Quoted: Indiana vs. Rutgers
11/15/2017 5:08:00 PM | Football
By: Nick Reith
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers return home for their final home game of the 2017 season this weekend. Indiana (4-6) meets the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-6) on Saturday, Nov. 18, with the game scheduled for a noon ET (BTN) kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
"[We] got three takeaways in the fourth quarter defensively," noted Indiana head coach Tom Allen. "Those are the kind of things you're looking for to be able to finish out a game, so encouraged by that. Just got to continue to work to be at our very, very best on game day and eliminate some of the mistakes and continue to grow."
The Hoosiers have done well this season to start games on a winning pace in all phases of play, but Allen wanted improvement in IU's ability to close out an opponent while holding a late lead. Indiana proved its fortitude, particularly on defense, in last weekend's 24-14 road win at Illinois.
Allen, a known fan of getting takeaways, was beyond pleased with his defense's ability to create three in the game's final quarter. After the Illini pulled within 10 points, the Hoosiers saw takeaways on a Tegray Scales fumble recovery, forced by Jacob Robinson; an interception down the sideline by Rashard Fant; and another Scales takeaway, a pick to clinch the win.
"I thought they both ran really hard, and Cole had really good patience in the hole and finding the openings," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord commented on his running backs, Cole Gest and Morgan Ellison. "He's kind of learned that, and Coach Hart has done a great job of telling those guys that there's a time to keep the ball front side and times to cut it back."
Indiana's offense created 139 yards on the ground last weekend, its fifth game with triple-digit rushing yards this year and its first since racking up 157 against Charleston Southern. What worked for the Hoosiers? A trust in the young group's season-long development under running backs coach Mike Hart.
Gest led the load with 82 yards on 17 carries with 109 all-purpose yards—a career-high—while Ellison collected 49 yards and the Hoosiers' opening touchdown. The IU tailbacks will need to continue their upward trend this weekend as they ready for a stingy Rutgers defense.
"It was huge, especially coming towards the end of the year when everybody should be inclining," senior linebacker Tegray Scales recounted the defensive effort in last weekend's win. "Taking things one game at a time, we know what's at risk and what we need to do. Every win is critical."
Scales achieved another career milestone in his outstanding senior season, forcing two takeaways for the first time in his career with a fumble recovery and an interception. The senior created both in the fourth quarter, and the pick stopped the final Illini possession before it truly began. The scoop off the ground was his first career fumble recovery.
The pressure caused by Scales and the Indiana front seven created eight sacks against Illinois, tied for the most in a game by any Big Ten team in 2017. Indiana's defense held the Illini to the fewest points allowed in a Big Ten road win in 24 years.
"It always feels good to get an interception, to get your team in a position to score and help them out," said fifth-year senior cornerback Rashard Fant. "I enjoyed it and was glad to get my first [of the season], and glad to see Tegray get another one. The defense really did its thing, and that pressure from the front is the reason we're able to get those stops and interceptions."
The IU defense put the brakes on Illinois' comeback attempt, led by Fant's superlative effort in the backfield and on special teams. He set up Indiana's game-clinching touchdown drive by downing a punt at the Illinois 1-yard line, swatting two pass breakups on the ensuing drive, and returning a three-and-out punt to the Illinois 41-yard line.
Fant finished the game with three PBUs, his 11th career multi-PBU game, and snagged his seventh career takeaway in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously it's a lot to process, and there are a lot of emotions surrounding it," fifth-year enior quarterback Richard Lagow said regarding his final career home game this weekend. "I'm excited to be able to go out there and play one more time. It's a big honor to represent this university and have another chance to play in front of the fans. Being in 'The Rock' with this unit one more time is special."
Lagow and his fellow seniors are stirring with emotion as they prepare for Saturday's game, the last of their collegiate careers at Memorial Stadium. Fans should expect these IU seniors to leave it all on the field this weekend. With Lagow's performance last weekend at Illinois, the Hoosiers are ready for a big final home game from their quarterback.
Tallying 289 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini, Lagow completed 32 passes and 66.7 percent of his total attempts. That's the highest completion percentage this season and tied for his second-best in the Cream & Crimson.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Hoosiers return home for their final home game of the 2017 season this weekend. Indiana (4-6) meets the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-6) on Saturday, Nov. 18, with the game scheduled for a noon ET (BTN) kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
"[We] got three takeaways in the fourth quarter defensively," noted Indiana head coach Tom Allen. "Those are the kind of things you're looking for to be able to finish out a game, so encouraged by that. Just got to continue to work to be at our very, very best on game day and eliminate some of the mistakes and continue to grow."
The Hoosiers have done well this season to start games on a winning pace in all phases of play, but Allen wanted improvement in IU's ability to close out an opponent while holding a late lead. Indiana proved its fortitude, particularly on defense, in last weekend's 24-14 road win at Illinois.
Allen, a known fan of getting takeaways, was beyond pleased with his defense's ability to create three in the game's final quarter. After the Illini pulled within 10 points, the Hoosiers saw takeaways on a Tegray Scales fumble recovery, forced by Jacob Robinson; an interception down the sideline by Rashard Fant; and another Scales takeaway, a pick to clinch the win.
"I thought they both ran really hard, and Cole had really good patience in the hole and finding the openings," offensive coordinator Mike DeBord commented on his running backs, Cole Gest and Morgan Ellison. "He's kind of learned that, and Coach Hart has done a great job of telling those guys that there's a time to keep the ball front side and times to cut it back."
Indiana's offense created 139 yards on the ground last weekend, its fifth game with triple-digit rushing yards this year and its first since racking up 157 against Charleston Southern. What worked for the Hoosiers? A trust in the young group's season-long development under running backs coach Mike Hart.
Gest led the load with 82 yards on 17 carries with 109 all-purpose yards—a career-high—while Ellison collected 49 yards and the Hoosiers' opening touchdown. The IU tailbacks will need to continue their upward trend this weekend as they ready for a stingy Rutgers defense.
"It was huge, especially coming towards the end of the year when everybody should be inclining," senior linebacker Tegray Scales recounted the defensive effort in last weekend's win. "Taking things one game at a time, we know what's at risk and what we need to do. Every win is critical."
Scales achieved another career milestone in his outstanding senior season, forcing two takeaways for the first time in his career with a fumble recovery and an interception. The senior created both in the fourth quarter, and the pick stopped the final Illini possession before it truly began. The scoop off the ground was his first career fumble recovery.
The pressure caused by Scales and the Indiana front seven created eight sacks against Illinois, tied for the most in a game by any Big Ten team in 2017. Indiana's defense held the Illini to the fewest points allowed in a Big Ten road win in 24 years.
"It always feels good to get an interception, to get your team in a position to score and help them out," said fifth-year senior cornerback Rashard Fant. "I enjoyed it and was glad to get my first [of the season], and glad to see Tegray get another one. The defense really did its thing, and that pressure from the front is the reason we're able to get those stops and interceptions."
The IU defense put the brakes on Illinois' comeback attempt, led by Fant's superlative effort in the backfield and on special teams. He set up Indiana's game-clinching touchdown drive by downing a punt at the Illinois 1-yard line, swatting two pass breakups on the ensuing drive, and returning a three-and-out punt to the Illinois 41-yard line.
Fant finished the game with three PBUs, his 11th career multi-PBU game, and snagged his seventh career takeaway in the fourth quarter.
"Obviously it's a lot to process, and there are a lot of emotions surrounding it," fifth-year enior quarterback Richard Lagow said regarding his final career home game this weekend. "I'm excited to be able to go out there and play one more time. It's a big honor to represent this university and have another chance to play in front of the fans. Being in 'The Rock' with this unit one more time is special."
Lagow and his fellow seniors are stirring with emotion as they prepare for Saturday's game, the last of their collegiate careers at Memorial Stadium. Fans should expect these IU seniors to leave it all on the field this weekend. With Lagow's performance last weekend at Illinois, the Hoosiers are ready for a big final home game from their quarterback.
Tallying 289 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini, Lagow completed 32 passes and 66.7 percent of his total attempts. That's the highest completion percentage this season and tied for his second-best in the Cream & Crimson.
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