Indiana Runs Past Sycamores, 41-7

Friday, September 8

Bloomington, Ind.

7 P.M.

Indiana University

1-1 , 0-1

Indiana State

0-2 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana St.

Indiana

9/8/2023 10:45:00 PM | Football

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By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Blowout victory found Josh Henderson deep in perspective mode. Indiana's veteran running back had rocked Indiana State with his running and receiving, mirroring what the Hoosiers did as a team, and it was good, but not complete.

"It goes back to playing to our standard," Henderson said about Friday night's 41-7 victory over Indiana State at Memorial Stadium. "We know what we can be. We want to be as consistent as possible."

Consistency came a week after the season-opening Ohio State disappointment.

"Last week was a struggle," Henderson said. "Coming back and being able to dominate with the pass and run is a good thing.

"When we play the way we're capable, that's how it's supposed to be. We want to be as consistent as possible."

Victory brought dominance (559 total yards after producing just three points and 160 yards against Ohio State in the season opener), an imminent starting quarterback decision (hold that thought), and coaching points (seven penalties, six on special teams).

As Henderson put it, "We made mistakes. We'll attack those mistakes in practice and be better the next week."

Still, the Hoosiers (1-1) had made progress.

"We have the potential to be whatever we want to be," defensive end Andre Carter said. "We have to keep working hard. Continue to keep growing and keep getting better."

Defensively, the Hoosiers held Indiana State to 93 total yards. The Sycamores' only points came by returning a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown.

"They didn't have 100 yards of offense," head coach Tom Allen said. "That's hard to do."

Still …

"I'm ticked we didn't get the shutout."

In the second quarter, Indiana State had a 12-play, 67-yard drive that frustrated Allen.

"We got ahead and let up. I want to see guys battle and compete. I challenged our leaders. We had to bow up and get the stop."

IU did on cornerback Nic Toomer's end zone interception, then held the Sycamores to just nine yards on their final five drives of the game.

"Our second-half response was excellent," Allen said. "I wanted us to finish strong. It wasn't perfect, but it was pretty darn good."

Henderson ran for 60 yards and a touchdown, and caught three passes for 55 yards. It would have been more, but he dropped a pass that might have produced a touchdown.

That run-and-catch threat out of the backfield, he said, "Adds another element to our offense.

"I hold myself to a high standard when it comes to catching the ball. I still have things to work on, obviously.

As for the quarterback battle between Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby …

Jackson started and went 18-for-21 for 236 yards. He also rushed for nine yards and a touchdown.

Sorsby was 9-for-16 for 108 yards. He rushed for 28 yards.

In two games, Sorsby was 17-for-32 for 166 yards. Jackson was 19-for-25 for 260 yards.

"They both played well," Allen said. "We'll evaluate both games and make a decision. We'll have a starter for Week 3."

Allen said he, offensive coordinator Walt Bell, and the coaching staff would make the decision.

"You watch their decision making," he said. "They both commanded the offense. They both threw and ran well. They got the ball spread around. They both proved they can play. They're young and talented. Our guys believe in both of them."

Allen made it clear there would not be a quarterback rotation.

"You've got to have a guy," he said. "That's important. But you've got to have more than one who can play. We have that."

That includes Dexter Williams II, still recovering from last year's knee injury, although he's expected back soon.

"We'll eventually have three quarterbacks," Allen said. "That's a big deal."

IU showed impressive offensive balance, rushing for 215 yards on 41 carries, and throwing for 344 yards.

"Our offense has explosive, talented players," Allen said. "We had to get the timing down. We made positive strides."

That it came against an Indiana State team lacking Ohio State's talent didn't diminish the progress.

"I understand we played a team not at the same level of talent," Allen said, "but I was encouraged by the execution and the amount of guys involved. We have a deep team.

"We did what we needed to do. It was crisp, clean, and sharp."

Jaylin Lucas ran 10 times for 88 yards and a pair of 25-yard touchdown runs. He also caught four passes for 39 yards.

"That's what you want from him," Allen said. "We want to get him the ball in space. He was very dynamic. He's another guy in our arsenal."

Redshirt freshman receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had a breakthrough game with seven catches for 101 yards. Not bad for guy who entered the game with zero career catches.

"I'm really pleased with him," Allen said. "I'm not surprised. He has strong hands. He runs strong. He's tough. He can block and make contested catches."

Added Cooper: "I want to be the best receiver I can be. There isn't a standard. Keep performing at a good level every game."

IU needed just 80 seconds of offense to score its first touchdown of the season. Jackson was 3-for-3 for 33 yards on that first drive. Lucas bolted 25 yards for the TD and a 7-0 lead.

On the next Hoosier possession, Jackson and Sorsby directed an 81-yard scoring drive. Jackson was shaken up after a hit and came out for one play. Sorsby replaced him with a 31-yard completion to Cooper Jr. Lucas ended the drive with another 25-yard TD run and a 14-0 lead.

Jackson capped IU's third touchdown drive of the first quarter with a 10-yard run for a 21-0 lead.

By the end of the first quarter, the Hoosiers had 234 yards to Indiana State's 22.

The Sycamores scored their first points of the season late in the second quarter with that fumble return for a touchdown.

Sorsby led an IU drive that ended with a 28-yard Chris Freeman field goal as the Hoosiers reached halftime leading 24-7.

Jackson played the entire third quarter and directed a 93-yard scoring drive capped by Christian Turner's 1-yard touchdown run. That made it 31-7.

Henderson added a 3-yard touchdown run for a 38-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Sorsby took over the IU offense with just under 10 minutes left. He led the Hoosiers to their final score, a 21-yard Nicolas Radicic field goal.

Victory came with this final thought -- work remains with a trip to Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium and a matchup with Louisville next Saturday.

"We have a huge test next weekend," Allen said. "It's important to keep growing."