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The Indiana Daily Student

football

IU football picks up first Big Ten win of 2019 with shutout win over Rutgers

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It took 10 seconds for IU to put points on the scoreboard Saturday against Rutgers, the fastest scoring play in Memorial Stadium history. 

Rutgers made no attempt at the opening kickoff as it went through the back of the end zone for a touchback. On the first play from scrimmage, sophomore defensive lineman Demarcus Elliott forced a fumble and senior linebacker Reakwon Jones took it in for the scoop and score. 

“Coming in, first play of the game to get a takeaway and a score off of that, it’s just an amazing feeling,” Elliott said. “Leadership on our defense is just phenomenal, it’s crazy. I haven’t been with a defense like this my whole football career.”

The Hoosier offense proceeded to add passing touchdowns from redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr., on its first two drives. Less than eight minutes into the game, IU was out to a 21-0 lead. 

The Hoosiers held up defensively to maintain the early three-score lead, but the offense broke down on their next six drives. To close out the half IU’s offense produced three punts, an interception, a lost fumble and a 94-yard drive that ended in a failed 4th and 1 attempt.

The game lost its energy after IU’s early scoring spree, and Rutgers never seemed to get anything going on offense. Had the Hoosiers not made clutch stops on defense the few times the Scarlet Knights crossed midfield, the game could have been closer at halftime. 

“That's why I'm so stinking hoarse because I was yelling the whole time to stay focused and to finish,” IU head coach Tom Allen said. “I thought there was some good silent energy, even when there was a lull after we got ahead. But to keep the pedal down is hard to do.”

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Fifth-year wide receiver Donavan Hale smiles at his teammates Oct. 12 in Memorial Stadium. IU defeated Rutgers, 35-0. Alex Deryn

In need of points to put the game out of Rutgers’ reach, the IU offense strung together a pair of scoring drives – including a 13-play, 98-yard series that made it 35-0 – to open up the second half.

Sophomore running back Stevie Scott and junior receiver Whop Philyor each came close to gaining 200 total yards on less than 30 combined touches. 

Philyor finished with 182 yards on 10 catches, his fourth career game with double-digit reception figures. No player in program history has more than one game of that variety. 

Scott ran for 164 yards on 12 rushes but couldn’t find the end zone. The sophomore running back, however, gashed the Rutgers defense for three runs of over 25 yards, including a 57-yarder that set up a short passing touchdown to junior receiver Ty Fryfogle. 

The Hoosiers ran the ball 38 times for 260 yards and one touchdown, but it was the offensive line’s effort that earned the game ball afterward in the locker room. 

“If our offensive line wasn’t blocking the way they were, it wouldn’t have happened,” Philyor said.

IU’s didn’t challenge its first two conference opponents like it did Rutgers on Saturday, but Allen is just happy to be back in the win column for the first time in three weeks. 

“I love what we do,” Allen said. “The guys are just going to keep getting better the more confidence we have, but as our guys grow, get older each week and get better. Excited for our future. Just got to keep working harder.”

IU plays at Maryland next week for a chance to become one win away from bowl eligibility.

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