Following a 52-16 win against the University of North Texas last weekend, Indiana football picked up another dominant 55-0 victory over Howard University on Saturday to move to 2-0.
Like against North Texas, the Hoosiers scored quickly. Junior running back Turbo Richard returned the games’ opening kickoff 36 yards to set up Indiana at its own 44-yard line. Five plays later, redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover connected with junior wide receiver Charlie Becker for a 34-yard touchdown.
Holding a 7-0 lead, the Hoosiers forced a Howard punt. Indiana relied on the run-game in its ensuing 10-play, 86-yard drive. Redshirt senior running back Lee Beebe Jr. carried the ball five times, and Richard handled the other three. Hoover capped the possession with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Becker.
Howard’s offense continued to stall, going three-and-out on its second drive. Indiana took advantage, as Hoover found fifth-year wide receiver Shazz Preston wide-open downfield for a 39-yard score to extend the Hoosiers’ advantage to 20-0 at the end of the first quarter.
After three consecutive punts –– two from Howard and one from Indiana –– the Hoosiers returned to scoring. Hoover found Becker on a quick slant, which he took for a 41-yard touchdown, before junior linebacker Rolijah Hardy notched a pick six on the Bison’s next drive.
Indiana tacked on an eight-play scoring drive to end the first half. Richard earned a 14-yard touchdown run, as the Hoosiers took a 41-0 lead into halftime.
With a commanding advantage over Howard, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti pulled Hoover for the second half. Seventh-year quarterback Grant Wilson started in his place and picked up where Hoover left off.
Wilson hit sophomore receiver Davion Chandler for a three-yard touchdown on his first series. On the Hoosiers’ next possession, the quarterback found junior receiver Nick Marsh for a 51-yard score, bringing the Hoosiers’ lead to 55-0.
Indiana scored a touchdown on seven of its ten total drives Saturday.
Hoover ended his day six for 11 passing with 146 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Becker was on the receiving end of three of those touchdowns, adding 81 receiving yards. Richard and Beebe combined for 27 carries for 225 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Indiana will look to improve to 3-0 and close out nonconference play against Western Kentucky University at 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
