What’s better than a rootin’ tootin’ rivalry?
Two sides, fueled by hatred, coming together once a year to settle their differences on a football field. In some cases, it's rooted in something as simple as state lines. Just ask any Ohioan what they think of Michiganders, you’ll find they have less-than-pleasant words to describe them.
In other instances, it's a matter of in-state conceit; for example, Indiana and Purdue, two schools separated by 120 miles of Hoosier highways. While basketball is the sport that’s defined their intense disdain for one another, there’s nothing quite like the sound of crunching pads on the gridiron.
That symphony of collision took place for the 127th time Friday night as the Hoosiers defeated the Boilermakers in blowout fashion 56-3. Here’s how each Indiana position group performed in the win.
Quarterbacks
Grade: C
Explanation: Despite the lopsided score, redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza had his worst statistical performance this season. He recorded season lows in completions (eight), completion percentage (53.3%) and passing yards (117). Mendoza didn’t necessarily play terribly, but he certainly didn’t look like the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. The Hoosiers’ quarterback struggled with accuracy and threw multiple passes that would’ve resulted in interceptions if Purdue’s defensive backs knew how to catch a football. Regardless, Mendoza didn’t need to be perfect for Indiana’s offense to dominate the Boilermakers, and his Heisman hopes are still intact with a trip to the Big Ten Championship this Saturday.
Running Backs
Grade: A+
Explanation: The Hoosiers’ rushing attack needed to step up with Mendoza out of sync. It did. Indiana had 37 rushes for 355 yards and five touchdowns. No carry was as explosive as redshirt senior Roman Hemby’s 82-yard sprint to the end zone late in the second quarter. Redshirt senior Kaelon Black’s 16-yard touchdown run the prior drive featured the prettiest spin move I’ve seen this season. For the sixth time this season, the Hoosiers surpassed the 300-yard mark on the ground.
Receivers
Grade: B+
Explanation: Taking into account the aforementioned eight completions, there really isn’t much to talk about regarding Indiana’s receiving core. Redshirt junior Omar Cooper Jr. showed some impressive open field moves during his 43-yard touchdown grab late in the third quarter, and senior Elijah Sarratt found the end zone in his long-awaited return from injury. One area I do want to highlight is the receivers’ downfield blocking, which routinely helped running backs turn good gains into great ones. Even when the passing game took a back seat, the Hoosiers' wideouts remained selfless and contributed offensively.
Offensive Line
Grade: A
Explanation: I’ve been extremely critical of Indiana’s offensive line this season. It seems the unit is the team’s biggest strength against lesser opponents and its biggest weakness against elite defenses. Purdue falls into the first category. The Hoosiers’ offensive front didn’t allow a sack, limited negative plays and imposed its will in the run game. Aside from one false start, it's tough to critique anything from a performance that saw Indiana average 9.6 yards per carry. That doesn’t happen without elite play up front. Still, this unit will need to show up for the Hoosiers to have a chance at winning the conference title against Ohio State.
Defensive Line
Grade: A+
Explanation: Senior defensive end Stephen Daley continues to terrorize opposing offenses. The Big Ten leader in tackles for loss tacked on 4.5 more against the Boilermakers in a disrupting display of dominance. Indiana’s defense combined for 10 total tackles for loss that set Purdue back 36 yards and allowed just 1.6 yards per carry on the ground. Having a defensive line that can win the line of scrimmage consistently is a recipe for success at any level of football. Daley and the Hoosiers did just that. If you’re wondering how Purdue scored just three points, there’s your answer.
Linebackers
Grade: A
Explanation: Senior Aiden Fisher and sophomore Rolijah Hardy combined for 17 total tackles. Indiana’s linebackers filled run gaps when they needed to, and Hardy had a pair of pass breakups in coverage. Other than that, there’s not much else to say. Good defensive line play makes every other unit’s job so much easier.
Secondary
Grade: B+
Explanation: The Hoosiers allowed 238 passing yards, the third most they’ve given up this season. At a glance, that’s not great. However, it’s not nearly as bad when you take into account the volume of Purdue’s passing attack. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne attempted 47 passes — the most by any opponent Indiana’s faced this season. As a result, the Boilermakers only averaged 5.1 yards per pass. That’s enough for a solid overall grade for Indiana’s defensive backs.
Special Teams
Grade: A
Explanation: Redshirt sophomore kicker Nico Radicic stayed perfect on the season by making all eight of his extra point attempts. Meanwhile, senior punter Mitch McCarthy responded to the criticism I gave last time out by booting four punts for an average of 47.3 yards. Good job, special teams.
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.
