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Instant recap: Indiana 47, Rutgers 15

 

Charlie Becker runs after a catch at Rutgers.

Quick thoughts on IU football’s 47-15 win against Rutgers at SHI Stadium in front of 48,650 fans:

Here are four key moments from IU’s road victory:

IU’s first drive sets the tone

Credit the IU defense for forcing a punt on Rutgers’ opening drive, which lasted less than three minutes. And credit Josh Hoover and the Hoosier offense for setting the tone with an efficient drive for the game’s first score.

Hoover led IU down the field on an eight-play, 85-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Becker. It was Becker’s seventh touchdown reception of the season.

Nico Radicic’s extra point gave the Hoosiers a 7-0 lead with 8:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Turbo gets Hoosiers into red zone, Hoover finishes drive with TD pass

Following a defensive stop on 4th and 7 at the IU 41 early in the second quarter, the Hoosiers moved the ball quickly downfield thanks to Turbo Richard.

Richard had rushes for 41 and 23 yards to move IU to the Rutgers’ one-yard line. Three plays later, Hoover found Davion Chandler for a 2-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-0 Indiana with 9:30 left in the second quarter.

Radicic missed the extra point for the first time in his career, ending his streak of 169 consecutive makes.

Hoosiers stuff Rutgers on fourth down and quickly score a third touchdown

Knowing it couldn’t afford another punt and hoping to shift momentum, Greg Schiano went for it on 4th and inches from its own 34. The IU defense stuffed Dylan Lonergan’s sneak attempt, giving the Hoosiers prime field position with 7:30 left in the first half.

Three plays later, Richards ran for IU’s third touchdown of the evening, a 14-yard strike to make it 22-0. Radicic quickly got back on track, converting the extra point to make it 23-0 and putting the Hoosiers comfortably up by three scores.

Hoosiers shut the door on Rutgers with early second half touchdown drive

With possession to begin the second half, Indiana quickly put Saturday’s game out of reach for good.

Hoover hooked up once again with one of his favorite targets, Becker, for a 48-yard completion on the drive’s third play. With IU set up in the red zone once again, Hoover’s third touchdown pass of the night was to Nick Marsh, a 12-yard strike to make it 29-0 with 12:22 left in the third quarter. Radicic nailed the extra point to make it 30-0 Hoosiers and put the game out of reach.

Offensive standouts

Hoover completed 20 of 27 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns. Hoover has 15 touchdowns and no interceptions through five games.

For the second straight week, an IU running back surpassed 200 rushing yards. Richard finished with 204 rushing yards, a career-high, on 13 carries and a touchdown. Richard finished with 15.7 yards per carry. Lee Beebe Jr., last week’s star against Northwestern, had 18 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown.

Becker had eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns and Marsh had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown.

Defensive numbers to know

Indiana held the Scarlet Knights to only 59 rushing yards. Rutgers standout running back Antwan Raymond managed only 31 rushing yards and 2.8 yards per carry. Raymond came into the game averaging 109.5 rushing yards per game with 5.6 yards per carry.

In total, the Hoosiers limited Rutgers to just 254 total yards and only 4.6 yards per play.

What’s next for the Hoosiers

Indiana is on the road again next week and will take on Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers are 5-0 following a 48-23 win against Maryland on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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