Indiana University Athletics
Crimson Downs Cream, 34-6
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Using the strength of its running game, the Crimson defeated the Cream, 34-6, in the 2005 spring football game. The contest was played in front of over 6,500 Hoosier fans at Memorial Stadium.
The Crimson dominated the game statistically, collecting 398 total yards, 247 of which came on the ground, compared to just 121 total yards for the Cream. Five different players scored a touchdown for the conquerors, including three by the running backs and two by wide receivers.
"Well, first of all I want to congratulate our players and our coaches," Indiana head coach Terry Hoeppner said. "It is difficult, with everything we have done with them as quickly as we have in the spring, to be able to go out there and play a game. That is basically why it was most of the No. 1s (Crimson) against the 2s (Cream). We really thought it was important to play them together for our communication and our personnel to account for our overall lack of mistakes with terminology and communication. I really congratulate the coaches and our players for really being able to get to the point. We went out and played a game and executed pretty well."
The Crimson also looked strong defensively as well, gathering three interceptions, two sacks and 10 tackles-for-loss. Senior John Pannozzo, who played at fullback his first three seasons at Indiana, converted to linebacker this season and led the Crimson with nine tackles, two sacks and five tackles-for-loss, totaling 24 yards.
Offensively for the Crimson, it was running back Chris Taylor who led the charge, piling up 119 yards on four carries (29.8 per rush) and a touchdown - all in the opening half. Blake Powers connected on 11-of-17 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Marcus Thigpen led the receiving corps with six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
It was the Cream which wasted no time getting on the board first, taking its opening drive 58 yards on nine plays in 3:46, capped by a Michael Hines' 30-yard field goal. The drive was highlighted by a 41-yard pass completion from Mike Vlahogeorge to tight end Nick Sexton - the longest play from scrimmage on the night for the Cream.
The Crimson would answer several minutes later on a four-yard touchdown run by running back Yamar Washington, giving his team the lead for good with 3:25 remaining in the opening stanza. The scoring drive was set up by a Buster Larkins interception and subsequent 15-yard return to the Cream 25-yard line. The Crimson scored four plays later to take its first lead of the contest at 7-3.
The Crimson continued its good fortune, moving ahead 13-3 at the beginning of the second quarter when Taylor took the second snap of the drive and scampered 85 yards to paydirt. The extra point attempt; however, was blocked by Cream linebacker Greg Weeks.
The Cream prevented its counterparts from scoring another touchdown in the opening half with a goal-line stand in the final minutes of the second quarter, keeping the deficit at 10.
The Crimson outgained the Cream, 195-97, including a 158-10 advantage on the ground, while Larkins led the Crimson team defensively, snagging two interceptions in the first half.
After neither team scored in the third quarter, the Cream opened the scoring in the second half at the beginning of the fourth quarter, when kicker Drew Robbins connected on a 41-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 13-6 with 11:11 remaining in the contest. The score capped a five-play, 18-yard drive in 1:21.
However, Crimson would take over from that point on, scoring the games' final 21 points on the night. Quarterback Graeme McFarland, who finished 4-of-12 for 69 yards and a touchdown, found a streaking Thigpen in the endzone for a 40-yard completion, to stretch the lead to 20-6 with 9:23 remaining in the contest.
Tight end Chris Rudanovic tacked another touchdown late in the contest, when he caught a 12-yard pass from quarterback Blake Powers and ran it in to widen the gap, 27-6. The final score came on a Josiah Sears one-yard run after an interception by Ben Ishola to reach the final margin.
Cream was led on the night by a versatile Grant Gregory. The Plains, Ohio, native had six rushes for 24 yards, two receptions for nine yards and completed 7-of-16 passes for 44 yards on the evening. Defensively it was defensive back Troy Grosfield leading the way with 10 tackles, while Weeks also added eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
"These guys, at this point without the coaches on the field, I want to see execution," Hoeppner said. "If a side makes a play, I want it to be because we blocked well and the back read it right and ran the ball. That we also got back and made the right read defensively. Defensively, we came out quickly and shed blockers. I really think that is what I feel best about. There was good play on both sides. There were 83 guys that played in that game. There was good execution. I wanted to come out of it healthy. Overall, we came out of it pretty healthy."
The Hoosiers will now wait until Friday, Sept. 2 when they open the 2005 campaign in Mount Pleasant, Mich., against Central Michigan. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
