Indiana University
Minnesota
Minnesota Takes Key Victory over Hoosiers
11/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 4, 2006
Final Stats | Notes
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Kellen Lewis threw for a career-high 321 yards and three touchdowns, but Indiana was topped by Minnesota, 63-26, on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Hoosiers evened their record at 5-5 on the season, while the Gophers improved to 4-6 on the year.
Lewis threw 43 passes in the game, with James Hardy making five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. James Bailey led the Hoosiers with seven catches on the afternoon, as eight different IU players caught passes. Redshirt freshman Demetrius McCray posted the best day of his young Hoosier career, scoring three touchdowns - two on throws from Lewis and one on the ground.
Minnesota's Bryan Cupito had an outstanding day for the home squad, throwing for 378 yards and four scores, three in the first half, as he led the Gophers to a 35-0 lead in the second quarter. The Hoosiers got on the board late in the quarter on a two-play, 80-yard drive, as Lewis completed a pass of 37 yards to Hardy before finding McCray for a 43-yard touchdown catch, the longest touchdown pass of Lewis' career.
Indiana trimmed the deficit to 35-13 in the third, with Hardy picking up a 48-yard touchdown catch from Lewis to cap off a four-play, 61-yard drive.
The two teams exchanged touchdowns on the next four drives, with Minnesota getting scores on a pass from Cupito to Ernie Wheelwright and a 1-yard plunge by Justin Valentine. The Hoosiers countered with a 2-yard rush by McCray and a 10-yard pass from Lewis to McCray. McCray ended the game with 39 yards on the ground and three catches for 53 yards.
The 49-26 score was as close as the Hoosiers would get, as the Gophers scored the game's final 14 points. Logan Payne made six catches for 137 yards, while Wheelwright had three catches for 116 yards and a pair of scores. Jay Thomas had a pair of touchdown runs for Minnesota.
Lewis picked up 75 yards on the ground to go with his 321 through the air, setting a new career-high with 396 all-purpose yards. Indiana picked up 500 total yards in the game and went 7-for-15 on third downs.
Indiana will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 11, when they play host to No. 2 Michigan for the final home game of the 2006 season. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m. EST and will be televised live on ESPN. Tickets are available by phone at 866-IUSPORTS.
