Indiana Finishes 41-0 Shutout Against Rutgers

Saturday, November 18

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

5-6 , 2-6

Rutgers

4-7 , 3-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Indiana

11/18/2017 5:39:00 PM | Football

By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Must-win football pressure suits Indiana well these days.

The Hoosiers are 2-0 with a bowl bid on the line. They have found the ruthless execution crucial to success.

Could the reward come next week in West Lafayette?

Stay tuned.

On Saturday Rutgers (4-7) went down, 41-0, on Senior Day to set up … yes … more must-win pressure at rival Purdue (5-6) next week. A victory gives the Hoosiers a 6-6 record and makes them bowl eligible. It does the same for the Boilers.

In other words, a winner-take-all showdown.

IU looks very ready.

"We understand the magnitude of the game," coach Tom Allen said. "This has nothing to do with the records. We're playing for a ton of pride and who you represent. It will be a tremendous challenge for us. You don't want distractions of the week to overwhelm you."

A nearly two-hour second-half weather delay -- players spent much of the time watching other games -- couldn't diminish the quality of the Hoosiers' performance as a follow up to their win at Illinois the previous week.

"What I love was that we started strong and finished strong," Allen said.

The result was Indiana's most lopsided Big Ten victory since a 42-0 win at Northwestern in 1990 and first Big Ten shutout since beating Michigan State 10-0 in 1993. Add October's 27-0 win over Charleston Southern and it's the first time IU has had two shutouts in the same season since 1993.

Indiana has allowed just 14 total points in the last two games.

Beyond that, it was a day to honor the seniors – and celebrate the 50^th anniversary of IU's only Rose Bowl appearance.

"We went out there and gave it our all," senior defensive end Greg Gooch said. "We were going to leave it all out at Memorial Stadium."

The Hoosiers, who two years ago were a defensive disaster before Allen arrived, delivered big time.

"A shutout is hard to do," Allen said. "That's pretty special. It's very fitting.

"When I got here (2 years ago) they had lost some confidence. They had some soul searching to do. I appreciate they stayed with us."

IU turned Rutgers' offense -- already the Big Ten's second worst -- into mush. The Scarlet Knights managed just 190 total yards and 11 first downs. They punted nine times.

"They play hard," Rutgers coach Chris Ash said of IU. "They play with good fundamentals."

Offensively the Hoosiers found their running game – and just about everything else. They rushed for a season-high 271 yards behind Morgan Ellison (149 yards) and Cole Gest (104).

Quarterback Richard Lagow threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns even though the Hoosiers stopped passing in the third quarter. They ended the game with 27 straight runs that produced two touchdowns.

"They whipped us up front on both sides of the ball, and the result is what it is," Ash said. "We didn't play well, and that's on me."

Two weeks ago, IU was floundering with a 3-6 record and four straight losses. Now it has a chance to make a third straight bowl for the first time since the late 1980s, and just the second time in program history.

"It means a lot," Allen said. "We made it through all those tough times. We have an opportunity to do something very special here. We're still building the culture and the program. To withstand all that and say it comes down to one game is very rewarding."

So is the play of Lagow, who has thrived since returning to a starting role after Peyton Ramsey's injury in late October.

"It's Rich's poise and confidence," Allen said. "He's responded exactly like you'd want him to. He handled adversity like a man. He's being reward for being a quality person."

A fierce wind -- steady in the 30 mph range with gusts up to 58 mph -- contributed to Rutgers' early fumbled punt return. Rashard Fant recovered and Ellison ran it in from the 6-yard line on the next play. IU led 7-0.

The Hoosiers took advantage of having the wind at their backs -- and busted Rutgers pass coverage -- when Lagow hit tight end Ian Thomas for a 57-yard touchdown.

The Hoosiers added field goals of 26 and 20 yards from Griffin Oakes for a 20-0 halftime lead.

IU didn't slow down in the second half. It got third-quarter touchdowns from receiver Luke Timian (a 19-yard pass from Lagow) and a 1-yard Ellison run set up by Ellison's 45-yard run.

That made it 34-0 before the weather delay hit.

Gest added an 8-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.

Now it comes down to Purdue, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

"There's one last key game to be played," Allen said.