Indiana University
Michigan State
Indiana Falls to Michigan State in Tough Loss
10/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 29, 2005
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Indiana football team suffered its fourth loss in Big Ten action as it fell 46-15 to Michigan State at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Turnovers and the play of prominent special teams and defensive units for the Spartans led to IU's hardest loss of the season. While freshman James Hardy had two touchdowns, the Hoosier offense fell short against a blazing Spartan offensive unit.
The loss dropped the Hoosiers to 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten. The win improved the Spartans to 5-3 on the season and 2-3 in conference action.
Four turnovers plagued the visiting Hoosiers, three of which came within 30-yards from the end zone. IU moved the ball efficiently on the ground and in the air at times posting 369 yards in total offense to MSU's 493, but handed the Spartans prime field position throughout the game.
On the Hoosier side of the ball, defensive stops and a punt block in the fourth quarter gave the Hoosiers something to hang their hats on. Senior linebacker Kyle Killion notched the Hoosiers' first points after he forced Michigan State quarterback Drew Stanton down in the end zone. The safety narrowed MSU's lead to five, the closest IU got in the affair. In the fourth quarter, senior defensive end Ben Ishola blocked and recovered a Michigan State punt from punter Brandon Fields inside the MSU 20 to set up the game's final score.
Powers ended the game 20-of-36 for 198 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. The Brandenburg, Ky., native's efforts moved him into fifth in the record book in single-season completions (165) and extended his single-season passing touchdown record to 21. Redshirt freshman James Hardy paced IU's receiving tandem with 8 catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Jahkeen Gilmore with 7 catches for 64 yards.
Freshman quarterback Graeme McFarland recorded the first touchdown of his career as he took the offense in the last minutes of the fourth quarter. McFarland connected with Hardy on an 11-yard touchdown with no time remaining in the contest.
Senior defensive back Will Lumpkin and Killion led the Hoosier defense with 10 (7 solo, 3 assisted) and 7 (5 solo, 2 for losses, 1 sack) tackles, respectively. Killion ended the game with the Hoosiers' second safety of the season, while Victor Adeyanju and Charlie Emerson tallied a sack for losses in the effort.
Twice the Spartans stopped a hard-charging Hoosier offense with interceptions to add to Indiana's scoring woes. Michigan State picked off Powers in the first quarter just as the Hoosiers entered the red zone. The drive would have trimmed MSU's lead to four if Indiana had scored. In the second half, the Spartans again turned away a hungry Indiana offense, this time at the 2-yard line as they intercepted a Powers' pass in the end zone for a touchback.
The Spartans' special teams unit opened up with a on a 98-yard kickoff return in the first play of the game to put MSU up early, 7-0. Junior defensive back Demond Williams ran in the score for the Spartans to leave the Hoosiers trailing with just under 15 minutes left in the first quarter.
In another MSU special teams stop, Michigan State blocked freshman Joe Kleinsmith's extra-point attempt in the Hoosiers opening touchdown to extend its lead to 17. State's senior cornerback Ashton Watson picked up the ball to run it back for the two-point score.
MSU again challenged the Hoosier red zone midway through the first quarter, this time finding the mark off a 3-yard pass from Stanton to junior wide receiver Kerry Reed to extend its hold on the game, 13-2. Stanton converted the Spartans second attempt of the season at the two-point conversion when he ran it in for the extra pair.
On the ensuing play, IU drove to the Michigan State 14-yard line to knock on the door of the MSU end zone. However, State's Sir Darean Adams picked off a Powers' pass as the Hoosier quarterback found himself hurried out of the pocket.
On the move again, Michigan State's Stanton led the Spartans across the field and into the end zone. Stanton ran in the 1-yard touchdown for the Spartans third score of the game. Michigan State, again converted on the two-point conversion, extending the lead to 15-2.
Junior defensive end Kenny Kendall, with his first interception of the season, gave a surge of life into the Hoosiers as he picked off Stanton to bring the IU offensive unit back on the field. With great starting field position at the IU 40 and the Hoosiers staring at a 4th-and-10, Powers found Hardy in the end zone for the XX-yard score.
Hardy's score marks the sixth game this season the Fort Wayne, Ind., native has found the end zone. Hardy ended the contest with two TD catches giving him 10 on the season which is good enough for a second-place tie in the Hoosier record book for single-season receiving touchdowns.
Indiana entered the half trailing 25-8.
Indiana, who received the opening kick, took the ball back into Michigan State's territory on one of its longest drives of the game before MSU forced another turnover. IU looked to close in on the lead of the Spartans, but in a helmet forced fumble, Michigan State took over possession near their own 40.
State responded with a one-yard touchdown from sophomore running back Jehuu Caulcrick after going 75 yards on 13 plays in the drive.
Indiana again forced to punt on the successive drive, gave the Spartans prime field position at the IU 45. The Spartans struck again, this time off a 45-yard run in its first snap of the drive from freshman running back Javon Ringer for the score. After breaking a couple of tackles in the play, Ringer increased MSU's advantage, 39-8.
Finding its offense from the entire field, the Spartans again charged their way into the end zone with Stanton finding sophomore wide receiver Terry Love up the middle of the field for the 39-yard score. With the lead, 46-8, the Spartans settled to run the ball for the remaining four minutes of the game.
Stanton ended the game 17-for-31 for 244 yards, 24-yards rushing, two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to command the Spartan offense, while Reed paced the Michigan State receivers with 6 catches for 80 yards and one touchdown. On defense,
Indiana returns home as part of parents' weekend on Nov. 3 against Minnesota. Kickoff is set for noon at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. °
