Hardy has improved as an all-around football player.\n“Hardy’s better, faster, stronger; he’s worked on his whole game,” Lewis said. “He’s just now learning how to play with his (6-foot-7) frame.”\nThe two touchdown throws were not only confidence boosters for Lewis and Hardy, they also provided a spark for the rest of the team. Senior linebacker Adam McClurg said he would gladly sacrifice rest for the defense if it meant quick points on the board for IU.\n“I love it. I love seeing points put on the board,” McClurg said. “It actually gets us excited. We have a lot of depth, so if we are tired, we can put some more guys in.”\nWith the threat of Hardy taking the ball, the distance weighing on Indiana State, the rest of the offense was able to produce better. Sophomore running back Bryan Payton, who notched his first career touchdown during the third quarter, said Lewis and Hardy give the Hoosier offense a spark that many of their opponents might not be able to match.\n“It’s a big confidence booster. We know we’re a big-play offense and a big-play team,” Payton said. “We know we can do certain things that a lot of other teams can’t do.”\nWhile the fans, coaches and players were excited watching a pair of Lewis-to-Hardy touchdown passes, perhaps the person most eager to see it again is Hardy himself.\n“Kellen went to a different level, each and every day it’s going to get better,” Hardy said. “I’m looking forward to next week now.”