Hoosiers Fall to No. 19 Utah, 26-24, in Foster Farms Bowl

Wednesday, December 28

Santa Clara, Calif.

8:30 p.m. ET

Indiana University

6-7

Utah

9-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana

Utah

Hoosiers Fall to No. 19 Utah, 26-24, in Foster Farms Bowl

12/29/2016 12:18:00 AM | Football

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Indiana football team fell on a late field goal to No. 19 Utah, 26-24, in the Foster Farms Bowl on Wednesday night.

Indiana (6-7) took a 24-23 lead in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run from Devine Redding, but the Utes (9-4) connected on the field goal with just 1:24 left in the game for the final margin.

Appearing in consecutive bowl games for the first time since 1990-91 and for the fourth time in program history, IU posted back-to-back six-win seasons for the first time since 1993-94.

Defensively, Indiana was led by Tegray Scales, who was named the Foster Farms Bowl Defensive MVP after totaling a team-high 10 tackles to go with two sacks and three tackles for loss.

The Hoosiers started the game with a bang, as Greg Gooch forced a fumble on the opening kickoff to set the Hoosiers up deep in Utah territory. Just 52 seconds into the game, quarterback Richard Lagow connected with wide receiver Mitchell Paige for a 7-yard touchdown to give IU a 7-0 lead with the fastest score in Foster Farms Bowl history.

Utah answered back with 17 unanswered points, taking a 17-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down by Tyler Huntley with 9:14 left in the first half.

Indiana answered back in a big way, dominating the final minutes of the second quarter. After a Griffin Oakes 24-yard field goal cut the Utes' lead to 17-10, the IU defense forced it's second straight three-and-out to give the offense the ball back.

On the ensuing drive, wide receiver Nick Westbrook hauled in a 36-yard score with 1:38 remaining in the half, tying the game at 17-17.

With the final drive of the half, Utah looked to regain the lead, but a pair of sacks from Scales put an end to the drive as the Utes let the clock run out. In the final 9:14 of the second quarter, the Hoosiers defense allowed Utah to gain just 19 yards on three drives and totaled four sacks.

In the third quarter, the Utes hit a pair of field goals to take a six-point lead, 23-17, into the fourth quarter.

The Hoosiers defense again came up huge when it mattered most, forcing a Utah fumble to set up the offense at its own 40-yard line.

IU marched down the field with an 11-play, 60-yard drive that was finished with Redding's 3-yard score to give Indiana a 24-23 lead with 10:10 left in the game.

On Utah's next possession, Jonathan Crawford forced another fumble – the fourth takeaway of the game – to stop the Utes' drive.

The Hoosiers looked to extend their advantage, but a missed field goal gave Utah the ball back with 5:34 remaining. On the following drive, Utah's Andy Phillips hit his fourth field goal of the game – a Foster Farms Bowl record – to give the Utes a 26-24 lead with 1:24 left.

IU was able to reach the Utah 47-yard line with five seconds remaining, but a desperation heave from Lagow was tipped at the line.

Defensively, Indiana had a season-high four takeaways along with a season-best five sacks. Chris Covington had four stops and a sack, while Dawson Fletcher had three tackles and a sack. Nile Sykes had two tackles and a sack, while Rashard Fant recorded three stops and an interception.

Tyler Green posted seven tackles and a forced fumble, and Nate Hoff had four tackles and a forced fumble.

Redding rushed for 72 yards on 17 attempts with one score, while Ricky Brookins had 53 yards on 12 carries.

Westbrook had a game-high five receptions for 80 yards and a TD, and Ricky Jones caught three passes for 65 yards. Paige totaled four receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.