Hoosiers Topple the Terrapins, 34-28, on Saturday

Saturday, October 19

College Park, Md.

3:30 p.m.

Indiana University

5-2 , 2-2

Maryland

3-4 , 1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana

Maryland

Hoosiers Topple the Terrapins, 34-28, on Saturday

10/19/2019 7:15:00 PM | Football

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – THIS is what Tom Allen had preached.

The ability to finish, to force takeaways, to make big plays at big moments under fierce adversity – and have the depth to do so.

To win when it mattered most.

On Saturday at Maryland, you'd better believe it mattered

The Hoosiers got two crucial takeaways in the closing minutes to win 34-28.

The result -- they are 5-2 and one victory away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016, two from their first winning record since 2007. They won their second-straight game to even their Big Ten record at 2-2.

Next up -- a trip to Nebraska (4-3), where the Hoosiers haven't played since 1977.

"It was an unbelievable feeling in (the locker room)," Allen told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer after the game. "These guys are so excited and happy.

"We've put ourselves in these situations before and had trouble finishing. I am so proud of them. You don't grow until … you've got to be on the field as a defense to be the reason why you win the game to develop and grow and get that confidence it takes to do it over and over."

IU had finished 5-7 in Allen's first two season with multiple chances for difference-making victories. It had a similar opportunity at Michigan State last month.

The Hoosiers couldn't do it then.

They did on Saturday.

"They stayed the course," Allen told Fischer. "We made adjustments at halftime. It was just finishing. It was big."

You want heroes? Try quarterback Peyton Ramsey, safety Juwan Burgess, cornerback Reese Taylor, receiver Nick Westbrook, running back Stevie Scott III and, well, the entire roster.

"It was a team effort, a team win," Allen told Fischer. "Everybody did his job."

It started with Ramsey, who lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. in August and could have transferred.

The redshirt junior did not. He persevered, prepared and, yes, performed.

There were the 12-straight completions, the 46 tough-minded rushing yards and the overall impressive numbers – 20-for-27 for 193 yards and a touchdown.

It all came in the final three quarters after Penix went out with an undisclosed injury.

"I gave him the game ball," Allen told Fischer. "That kid has stuck with us. He has unbelievable character. Unbelievable leadership. He's a team player. He exemplifies L-E-O (Love Each Other) with how he handles himself. He was ready to play, and we needed him. He led us to a victory. What a stud."

As for the status of Penix, who already has missed a couple of games because of injury, Allen said that, "I don't think it's anything super serious, but we didn't want to take a chance in the second half."

Penix was 9-for-14 for 141 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

"I felt comfortable with Peyton," Allen told Fischer. "I feel good about the future for (Penix). We have two good quarterbacks. That's what you need in this league."

Scott got stronger as the game went on. He finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. It was his second straight 100-yard rushing game and it came after the offensive line, already without injured veteran Coy Cronk, had to play without banged up center Hunter Littlejohn.

"He ran hard," Allen said of Scott. "He is so driven to be a great back. He proved it. He had some big runs when we needed them."

Nine received caught passes. Westbrook had six catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Peyton Hendershot had six for 95 yards.

Westbrook had a crucial 26-yard, fully-extended touchdown catch near the end of the first half that gave the Hoosiers a lead they never lost.

"They made some big-time catches at critical times," Allen said. "Maryland has a bunch of great athletes who make those (passing) windows really tight."

IU did so many things well. Avoiding penalties weren't among them. It committed 11 for 105 yards.

It was tough enough to overcome them against Maryland (3-4), which has lost two straight and three of four.

Penix shredded the Maryland secondary on the game's opening drive, capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Donavan Hale.

Three Hoosier defensive penalties helped the Terrapins drive for the tying touchdown.

IU regained the lead at 14-7 on Scott's 3-yard TD run, then had a chance to go up 21-7, but Penix's bullet pass bounced off Hendershot's hands and to a Maryland defender for an interception in the end zone.

Three plays later, Maryland busted a 60-yard TD run for a 14-14 tie early in the second quarter.

On IU's next possession, Ramsey replaced Penix and drove the Hoosiers inside the Maryland 5-yard before kicker Logan Justus' 21-yard field goal made it a 17-14 score. Ramsey was 6-for-10 for 80 yards on the drive.

After Maryland took a 21-17 lead with a touchdown, the Ramsey-to-Westbrook score made it 24-21 at halftime.

The Hoosiers went ahead 31-21 late in the third quarter on Scott's 9-yard touchdown run.

IU was poised to put Maryland away. Then the defense gave up a first down on third-and-17, and then a 52-yard play, and then a touchdown.

The lead was down to three at 31-28.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Hoosiers' David Ellis fumbled, but Khalil Bryant made a crucial recovery. Indiana had the ball, but inside its own 5-yard line to start the fourth quarter.

A key Ramsey 22-yard pass to Hendershot took off the pressure. A 15-yard Ramsey run on third-and-11 -- during which he took a couple of punishing hits – didn't produce a score, but did help flip the field.

Could the Hoosier defense get a stop?

They did. Maryland punted. But IU went three-and-out, so the defense had to do it again.

Burgess saw that it did, ripping the ball free and then recovering the fumble.

The Hoosiers got a 34-yard field goal from Justus for a 34-28 lead. The Terrapins had one final chance, but Taylor ended that with an interception

"Our defense needed that stand," Allen said. "We found a way to win. It was a great effort by a whole bunch of folks.

"We made some adjustments, even on that final drive. We did some things we hadn't shown. (Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and his staff) provided the ability for us to finish this off."

IU planned a 24-hour celebration.

"And then we'll get ready for the Nebraska Cornhuskers," Allen said.