Sealed With A Kiss – Hewitt Rewards Penix’s Trust
10/29/2020 8:52:00 AM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michael Penix Jr. trusted. For this, Jacolby Hewitt did what all real men do when they are the recipient of a spectacular Indiana football opportunity:
He delivered a smooch.
"The next day, I had to go over (Penix's) house and kiss him," Hewitt says via Zoom press conference, "because I was like, 'Man, you a bad man for throwing a ball like that. You a bad man.'"
"Bad," in this case, means very good. Under excruciating pressure in the closing seconds of regulation during Saturday's epic win over No. 8/7 Penn State, IU needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to force overtime.
Penix, driving the Hoosiers deep into Nittany Lions territory, went back to pass. Defensive end Jayson Oweh rushed forward to crush him.
Penix fired a pass over the middle just before impact, not where Hewitt was, but where Penix believed he would be.
As coach Tom Allen says, "It was a tiny, tiny window."
Despite blanket coverage by Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, despite a surgically repaired knee that sidelined him for the entire 2019 season, despite basically a three-year gap since his last game opportunity (at Tennessee's Cordova High School), Hewitt laid out to make a highlight-reel14-yard catch.
It was the first catch of his college career, his only reception of the game and a testament to his determination and Hoosier resiliency.
"He makes the biggest catch," Allen says.
For perspective, "It was a post (route)," Hewitt adds. "I knew I was supposed to cross the safety's face and when I crossed his face, I looked at (Penix) and I just felt it."
That would be the ball hissing toward him.
"You know how it is, just one of those plays, felt like it is coming to you," Hewitt says. "I stayed prepared mentally and physically before the ball was even snapped, and when it was my time to shine, I shined."
Did he ever, and no one appreciates it more than cornerback Jaylin Williams, who is also from Tennessee and who arrived in Bloomington the same time Hewitt did in 2018.
"It was like a dream come true for me because I have been waiting to see him out on the field for almost three years now," Williams says. "For him to do that and make a really big play, I was probably more excited for him than he was for himself. It was a blessing to see him out there and I am really proud, to say the least."
Hewitt's catch helped set up IU's tying touchdown and conversion, and then, ultimately, it's winning TD and conversion.
It was so dramatic a victory for a previously victory-starved program that cornerback Reese Taylor insists that Indiana's long-time basketball school image has been shattered.
"This is now a football school, as well," he says. "This is the standard now. It's set in stone. It's nothing less, nothing more."
That standard faces a new test Saturday at Rutgers (1-0).
Much was expected from Hewitt after an all-state high school career. He redshirted his first season at Indiana (he did win scout team player of the week for the Penn State game), then tore his ACL during a practice in June of 2019.
Hewitt says, "My leg got stuck in the ground and gave out. It happened so quick. I don't know how to explain it."
Rehab was long and grueling.
"It was difficult. I had to maintain my focus and mindset, and attack every day. It was a lot of long days."
It all led to a thrilling Memorial Stadium night.
"It was a dream come true because, as a freshman," Hewitt says, "I thought that I was going to get in and play, but God had other plans for me.
"So, when I got in, I capitalized on my time. I made at least one or two plays, just go out there and do your all, and try your best to do whatever the team needs you to do."
More opportunities will come, in this season and those to follow.
"The game is starting to slow down now," he says. "I am starting to just play football. More than just thinking.
"My freshman year, last year, I used to think a lot. Now I am just going out there and playing, knowing that I can make any play possible."
Now, you understand, why Penix trusted.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michael Penix Jr. trusted. For this, Jacolby Hewitt did what all real men do when they are the recipient of a spectacular Indiana football opportunity:
He delivered a smooch.
"The next day, I had to go over (Penix's) house and kiss him," Hewitt says via Zoom press conference, "because I was like, 'Man, you a bad man for throwing a ball like that. You a bad man.'"
"Bad," in this case, means very good. Under excruciating pressure in the closing seconds of regulation during Saturday's epic win over No. 8/7 Penn State, IU needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion to force overtime.
Penix, driving the Hoosiers deep into Nittany Lions territory, went back to pass. Defensive end Jayson Oweh rushed forward to crush him.
Penix fired a pass over the middle just before impact, not where Hewitt was, but where Penix believed he would be.
As coach Tom Allen says, "It was a tiny, tiny window."
Despite blanket coverage by Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, despite a surgically repaired knee that sidelined him for the entire 2019 season, despite basically a three-year gap since his last game opportunity (at Tennessee's Cordova High School), Hewitt laid out to make a highlight-reel14-yard catch.
It was the first catch of his college career, his only reception of the game and a testament to his determination and Hoosier resiliency.
"He makes the biggest catch," Allen says.
For perspective, "It was a post (route)," Hewitt adds. "I knew I was supposed to cross the safety's face and when I crossed his face, I looked at (Penix) and I just felt it."
That would be the ball hissing toward him.
"You know how it is, just one of those plays, felt like it is coming to you," Hewitt says. "I stayed prepared mentally and physically before the ball was even snapped, and when it was my time to shine, I shined."
Did he ever, and no one appreciates it more than cornerback Jaylin Williams, who is also from Tennessee and who arrived in Bloomington the same time Hewitt did in 2018.
"It was like a dream come true for me because I have been waiting to see him out on the field for almost three years now," Williams says. "For him to do that and make a really big play, I was probably more excited for him than he was for himself. It was a blessing to see him out there and I am really proud, to say the least."
Hewitt's catch helped set up IU's tying touchdown and conversion, and then, ultimately, it's winning TD and conversion.
It was so dramatic a victory for a previously victory-starved program that cornerback Reese Taylor insists that Indiana's long-time basketball school image has been shattered.
"This is now a football school, as well," he says. "This is the standard now. It's set in stone. It's nothing less, nothing more."
That standard faces a new test Saturday at Rutgers (1-0).
Much was expected from Hewitt after an all-state high school career. He redshirted his first season at Indiana (he did win scout team player of the week for the Penn State game), then tore his ACL during a practice in June of 2019.
Hewitt says, "My leg got stuck in the ground and gave out. It happened so quick. I don't know how to explain it."
Rehab was long and grueling.
"It was difficult. I had to maintain my focus and mindset, and attack every day. It was a lot of long days."
It all led to a thrilling Memorial Stadium night.
"It was a dream come true because, as a freshman," Hewitt says, "I thought that I was going to get in and play, but God had other plans for me.
"So, when I got in, I capitalized on my time. I made at least one or two plays, just go out there and do your all, and try your best to do whatever the team needs you to do."
More opportunities will come, in this season and those to follow.
"The game is starting to slow down now," he says. "I am starting to just play football. More than just thinking.
"My freshman year, last year, I used to think a lot. Now I am just going out there and playing, knowing that I can make any play possible."
Now, you understand, why Penix trusted.
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