IU Coach Kevin Wilson said all offseason the quarterback he wanted just needed to be able to manage the offense, not turn the ball over and get IU into the end zone.
Whoever the starting quarterback was going to be didn’t need to win the game for IU, just make sure he helped the many weapons in his arsenal get the looks they needed to succeed.
That’s what junior quarterback Richard Lagow did.
Lagow was never asked to do anything extraordinary. Rarely did he send his receivers down field for deep balls, and, more often than not, his role ended with handing the ball off to junior running back Devine Redding and company.
In fact, the most adventurous play he played a significant role in was a zone read that finished with him celebrating in the end zone after running the ball in from six yards out for a score.
His mission was to give Wilson a win in his first career Division-I start in the season opener against Florida International in Miami, Florida, and he accomplished that.
The junior college transfer from Cisco Community College in Texas connected on 18 of 27 attempts for 240 yards and a touchdown.
Although Lagow was without his No. 1 wide receiver, junior Simmie Cobbs Jr., due to a one-game suspension the program said was for not living up to his responsibilities to the Hoosier program since the conclusion of the 2015 season, sophomore Nick Westbrook stepped up and provided a consistent option when it appeared some of Lagow’s more well-known options faded from sight.
The pair connected on multiple slants across the middle and short routes on the edge, giving Westbrook a team-high six receptions and 70 yards.
They were simple routes, simple plays that Lagow executed as needed. That simplicity allowed Lagow to spread the ball around and do without finding one receiver to dismantle the FIU secondary.
No one outside of Westbrook had more than two receptions. Sophomore running back Mike Majette was IU’s second leading receiver, catching two screen passes for 54 yards.
Those screen passes and quick outs to Paige and others made it clear from the very start that Wilson wasn’t going to put this game on Lagow’s shoulders. Over the course of the game, the Hoosiers ran the ball nearly twice as many times as they passed it — 51 compared to 27.
IU started its first offensive series of the game with three runs and its first offensive series of the second half with four. Redding, Majette, freshman running back Cole Gest and others were all Wilson and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns really needed to gradually break FIU’s defense down.
Yes, it was a slow start for IU’s offense. They were down 13-12 at the beginning of the fourth quarter and needed two interceptions returned for touchdowns to really build a lead over the Golden Panthers.
But, throughout it all, the Hoosiers could rely on Lagow to manage the offense and will return to Bloomington with a 34-13 victory under the belts.
