If you weren’t comfortably numb tailgating Saturday and were actually at Memorial Stadium, you’d know exactly what Bill Lynch was talking about. \nIn his post-game press conference, Lynch credited the Hoosiers’ success to their ability to make “explosive plays.”\nKa-boom. \nExplosive plays are common when you’re the fastest team in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers simply outran Akron. IU’s offense was clicking so well on Saturday that the press box announcer had to remind the room there was no cheering or excessive noise allowed in the room.\nThe Hoosiers spread the field against Akron and took advantage of a weapons surplus that would make the United States blush. Their most dangerous weapon was sophomore quarterback Kellen Lewis, who wreaked havoc against the Zips all afternoon. On Saturday, he challenged the IU gold standard for quarterbacks – Antwaan Randle El – and came within 11 yards of Randle El’s record 210 rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game. \nFor the day, Lewis finished with 199 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His day on the ground was highlighted by his career-long 64-yard dash up the sideline in the first quarter. \n“If they are trying to take away the pass, that is the ability he has,” James Hardy said of Lewis’ running ability. “And that’s why this offense has become so explosive. With him using his arm and his legs, moving back and forth around the field, it is hard for the defenders to defend.”\nAnd when you have so many players on the field with playmaking ability, it becomes even harder to defend. \nHardy, an early finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, caught his fifth touchdown in three games Saturday. Seven different receivers caught passes for the Hoosiers on Saturday. On the ground, running backs Marcus Thigpen and Demetrius McCray combined for 138 yards rushing. \nIn the first three games this year, opponents have been giving Thigpen the Devin Hester treatment – refusing to kick to him. They’d rather squib it or kick it out of bounds than give him a chance to run it back on them. \n“I am a little surprised when they do kick it to me,” Thigpen said. “I am still waiting for a good kick to come to me.”\nAnd I’m still waiting for the Zips to tackle Thigpen after his career-long 59-yard run Saturday. Akron missed him more than they miss LeBron James.\nTerry Hoeppner once declared Thigpen the fastest man in Bloomington, but he might have some competition in Ray Fisher. In terms of size and energy, Fisher is reminiscent of former IU basketball player Errek Suhr. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound wide receiver scampered almost untouched for 24 yards to the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday.\nWhen asked who was faster, Thigpen or himself, Fisher smiled and said, “I’ll leave it at a tie. For now.”\nOn the other side of the ball, the Hoosiers were equally electrifying. \nIU’s defense seemed to play to the phrase “bend not break” and was aided by their ability to get to the ball quickly. Greg Middleton had two sacks, giving him a team-high five for the season, and Tracy Porter intercepted a ball on the two-yard line late in the game to seal the victory.\nBut it was Lewis’ legs and throwing arm that scored all of the points for the Hoosiers. Only a sophomore and already one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten, Lewis has blown up before he’s grown up. Whether he was running for first downs or running around linebackers, Lewis’ effort was mesmerizing, but not surprising to his teammates.\n“Last year, he surprised me,” Fisher said of Lewis. “But not now. I expect it every play.”\nMcCray described Lewis as “elusive” and praised his ability to “make people miss.”\n“We’ve been seeing that since day one,” McCray said. “We get to see that in practice everyday.”
Predicted: Indiana 24, Akron 10\nActual: Indiana 41, Akron 24
