Character Shows in Win Over Washington

Saturday, October 26

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

8-0 , 5-0

Washington

4-4 , 2-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Washington

Indiana

10/26/2024 5:51:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes ---Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Forget finesse. Sometimes you have to scrap the game plan, out-tough the other guy, pound and pound and pound until concession comes, grudgingly, in Washington's case Saturday afternoon, but it comes just the same.

Indiana powered to a 31-17 victory, ending the game with 15-straight runs at sold-out Memorial Stadium.

"I tell the guys, it's going to be on us," center Mike Katic said about the offensive line. "We have to take control of the game, and we did. Our story has been breaking their will in the fourth quarter and dominating."

The Hoosiers (8-0 overall, 5-0 in the Big Ten) had scoring drives of 19 (their longest since at least 2005) and 14 plays, each taking up more than seven game minutes.

"When a drive gets to 14 to 16 plays and we're in the red zone," Katic said, "you can see the defense breaking down. They're huffing and puffing. We were huffing and puffing, too, but you can sense their will being broken. That's when we're the most dominant."

The victory capped an unprecedented week, a historic week, a best-time-ever week that delivered post-game hugs, cheers, tears and ESPN College Gameday national TV exposure. The No. 13 Hoosiers' 8-0 start matches that of the 1967 team for best in school history.

"We gutted it out," head coach Curt Cignetti said. "It was a great team effort. I told our guys, championship teams find a way to win. That's what we did."

IU won with power running, with game-changing defense, with special teams mastery, and with tenacity it didn't need while blowing out its first seven opponents.

"This is a close team with a lot of competitive character," Cignetti said. "We have guys who want to be good. They have the right stuff."

For instance:

Cornerback D'Angelo Ponds electrified the white-towel-waving crowd with a first-quarter, 67-yard interception return for a touchdown that seemed as much due to good film study and coaching as on-field anticipation and reaction. A second interception led to a quarterback Tayven Jackson touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr.

"I was blitzing," Ponds said of the touchdown return, "and somebody tipped the ball and it came right to me. That's just trusting the process and being where you have to be and making a play.

"It's my first career pick-6. It felt unreal."

Running back Justice Ellison rushed for 123 bruising yards and a touchdown against a Washington team that ranked eighth nationally in total defense. With fellow running back Ty Son Lawton banged up, Ellison had a career-high 29 carries.

"I'm sore, but you work for these moments," Ellison said. "It's what the team needs you to do. I needed to make plays. I told myself, get this first down, get four to five more yards. I told the O-line, give me some more push. They did a great by doing that."

The offensive line, led by coach Bob Bostad, pushed IU to a 188 rushing-yard total.

"Bob does a great job in coaching those guys," Cignetti said. "They function well together. They didn't give up a sack. The quarterback got hit only once. Bob keeps it simple and because of that, they don't have missed assignments. They are tough guys. Tough guys."

Added Katic: "We knew what we were getting into this week. We knew we'd be running a lot. We took that as a challenge and did well with it."

Myles Price's 65-yard, fourth-quarter punt return set up Jackson's win-clinching 2-yard touchdown run. James Evans punted four times for a 44.5-yard average, with a long of 56.

"That was a huge play," Cignetti said of Price's return. "We made big plays on special teams."

IU hadn't been tested all season. With starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke sidelined by a thumb injury, and Washington making offensive and defensive plays, the Hoosiers faced plenty of questions and came up with game-deciding answers.

"We weren't playing well early on offense," Cignetti said. "We weren't executing. Washington changed its (defensive) tendencies. We had to throw out the game plan and shoot from the hip.

"The defense saved us early. We came up with some big turnovers. In the end, we got the run game going and kept them off the field. We ate up a lot of clock."

Jackson replaced Rourke and was 11-for-19 for 124 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

"Tayven made some good plays, and left as many plays out there," Cignetti said.

Added Ellison: "I told Tayven, just be you. That's all you have to do."

IU's defense set an instant tone with sacks from safety Shawn Asbury II and defensive lineman Mikail Kamara on Washington's game-opening possession.

Ponds' interception return stopped a promising Washington second-possession drive and gave the Hoosiers a 7-0 lead. His second interception, an acrobatic effort that displayed his athleticism, quickly led to Jackson's 35-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Jr for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Washington (4-4, 2-3) came back with a 75-yard touchdown drive for a 14-7 score with 10 minutes left in the first half. A Nicolas Radicic 19-yard field goal capped a 19-play, 62-yard drive to give IU a 17-7 halftime lead.

IU had the ball to open the second half but gave it back on Jackson's interception on the first play. That led to a Washington touchdown run for a 17-14 score two minutes into the third quarter.

The Hoosiers responded with a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that took over seven minutes. Ellison capped it with a five-yard TD run for a 24-14 third-quarter lead.

Price's 65-yard punt return set up Jackson's 2-yard touchdown run for a 31-14 lead with 8:55 left in the game. Washington added a field goal, but no more.

"You are what record says you are," Cignetti said. "I'll look at the film and see a lot of mistakes."

He paused to smile and wink.

"We're not off to a bad start."