Hoosiers Handle Vandals in Home Opener, 56-14

Saturday, September 11

Bloomington, Ind.

7:30 PM

Indiana University

1-1

Idaho

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Idaho

Indiana

9/11/2021 11:50:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes Tom Allen Postgame Press Conference Video Stephen Carr Postgame Press Conference Video D.J. Matthews Postgame Press Conference Video Micah McFadden Postgame Press Conference Video Javon Swinton Postgame Press Conference Video

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Order is restored to the Cream & Crimson football world.

To a point.

Indiana dominated Idaho as it should Saturday night. It blocked as needed, ran as demanded, passed as emphasized, tackled as required, and unleashed special team TDs as desired.

To a point.

The 56-14 victory righted a lot of wrongs from the season-opening disappointment at Iowa, and provided a much-needed confidence boost entering next Saturday's sold-out home game against No. 7 Cincinnati, a 42-7 winner over Murray State.

"We came back more prepared," wide receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. said. "We worked a lot. You've got to respond to adversity."

Yes, Idaho (1-1) is a Football Championship Subdivision program with significant disadvantages in scholarships and talent, and it showed.

Yes, the Hoosiers (1-1) gave up a touchdown at the end of the first half, and then one early in the second half (for a total of 150 yards after giving up 10 previously), which will provide plenty of teaching points for defensive coordinator Charlton Warren and head coach Tom Allen.

"I did not like way we finished the half," Allen said. "You can't do that."

Still, never underestimate the advantages of a lobsided victory.

"It feels amazing," running back Stephen Carr said. "It's a great team win. There's a lot to feel great about. It's back to the drawing board next week."

Added Allen: "To be able to bounce back from a tough loss, to regroup and address the things we wanted to address, the guys responded."

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. rebounded from a sub-par Iowa performance to go 11-for-16 for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't throw an interception after throwing three the previous week. He also ran for a TD.

"It's a good next step," Allen said, "to come back from that. I understand it's not the same (caliber of) opponent, but it was a positive step in the right direction. I felt he got more comfortable. He has to continue to grow."

Added receiver Javon Swinton: "He put it behind him. He upped his energy and made us up our energy. He stays so focused. His motivation and determination to get better is what got us going."

Matthews said the receivers helped Penix, by, "Being in the right spots. We want to make him more comfortable. Receivers have to be at our best to help him out."

Quarterback Jack Tuttle took over late in the third quarter and was 2-for-4 for 91 yards and a touchdown.

A big crowd (47,414) at spectacularly lit-up Memorial Stadium saw a series of season firsts -- first rushing TD (Carr), first passing TD (Penix), first two touchdowns of a college career (Swinton, one by 9-yard catch, one by returned blocked punt), first punt return for a TD since 2018 (Matthews scored from 81 yards to follow the punt return for a TD he had at Florida State), first time scoring two special teams touchdowns in the same game since 1969 against Kentucky, first career touchdown catch by tight end A.J. Barner and the first scoring run by walk-on running back Davion Ervin-Poindexter.

Don't forget Jacolby Hewitt's 72-yard second-half-opening kickoff return to set up a Penix touchdown run.

It was the kind of excel-in-many-phase success you can build on, and Allen and his staff have plenty of building in mind.

"Special teams were special," Allen said. "Coach (Kasey) Teegardin did an excellent job. All three areas did a great job.

"It's a positive win for our future."

As for all the criticism that followed the 34-6 season-opening loss to Iowa, consider the Hawkeyes won at Top-10 Iowa State 27-17 on Saturday to make a strong case for best Big Ten team after No. 3 Ohio State's 35-28 home loss to No. 12 Oregon. That doesn't minimize the poor Hoosier play, but it does indicate Hawkeye excellence was a big reason for it.

Anyway, the offensive line IU wanted to start against Iowa, but couldn't because of injury, arrived with Luke Haggard, Mike Katic, Dylan Powell, Matthew Bedford and Caleb Jones.

The result -- 179 rushing yards, 378 total yards, and 42 offensive points. Carr rushed for 118 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown.

"They were very solid," Allen said about the line. "We wanted to put our best five on the field. They have to keep working together."

Added Carr: "It all comes back to practice. We were all tuned in. We had great attention to detail and it showed. We can only improve from here."

Six other running backs had at least one carry for three yards.

"We love it," Carr said. "We want to see everybody eat. It doesn't matter who's in the game. We love to see everybody eat."

Love disappeared over Penix getting sacked twice.

"We still have things to work on," Allen said.

The defense allowed 261 yards, only 65 on the ground.

"We started fast," linebacker Micah McFadden said. "We were ready to dominate. Guys played hard. We showed up ready."

Allen wants it that way all the time.

"That was the challenge this week. I told Coach Warren I expect them to set the tone for each game. Flip the field, set up the offense. That's the expectation."

Swinton, who added three catches for 33 yards, came back from last week's suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules. He said he knew over the summer he would miss the first game.

"I had to keep the right mindset. Missing last week gave me more hunger and motivation to show everybody I'm here to stay.

"(Catching that touchdown pass) helped me to get settled down and get me more confident. I felt I was ready to go."

Added Allen: "He learned a valuable lesson. It didn't surprise me. He makes plays every day. I love his ball skills and toughness. He was responsible for his actions. To come back to do what he did tonight was big."

The game opened with a fully engaged student section.

"Our students were unbelievable," Allen said. "They were loud. It's awesome. It means so much to our players. They noticed it immediately.

"It has to continue. I know it will."

IU's defense forced a three-and-out on the game's opening drive by Idaho. Carr had a 17-yard run before ending IU's first drive with a 2-yard TD run.

McFadden followed with a sack and forced fumble recovered by defensive tackle Weston Kramer at the Idaho 13-yard line. Penix hit Swinton with a 9-yard TD pass and a 14-0 lead 12 minutes into the game.

It quickly became 21-0 when Noah Pierre blocked a punt and Swinton returned it four yards for a touchdown.

The Hoosiers ended the quarter with an 83-6 total-yard advantage.

Carr's 26-yard second-quarter run led to Penix's 9-yard TD pass to Ty Fryfogle and a 28-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Matthews had the punt return for a TD. Idaho scored just before halftime for a 35-7 Hoosier advantage.

Hewitt's 72-yard kickoff return to start the third quarter set up a Penix 1-yard touchdown run and a 42-7 lead. Idaho added a third-quarter TD.

In the fourth quarter, Tuttle connected with Barner for a 76-yard touchdown and Ervin-Poindexter had a 4-yard TD run to complete what was, in essence, a must-dominate performance.

"The captains and seniors got on to us to work hard and stay to it," Swinton said. "Last week was embarrassing. We know what we're supposed to do. Our goal was to show everybody what we're about."