IU football’s word of the week was focus. Yet after putting up just 211 total yards of offense against Penn State last week, IU’s offense had another slow start against Rutgers.
However, a second straight week of stellar defense allowed the Hoosiers to find their rhythm in a 37-21 victory Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey. They held the Scarlet Knights to 258 total yards and recorded three takeaways, leading to 17 points.
The IU defense now has six takeaways this season.
“We see it every day in practice,” IU sophomore quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. “Our defense, they work extremely hard. Just the maturity they have on that side of the ball, guys stepping up taking that leadership role, and taking it to the next step.”
The IU offense, led by Penix, ran only six plays on its first two drives.
Rutgers took advantage of IU’s inability to move the football in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Noah Vedral completed a 23-yard passing touchdown to senior wide receiver Bo Melton to take the first lead of the game.
On the Hoosiers’ next two possessions, they drove into the red zone but could only come away with field goals. In the team’s season opener against Penn State, IU scored on all five of its trips to the red zone.
Sophomore kicker Charles Campbell connected on kicks from 42 and 28 yards in the first half.
While trailing by one point in the second quarter, junior linebacker Cam Jones pressured Vedral and forced a throw that landed in the hands of sophomore defensive lineman Jonathan King. Penix and the Hoosiers' offense would take advantage of the turnover, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead.
On the next possession, Vedral threw his second interception of the game. Junior cornerback Jaylin Williams recorded his second takeaway of the season, and IU scored on a 15-yard passing touchdown to senior wide receiver Ty Fryfogle to take a commanding 20-7 lead before halftime.
“Just really proud of them,” IU head coach Tom Allen said. “I thought (IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack) did a great job mixing things up with our secondary and our coverages and trying to create pressure. The three takeaways were huge, just massive.”
The second half started with much of the same from both of IU’s offensive and defensive units. The Hoosiers started with the ball to open the third quarter with its third three-and-out.
But after Rutgers took over possession, Vedral threw another interception. This time, IU junior linebacker Micah McFadden undercut the pass and presented the IU offense with another opportunity.
After a five-play, 55-yard drive, Penix could not lead the team to another touchdown. Campbell came onto the field and kicked a 31-yard field goal to give the Hoosiers a 23-7 lead.
“Obviously, it’s great to have great field position, and the defense gave us that a lot,” Penix said. “The offense, we just execute whenever we have to and make sure we can get points on the board every time we’re in the red zone.”
But the Scarlet Knights wouldn’t go away.
A 37-yard touchdown run for Rutgers sophomore running back Kay'Ron Adams and two-point conversion brought the score to 23-15.
However, Penix led a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to put the game out of reach.
Penix finished the game with 238 passing yards and three touchdowns. IU junior tight end Peyton Hendershot scored two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Whop Philyor hauled in five catches for 137 yards.
The Hoosiers are now 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1991.
“In my mind, we expected to be able to start doing things like this,” Allen said. “We don’t care what happens, we’re going to lock in and stay focused on the task at hand, and we’re going to get better. Because there’s a whole bunch of things we have to get better at.”
