Bucket Chance Evades Hoosiers

Saturday, November 25

West Lafayette, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

3-9 , 1-8

Purdue

4-8 , 3-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana

Purdue

11/25/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes VIDEO: Tom Allen Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Aaron Casey grimaced.

Again, and again.

Bruised and battered?

You bet.

Come out of the Old Oaken Bucket game with victory within reach?

Not a chance.

An injured right shoulder wasn't about to sideline Indiana senior's linebacker. He continued to make play after play, tackle after tackle, 11 in all, four for loss, plus a forced fumble.

It wasn't enough.

The Hoosiers (3-9) lost their chance to reclaim the Bucket, losing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to Purdue and then the game, 35-31, Saturday afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium.

It was their fifth straight game that came down to a final possession. They won just once -- against Wisconsin.

Thirteen tackles for loss weren't enough. Not with multiple missed tackles, especially on quarterback Hudson Card, plus three interceptions.

Purdue (4-8) didn't have a turnover while generating 453 total yards. Card ran for 85 yards and a touchdown, threw for 275 yards and three TDs.

"It's unbelievably frustrating, especially (not being able to tackle) the quarterback," coach Tom Allen told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "That's the glaring thing that sticks out.

"The tackling piece, it's hard to imagine some of the plays on the quarterback. We couldn't get him on the ground. Guys are in position to make plays. We've got to finish those plays."

IU quarterback Brendan Sorsby completed 17-of-31 for 226 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Receiver E.J. Williams Jr. caught six passes for 97 yards.

Jaylin Lucas returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. He ran twice for 10 yards, caught a 12-yard pass, and totaled 146 kickoff return yards.

It was the final game for key veterans such as Casey, Matthew Bedford and Mike Katic.

"They are tremendously high-character guys who gave us a lot," Allen said on the radio show. "They've done phenomenal jobs. We appreciate everything they've given us."

IU's first four possessions produced three punts and an interception. Its next two delivered 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite three first-half Sorsby interceptions (one more the result of Purdue defensive back Cam Allen's spectacular play than a poor pass), the Hoosiers led 14-12 at halftime. They were helped by the Boilers' missed extra point and two-point conversion.

Indiana was positioned for victory.

Then it slipped away.

Still, with multiple players set to return next season, there is reason for optimism.

"We've got to continue to develop offensively," Allen told Fischer. "We've got to continue to grow in terms of running the football and protecting the football. We didn't do that (Saturday). That was very costly.

"We have to develop that quarterback room. Brendan is our starting quarterback. His development will be very important this off-season.

"We have a talented receiving corps coming back. Most of our offense is coming back. We have to build off of that.

"We have a lot of key guys coming back defensively. Keep developing our young guys, and add to this roster."

The defense had Sorsby's back on his interception on the game's opening possession. It held Purdue to minus-one yard and a missed field goal.

IU broke out of an early defensive battle -- the game's first eight possessions produced three punts by each team and 97 total yards -- with Sorsby's 33-yard touchdown pass to DeQuece Carter and a 7-0 lead near the end of the first quarter.

Purdue came back with a touchdown, but a botched extra point made it a 7-6 score.

Lucas's 25-yard kickoff return, plus a 15-yard Purdue penalty for a late hit gave the Hoosiers the ball at midfield. They capitalized with Sorsby's touchdown pass to Donaven McCulley for a 14-6 lead.

The Boilermakers capitalized on Sorsby's third interception of the half for a touchdown and, with the missed two-point conversion attempt, a 14-12 halftime score.

IU had a 208-197 edge in total yards.

Purdue opened the second half with a 49-yard kickoff return. That led to a 33-yard field goal and a 15-14 Boiler lead.

Twelve seconds later, the Hoosiers went ahead 21-15 on Lucas's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Purdue came back with a field goal and a 21-18 score.

IU capitalized on a couple of Boilermaker defensive penalties to drive for a third-quarter touchdown via a Sorsby to Josh Henderson touchdown for a 28-18 lead.

Purdue opened the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass for a 28-25 score. It tied it with a field goal. IU untied with Chris Freeman's 39-yard field goal with five minutes left and a 31-28 lead.

Two minutes later, the Boilers scored a touchdown for a 35-31 lead with 2:39 left. The Hoosiers had to drive 70 yards for the victory but fell short on 4th-and-1 with just over a minute left on the clock.