No ducking IU

One week ago in a 41-10 rout of Central Michigan University, defense was the name of the game for the Hoosiers. With stellar play from both the defensive and special teams units, IU easily handled CMU for the easy win. \nAfter Saturday's 30-24 upset of the No. 24 Oregon Ducks, it can be said that not much changed in a week. \nWhile the Ducks are a far cry from the Chippewas, the Hoosier defense stayed true to last week's performance, forcing seven turnovers including four fumbles and three interceptions. \nIU coach Gerry DiNardo attributed the win to IU's stellar defensive play.\n"This is a great feeling. The win was terrific," DiNardo said in a statement. "The defense won the game for us with the seven turnovers, and the special teams and offense also contributed."\nOregon coach Mike Bellotti echoed DiNardo's sentiments, blaming the loss both on the Ducks' plethora of turnovers and IU's stellar defense. \n"I credit Indiana. They did a lot of things to help themselves win. We just turned the ball over way too many times," Bellotti said. "I thought their defense played very well."\nA trio of Hoosier defenders ruled the roost as IU's Buster Larkins, junior, logged 10 solo tackles and one interception while senior Herana-Daze Jones added nine tackles and one interception, and junior Kyle Killion matched Jones' numbers and added a sack for good measure. \nJones' interception could not have come at a more opportune time for the Hoosiers, as the Ducks had first down on IU's 16 yard line with less than three minutes left in the game. Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens tried to run a screen pass for a score, but Jones picked off the pass. \nJones accredited the stellar play to his recognition of the same play being run earlier in the contest. \n"I ran past it the first time," Jones said. "I saw the quarterback dropping back, and I was supposed to blitz, but I stayed back and just grabbed it."\nThe special teams also did their part in the win, as senior Bryan Robertson connected on all three of his field goals and sophomore Lance Bennett completed a 98-yard kickoff return in the third quarter for IU's final score. \nOregon's DeMetrius Williams blamed Oregon's defeat upon the early momentum the Hoosiers gained as IU blanked the Ducks 23-0 in the first half. While the Ducks were able to get back in the game, Williams said the team still hurt after such a defeat. \n"You can't let teams get on you early. I thought we battled back as a team, but this loss hurts," Williams said. "Any loss hurts, but the way it ended was hard. But it's a learning experience."\nDefense wasn't the only deciding factor in Saturday's game as IU players felt as if they weren't receiving enough credit from either the Oregon team or fans. \nSenior wide receiver Courtney Roby said the team was fired up by the lack of respect his team received prior to the game. \n"We felt disrespected coming in here," Roby said. "Then we came back to bite them."\nAnother deciding factor may have been the final gelling of the Hoosiers as a team after three years of rebuilding with a new coach. DiNardo said the win wasn't only because of Saturday's play, but the extended work of the team he has been building since his 2001 arrival as head coach. \n"It's not just today, it's a culmination of the last few years," DiNardo said. "We've been building for something like this and you can never tell when it will come."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.