Indiana University Athletics
Diamont Strong in Unplanned Outing
10/3/2015 10:16:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Zander Diamont knew it was a possibility. He'd already lived it.
The sophomore quarterback was Indiana's back-up plan if senior starter Nate Sudfeld ever couldn't play. He practiced knowing it. He studied film knowing it. Last year, he played the final six games of the season after Sudfeld suffered a season-ending injury midway through the season.
Diamont knew his number could be called. In the third quarter of Saturday's 34-27 loss to No. 1 Ohio State, it was. And he nearly led the Hoosiers to an upset victory after he got in.
"I'm always preparing like I'm going to see the field," Diamont said. "Especially coming out of experience like last season, not to take any week for granted. I can't take days off."
Saturday was anything but a day off.
Diamont entered the game with Indiana trailing 13-10 with 7:19 left in the third quarter. By the end of the game, he was leading the Hoosiers 48 yards down the field trailing by a touchdown.
Diamont's final drive ended nine yards short, but his effort on short notice didn't go unnoticed by his teammates.
"He played his butt off," senior tight end Anthony Corsaro said. "I love that kid. Kid's got a lot of heart. Kid's got a lot of heart."
Head coach Kevin Wilson said Sudfeld could have potentially reentered the game, but the coaching staff elected to leave the offense in Diamont's hands. Sophomore running back Devine Redding said Diamont was calm in the huddle, showing no signs of being away from game action for 11 months.
"Even though I'm a sophomore, coming out of last year, I started to feel like a veteran," Diamont said. "I have the respect of the team. I know that just the minutes on the field really paid off. There's no way to describe the difference it would have been."
Diamont did a bit of everything for the Hoosiers.
His 79-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull Indiana within seven points was the longest rush by a Hoosier since Tevin Coleman's 90-yarder against Ohio State on Nov. 22, 2014. It was the longest rush by a quarterback in program history.
Before that, Diamont hauled in a 16-yard catch on a reverse from redshirt junior receiver Mitchell Paige. Conventionally, in the passing game, Diamont finished 6-of-14 for 76 yards.
There wasn't much Diamont wasn't willing to do. It's that type of effort that has teammates and coaches applauding him after the game.
"He's a competitor, got a lot of heart," Wilson said. "Teammates rally with him, and he's better than he was a year ago."
Diamont was better, but what about his team?
"We weren't even playing our best," Diamont said. "We aren't even close yet."
Indiana continues to excel in turnover game
Indiana's made a habit of forcing opponents into turnovers this season. Ohio State was no different.
The Hoosiers forced the Buckeyes into three turnovers without committing any of their own. On the season, Indiana now has 11 takeaways while turning the ball over just twice.
Of note, redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver caused his third fumble of the season in the second quarter. He's now forced six in his career.
"(Turnovers) were big, our team was able to capitalize on them," sophomore linebacker Tegray Scales said. "We just have to play one play at a time, and then just see what happens. Tonight, we just came up on the short side. We need to continue to build."
Offense utilizing long drives
Indiana's ability to switch between an up-tempo and slowed pace this season has added a wrinkle to the Hoosier offense in 2015. IU once again relied on a handful of long drives Saturday.
Indiana's 80-yard second quarter touchdown drive to go ahead 10-0 was the Hoosiers' longest in total plays (15) and time of possession (4:59) this season. IU has 12 double-digit play scoring drives so far this season.
"I am proud of the fight in our team and the way we gritted it out," Corsaro said. "We fought so hard, and I am just really proud of our guys."
Wilson's word:
"We didn't play for this day, it was just Saturday. We're going to come back and we're going to have a really good Sunday, and we're going to keep moving. Like I say, we might keep stubbing our toe, but we're just going to keep moving, and it's fun to coach these guys. It beats working for a living."
