MEMORIAL STADIUM (IUSTV SPORTS)
It is safe to say the Curt Cignetti era is well underway in Bloomington. After an offseason flooded with transfers, confidence, and a whole lot of chatter, Indiana came to play. The Hoosiers walloped Florida International by a final of 31-7.
“Games aren't going to get lopsided anymore, and if they do, we will be the ones on top." - Linebacker Aiden Fisher on the new culture of Indiana football.
In the opening frame, Indiana started with the football and quickly punted after a three and out in the beginning series..
The Hoosiers went to three consecutive pass plays which resulted in just one completion for a measly 5 yard pickup. However, after an Aiden Fisher tackle for loss, and a sack on back-to-back plays, Curtis Rourke and the IU offense was right back on the field.
It didn’t take long for Indiana’s Offensive Coordinator, Mike Shanahan, to realize he should utilize his rushing attack. The Hoosiers’ proceeded to run the ball five times in a seven play, 58 yard touchdown drive capped off by JMU transfer Zach Horton for IU’s first score in 2024.
The Hoosiers weren’t done in quarter one. The defense sacrificed just one first down pickup before stopping FIU once again.
This time, the Hoosier rushing attack inched their way down the field and opened up play-action for Curtis Rourke. Rourke connected with Omar Cooper Jr. for a 26 yard gain that put the Hoosiers inside the FIU 30. From there it was all ground and pound until Ty Son Lawton juked his way into the endzone on a 13-yard touchdown rush.
The Hoosiers’ nine play, 76-yard scoring drive was smooth, methodical, and diverse in play selection.
To end the half, both teams traded lengthy touchdown blows.
It was Indiana who scored first on arguably one of the more impressive IU football drives in recent history. A 16 play, 93 yard, scoring series that ended with Lawton’s second score of the day looked like it was going to pull the life out of the Panthers.
Ty Son Lawton finished the day with 74 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. The Indiana rushing attack combined for a whopping 234 yards averaging 5.9 YPC. An exceptional showing for a unit that had some question marks surrounding it coming into the new season.
Consequently, FIU didn’t back down. They followed suit and finally got on the board with a 12 play, 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. The Panthers inched their way down the field with just two plays gaining north of ten yards. Rocky Beers, an early favorite for best name in CFB, was on the receiving end of Keyone Jenkin’s seven yard touchdown throw.
The first half ended with IU on top 21-7.
A two-sided stalemate started in the second half.
“From the middle of the second quarter to halftime it was really sloppy ball” -Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti
Indiana was able to continue their defensive success by shutting down FIU.
The Hoosier defense only allowed 80 second half yards, an average of 2.4 per pay, while also turning over Panther Quarterback Keyone Jenkins. Hoosier defensive back, Amare Ferrell, recorded his first career interception in the opening minutes of quarter four.
From there, neither team did anything offensively until IU running back Elijah Green broke free with 1:06 to play for a 51-yard touchdown. Although meaningless in regards to time and score, it added to Indiana’s dominant tally of 234 rushing yards.
There is still plenty of room to grow for Indiana, especially on the offensive end.
“On offensive too many opportunities were squandered, we got to learn to play with the lead" -Curt Cignetti
Zoning in on the stat sheet, it wasn't a career day by any means for Indiana Quarterback Curtis Rourke. Rourke, an Ohio University transfer, was 15-24 for just 180 yards through the air. As a stat sheet stuffer at Ohio, Rourke will see better days in cream and crimson. With that being said, Indiana fans can arguably be inspired with the result. If the Hoosiers' best playmaker didn't have his best and they still came out triumphant in blowout fashion, there is more to come.
Overall, the Hoosiers 2024 campaign is underway and a blowout win to start is certainly something to be excited about.
The Hoosiers now enter a short week with their next matchup coming on Friday night against Western Illinois.
