Cat clawed

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Junior defensive lineman Russ Richardson said it all, "Coulda, woulda, shoulda." \nThose were the words out of Richardson's mouth after he nearly picked off a Northwestern touchdown pass to junior Taylor Jones in the first overtime of Saturday's game. If Richardson would have picked off the pass, IU could have walked away with a 24-17 win; instead, the ball went into Jones' hands, sending the contest into a second overtime, and the 31-24 double overtime win went into Northwestern's column. \nAs for the aforementioned two-yard touchdown pass to end the first overtime, Richardson said he would have made the pick if he had a better foothold on the situation. \n"I saw the ball coming right over me and I just lost my footing and couldn't get a good jump and it just went right over my hands and right into (Jones)' arms and he got the touchdown," Richardson said. "I can't get it out of my head right now. I just wish I would have had my feet, because I know I could have got it. You know, it's 'Coulda, woulda, shoulda.'"\nCoulda, woulda, shoulda was the name of the game for IU as the Hoosiers drop to 2-4 on the year and 0-3 in the Big Ten despite records broken by seniors quarterback Matt LoVecchio and wide receiver Courtney Roby.\nLoVecchio essentially did everything in his power to get the win as he garnered career highs in five categories and passed for his first 300-plus-yard game of his career while Roby is now the all-time IU leader in career receptions with 149, passing a mark set by former Hoosier Thomas Lewis that has stood since 1993. \nIn total, LoVecchio finished the game with 329 passing yards, three touchdowns and 27 completions on 50 attempts and also ended up as IU's leading rusher with 57 yards on the ground.\nDespite the impressive statistics, LoVecchio belittled his own accomplishments because of the heartbreaking loss.\n"All of that really is irrelevant because we lost the game and whether we run it or throw it, kick it or punt it or do whatever, we're going to do what it takes to score touchdowns." LoVecchio said. "Today we had the passing game going but Northwestern won the game and I give them credit."\nRoby, LoVecchio's favorite target, caught eight passes for 150 yards and one touchdown, giving him not only the career receptions honor, but also moves him within 59 yards of breaking the career reception yards. Roby said he was proud of the distinction, but also felt his own accomplishments meant nothing compared to the team's loss. \n"It will mean a lot later on; it's an honor, but right now I feel like crap," Roby said. "We lost and it is just one of those games where you hate to see somebody lose. We have to give Northwestern credit."\nWhile LoVecchio and Roby both had career outings, they weren't the only ones having a good day. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, Northwestern halfback Noah Herron also set career marks with 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Herron proved to be the linchpin of the Wildcat game as he scored the 16-yard game-winning touchdown in the second overtime. \nNorthwestern coach Randy Walker said the Wildcats intended to keep the Northwestern offense on his legs until it stopped working. Unfortunately for IU, his legs never did stop working.\n"We were going to ride him as long as he could go, and he was still going at the end," Walker said. "So let's saddle him up and let's go. He had a great game."\nCareer notes aside, Hoosier players were despondent after the backbreaking loss, but remain adamant about IU's will to fight in its remaining games.\n"There's no way around it, you're just sick to your stomach," Richardson said. "Tough people keep fighting through it and we're never going to get better unless we keep fighting. We've just got to be tough about it mentally and physically."\nRoby echoed his teammate's sentiments and promised that his team would keep their goals in mind for the entirety of IU's remaining five games.\n"We've just got to keep fighting. It doesn't matter what the scoreboard says. One thing that we won't do is just give up," Roby said. "That's not in our character and that's not in our system, so we won't give up."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.