Indiana University Athletics
Running Game Highlights Crimson Shutout
4/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 25, 2003
Bloomington, Ind.- The Crimson stole the show in the Hoosiers' annual Spring Game as the run game took a big step towards improvement. The focus of the spring was the running game for the Hoosier offense and it was on display as the Crimson shut out the Cream, 24-0, with all three touchdowns coming via the run. Senior running back Brian Lewis had the most impressive day with 28 carries for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hoosiers passing game had its moments, but for the most part it was the run that highlighted the day. Junior quarterback Matt LoVecchio finished 7-of-18 for 77 yards and one interception playing strictly for the Crimson. Redshirt freshman Graeme McFarland played on both squads running up a total of 108 yards on 9-of-27 passing.
"I feel good about Matt," Head Coach Gerry DiNardo said. "It's the spring game and he has already played and has started in some big games. At times he looked good today. He wants to learn and wants to grow in this offense and be part of the solution."
"I don't think we got into a rhythm on offense," LoVecchio said. "I think Brian Lewis ran the ball really well. I wish we could have opened the game with a few more completions so we could get into a rhythm and get things going. I just have to take all the mistakes I made in this game and use them as learning experiences."
The highlight in the passing game was a 41-yard pass on 3rd-and-16 from McFarland to Travis Haney. Haney was forced out of bounds at the 11-yard line. Redshirt freshman running back Marlin Lynch followed the play up with an 11-yard touchdown run. He finished with 14 carries for 29 yards. Lynch also led the Hoosier receivers with four catches for 22 yards. Last season's leading receiver junior Courtney Roby was held under wraps by the Cream defense as he only had one catch for eight yards.
Lewis' scores came on scampers of 12-yards in the first quarter and four-yards in the fourth quarter. The St. Louis, Mo., native had 124 yards at the half and 67 in the second. He was forced to carry the bulk of the load as sophomores Chris Taylor and Yamar Washington sat out the game with minor injuries.
"I thought the running game was decent for the most part," Lewis said. "We made mistakes here and there, but that is going to happen. We just have to learn from our mistakes and just come back and do better next year."
Despite giving up a 206 total yards on the ground, the Hoosiers defense played well. Almost the entire defensive line was forced to play for both the Cream and Crimson squads. Sophomore Victor Adeyanju led the defensive line as he racked up eight tackles and 3.5 sacks for both teams combined. Redshirt freshman Kenny Kendal continued his stellar spring as he finished with five tackles, including two sacks.
"Victor took 102 snaps last Saturday (during IU's scrimmage) so he probably thought today was a vacation," said DiNardo.
JC transfer Luke Stone intercepted a LoVecchio pass with about seven minutes left in third quarter. LoVecchio was on the run scrambling and threw across his body in an attempt to hit Lewis across the field. Stone ran in front of Lewis and returned the ball 48-yards down to the Crimson 35. The Crimson defense was up to the task, though as they forced the Cream to a four and out.
"We put in a new package at the beginning of the spring, kind of a 4-2-5, with three safeties in the game," fifth-year senior Joe Gonzalez said. "Our number one spring objective was to stop the run, and I think we are on our way to doing that. The scheme is there, it is sound and it works."
Sophomore Kyle Killion finished with fives tackles, including two for loss and one sack for the Crimson squad. Junior linebacker Kevin Smith led the Crimson with six tackles, five solo and a half a sack.
The kicking game had its moments as redshirt freshman Tyson Beattie averaged 39.6 yards while punting 10 times total for both squads. He had a long of 58 yards and had two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Junior kicker Brian Robertson hit all three of his PAT attempts and was 1-for-2 in field goals. Robertson missed a 52-yard attempt wide left in the first quarter before hitting a 22-yarder to put the Crimson up 17-0 in the second quarter.
The Cream and Crimson game brought an end to the Hoosiers' 15-practice spring. The Hoosiers will return in the fall before opening the season at Connecticut. The game is scheduled for August 30 with game time still to be announced.
