When No. 2 Indiana football took the field with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter Saturday against Penn State, it appeared as if it needed a miracle drive.
The Hoosiers offense sputtered for much of the second half while the Nittany Lions took a 3-point lead with just under six and a half minutes remaining.
Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza had three career fourth-quarter game-winning drives before Saturday. He completed his fourth, guiding Indiana on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that spanned just over a minute of game time to secure the 27-24 victory inside Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Here’s the historic game-winning drive through the perspectives of Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, redshirt junior receiver Omar Cooper Jr., sophomore receiver Charlie Becker, senior linebacker Aiden Fisher and Mendoza.
Just before the Hoosiers take the field
MENDOZA: “That last two-minute drive, it's like, ‘All right, a crazy Superman play is not going to win the game here. Sticking to fundamentals and sticking to the rules is going to win the game.’”
FISHER: “I went up and told him (Mendoza) right before then, ‘You do this every single day. This is just another practice two-minute drill. You know what you’re doing.’”
CIGNETTI: “At that point, I didn't tell ‘em anything. I was kind of coaching (offensive coordinator) Mike (Shanahan) up. Now, coach Mike doesn't need a lot of coaching, but just giving him what I thought, that we need to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly, get him in rhythm.”
First and 10 at Indiana 20-yard line — 1:51
Penn State rushed just four players on the first play of the drive, but sixth-year senior right tackle Khalil Benson was late to pick one up. Senior defensive tackle Zane Durant maneuvered around Benson, finding his way to Mendoza for the 7-yard sack.
MENDOZA: “The first play, we got a sack, and I think we were on a 10-yard line. And at that point, it was like, ‘All right, here we're going to go, 90 yards with the boys.’”
CIGNETTI: “I guarantee you, when Fernando got sacked on first down, how many people in this room (full of reporters) counted us out? Right?”
Second and 17 at Indiana 13-yard line — 1:30
Mendoza dropped back in the pocket and found Omar Cooper Jr. open on a vertical route up the seam. The redshirt junior receiver made a leaping catch, securing the ball for a 22-yard gain and a crucial first down.
First and 10 at Indiana 35-yard line — 1:22
Mendoza hurried the offense to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball, preserving the remaining time on the clock.
Second and 10 at Indiana 35-yard line — 1:22
After spiking the ball to preserve clock, Mendoza found sixth-year senior receiver E.J. Williams Jr. on a comeback route near the far sideline. Williams secured the catch for 12 yards and went out of bounds to stop the clock.
First and 10 at Indiana 47-yard line — 1:17
Penn State brought two additional rushers toward Mendoza, as six Nittany Lions set their sights on the quarterback. Sixth-year senior running back Kaelon Black picked up a free rusher up the middle to allow Mendoza a split second longer to throw.
Cooper cut with his left foot, beating his defender inside. He was open in the slot, but Mendoza sailed the pass as he threw too early and off his back foot.
Second and 10 at Indiana 47-yard line — 1:13
After missing Cooper, Mendoza found sixth-year senior tight end Riley Nowakowski up the seam for a 29-yard gain. The Hoosiers were now set up inside Penn State territory as the clock ticked down under a minute. Mendoza was in rhythm.
First and 10 at Penn State 24-yard line — 0:53
Despite Penn State again bringing six rushers, Mendoza remained calm in the pocket. He looked left and fired a pass downfield. Becker rose above redshirt junior cornerback Audavion Collins and got his left foot in bounds to secure the 17-yard reception.
CIGNETTI: “They were going one-on-one on Becker. And Charlie made some fantastic plays. He's taken advantage of his opportunities this year.”
Penn State uses a timeout — 0:48
First and goal at Penn State 7-yard line — 0:48
Mendoza stood in the shotgun with an empty backfield. Penn State, again, showed it was sending six rushers; however, two dropped back into coverage. As freshman defensive end Yvan Kemajou had a free rush on Mendoza, he elevated and tipped Mendoza’s pass with his left hand. Despite Penn State defenders in the area, the ball dropped to the ground.
Penn State calls second timeout — 0:45
The Nittany Lions attempted to make substitutions to get fresh players on the field. However, the Hoosiers moved quickly, forcing Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith to burn a timeout to prevent a free play.
Second and goal at Penn State 7-yard line — 0:45
Penn State sent five rushers — one of them being junior safety King Mack. With Mendoza attempting to release a pass, Mack hit his right arm during the throwing motion. Again, the ball narrowly avoided a Nittany Lions defender and fell to the ground.
Third and goal at Penn State 7-yard line — 0:41
With Black off his left hip, Mendoza stood in the gun as he caught the snap. With seven Nittany Lions rushing toward Mendoza, the signal caller dropped back and threw a pass off his back foot over the middle toward Cooper.
The 6-foot Cooper elevated above redshirt senior safety Zakee Wheatley, hauled in the pass and managed to get his left foot down in bounds just before his right hit out of bounds. Touchdown, Indiana.
COOPER: “In that moment, I was just trying to... I knew where I was on the field, so I was just trying to... When I went up for the ball, I just tried to get my feet as far inside as I could. And just come down, make sure I came down with it.”
COOPER: “But the fact that I was able to control my body and get a foot in bounds and also catch the ball and score, that's just definitely got to be my favorite play in my career so far.”
BECKER: “That catch was probably the craziest catch I've ever seen in my entire life. I mean, that body control that Omar has is just unreal. Like, it was, I can't even put into words. It was crazy.”
CIGNETTI: “I got to see it again on tape and TV, honestly. You know what I mean? It was a great catch. And to keep that toe in bounds, you got to be a really special player to do that.”
While the play is reviewed by officials — 0:36
COOPER: “I seen the replay, and it was a really close call. And I felt like it wasn't enough to overturn it. And so, it was a blessing to be able to make that play.”
MENDOZA: “I would say it's a hit of dopamine. It's a hit of like a quick hit of dopamine. Like, all right, here we go. We've got to keep it rolling, especially in that situation.”
After the game
Mendoza finished the contest 19 for 30 for 218 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. While it’s not his most impressive stat line of the season, he delivered in the clutch — perhaps his Heisman Trophy moment.
FISHER: “Anybody looking for a Heisman moment, there it is. That dude earned it. He’s the best player in the country, and he showed it today.”
BECKER: “I mean, like I said, Fernando is probably the best quarterback in college football.”
MENDOZA: “So, these are game-winning drives that you dream of growing up as a kid. And so, I can say I think this is the top of my career right now, and the top moment I've had in my career, and I have so much joy in my heart to share with the program and all my teammates.”
Follow reporters Dalton James (@DaltonMJames and jamesdm@iu.edu) and Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa and qmrichar@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
