Saturday, November 2
East Lansing, Mich.
3:30 P.M.
Indiana University
9-0 , 6-0
47
at
10
Michigan State
4-5 , 2-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Indiana
0
21
12
14
47
Michigan St.
10
0
0
0
10
Hoosiers Reclaim Old Brass Spittoon
11/2/2024 7:47:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. - In every sport, it's what happens after you get knocked down that matters most.
Case in point -- unbeaten Indiana took an early 10-0 hit at Michigan State, the first time it had trailed all season, then came back with 21-straight, second-quarter points, 12 more in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth en route to a 47-10 win on Saturday to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon.
The No. 13 Hoosiers (9-0) ratcheted up the offense (quarterback Kurtis Rourke was back and rocking it with 263 passing yards and four touchdown passes), defense (defensive lineman Mikail Kamara had 4.5 of IU's season-high 15 tackles for loss; defensive back Amare Ferrell had two interceptions; the Hoosiers had seven sacks and held Michigan State to minus-36 rushing yards) and special teams (a third-quarter blocked punt led to a safety) to deliver a program-record, ninth-straight victory.
Head coach Curt Cignetti praised the Hoosiers' relentlessness, discipline, and poise. He emphasized they are never satisfied. Not now. Not with so much more to play for.
"I give the staff and players great credit," Cignetti told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "We play as a team. We play disciplined. We play hard. We execute. We spread the ball around. We have a lot of guys who can make plays."
Up next is a home game against Michigan (5-4), then a bye, then a trip to No. 4 Ohio State (7-1), then a regular-season-ending home game against Purdue (1-7).
"We have to finish strong," Rourke told Fischer in the post-game radio show.
No team in program history -- not the 1945 Big Ten title squad, not the 1967 conference co-championship team – had gone 9-0 or won nine-straight games until this group did it, with more to come.
"This is awesome," Rourke told Fischer. "We had visions of this in the offseason. We knew we'd have to put it together every Saturday. Credit to the guys in how they've stayed humble and consistent. We're excited to keep it rolling."
Rourke bounced back strong after missing last week's Washington victory because of a thumb injury suffered the previous week against Nebraska. He wore a special glove to protect his thumb.
"It's been a crazy two weeks," Rourke told Fischer in the post-game radio show. "I had great help around me. The doctors and training staff were fantastic. The training staff put in the hours to bring down the swelling so I could throw. I'm honored and blessed to be able to play."
Rourke was 19-for-29 for 66 percent, about eight percent below his season average.
"There were a couple of throws I'd like back, but I was happy to be out there," he told Fischer. "Throwing with the glove was new for me. I'm getting used to it. There were some ups and downs. I knew I could do it."
Added Cignetti: "I can't give (Rourke) enough credit as far as what he means to our team and the kind of person he is. He's such a competitor."
Indiana remains tied with No. 1 Oregon for first place in the Big Ten. Both are 6-0 with three games remaining.
This was the seventh time IU has scored at least 40 points, another program record. It continues to lead the Big Ten with an average victory margin of more than 32 points. No opponent has come closer than 14 points.
"(The Spartans) had a tough time responding once we got on a roll," Cignetti told Fischer. "Our defensive line dominated."
Receiver Ke'Shawn Williams led IU with six catches for 86 yards. Receiver Elijah Sarratt had four for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Kamara had 2.5 of the Hoosiers' seven sacks. He leads the Big Ten with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
"He was in the backfield all night long," Cignetti told Fischer. "He's a good player. He came up big when we needed him."
IU didn't waste time in testing Rourke's surgically repaired thumb with a game-opening pass good for nine yards.
Then he missed his next three passes as Michigan State (4-5, 2-4) took brief charge. Indiana's stretch of not trailing or allowing a first-quarter point ended on Michigan State's first possession, with a 47-yard Spartan field goal. It added a touchdown on its second possession for a 10-0 lead.
The Hoosiers came back with Rourke's 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Horton to cut the lead to three one minute into the second quarter. Rourke was 4-for-4 on the drive.
IU got the ball back when Ferrell intercepted after linebacker Aiden Fisher tipped a pass. Indiana couldn't take advantage on that possession but did the one after via running back Ty Son Lawton's 1-yard touchdown run for a 14-10 lead. It was set up buy by a 38-yard pass to Williams.
Ferrell's second interception set up Rourke's 4-yard scoring pass to Sarratt for a 21- 10 halftime lead.
IU blocked a punt and forced a safety on Michigan State's opening possession of the third quarter, then followed with Rourke's 18-yard touchdown pass to Myles Rice, and then a 29-yard Nicolas Radicic field goal for a 33-10 score.
In the fourth quarter, receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had a 16-yard TD run. Sarratt caught his second scoring pass. The Hoosiers led 47-10 and went to its power running game to close out the victory.
"I liked the way we responded against a good team," Rourke told Fischer. "We were able to take back control of the game."
Added Cignetti: "We were pretty dominant. It's a good road win."
Case in point -- unbeaten Indiana took an early 10-0 hit at Michigan State, the first time it had trailed all season, then came back with 21-straight, second-quarter points, 12 more in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth en route to a 47-10 win on Saturday to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon.
The No. 13 Hoosiers (9-0) ratcheted up the offense (quarterback Kurtis Rourke was back and rocking it with 263 passing yards and four touchdown passes), defense (defensive lineman Mikail Kamara had 4.5 of IU's season-high 15 tackles for loss; defensive back Amare Ferrell had two interceptions; the Hoosiers had seven sacks and held Michigan State to minus-36 rushing yards) and special teams (a third-quarter blocked punt led to a safety) to deliver a program-record, ninth-straight victory.
Head coach Curt Cignetti praised the Hoosiers' relentlessness, discipline, and poise. He emphasized they are never satisfied. Not now. Not with so much more to play for.
"I give the staff and players great credit," Cignetti told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "We play as a team. We play disciplined. We play hard. We execute. We spread the ball around. We have a lot of guys who can make plays."
Up next is a home game against Michigan (5-4), then a bye, then a trip to No. 4 Ohio State (7-1), then a regular-season-ending home game against Purdue (1-7).
"We have to finish strong," Rourke told Fischer in the post-game radio show.
No team in program history -- not the 1945 Big Ten title squad, not the 1967 conference co-championship team – had gone 9-0 or won nine-straight games until this group did it, with more to come.
"This is awesome," Rourke told Fischer. "We had visions of this in the offseason. We knew we'd have to put it together every Saturday. Credit to the guys in how they've stayed humble and consistent. We're excited to keep it rolling."
Rourke bounced back strong after missing last week's Washington victory because of a thumb injury suffered the previous week against Nebraska. He wore a special glove to protect his thumb.
"It's been a crazy two weeks," Rourke told Fischer in the post-game radio show. "I had great help around me. The doctors and training staff were fantastic. The training staff put in the hours to bring down the swelling so I could throw. I'm honored and blessed to be able to play."
Rourke was 19-for-29 for 66 percent, about eight percent below his season average.
"There were a couple of throws I'd like back, but I was happy to be out there," he told Fischer. "Throwing with the glove was new for me. I'm getting used to it. There were some ups and downs. I knew I could do it."
Added Cignetti: "I can't give (Rourke) enough credit as far as what he means to our team and the kind of person he is. He's such a competitor."
Indiana remains tied with No. 1 Oregon for first place in the Big Ten. Both are 6-0 with three games remaining.
This was the seventh time IU has scored at least 40 points, another program record. It continues to lead the Big Ten with an average victory margin of more than 32 points. No opponent has come closer than 14 points.
"(The Spartans) had a tough time responding once we got on a roll," Cignetti told Fischer. "Our defensive line dominated."
Receiver Ke'Shawn Williams led IU with six catches for 86 yards. Receiver Elijah Sarratt had four for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Kamara had 2.5 of the Hoosiers' seven sacks. He leads the Big Ten with 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.
"He was in the backfield all night long," Cignetti told Fischer. "He's a good player. He came up big when we needed him."
IU didn't waste time in testing Rourke's surgically repaired thumb with a game-opening pass good for nine yards.
Then he missed his next three passes as Michigan State (4-5, 2-4) took brief charge. Indiana's stretch of not trailing or allowing a first-quarter point ended on Michigan State's first possession, with a 47-yard Spartan field goal. It added a touchdown on its second possession for a 10-0 lead.
The Hoosiers came back with Rourke's 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Horton to cut the lead to three one minute into the second quarter. Rourke was 4-for-4 on the drive.
IU got the ball back when Ferrell intercepted after linebacker Aiden Fisher tipped a pass. Indiana couldn't take advantage on that possession but did the one after via running back Ty Son Lawton's 1-yard touchdown run for a 14-10 lead. It was set up buy by a 38-yard pass to Williams.
Ferrell's second interception set up Rourke's 4-yard scoring pass to Sarratt for a 21- 10 halftime lead.
IU blocked a punt and forced a safety on Michigan State's opening possession of the third quarter, then followed with Rourke's 18-yard touchdown pass to Myles Rice, and then a 29-yard Nicolas Radicic field goal for a 33-10 score.
In the fourth quarter, receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had a 16-yard TD run. Sarratt caught his second scoring pass. The Hoosiers led 47-10 and went to its power running game to close out the victory.
"I liked the way we responded against a good team," Rourke told Fischer. "We were able to take back control of the game."
Added Cignetti: "We were pretty dominant. It's a good road win."
Team Stats
IU
MSU
Total Yards
385
193
Pass Yards
263
229
Rushing Yards
122
-36
Penalty Yards
35
25
1st Downs
20
15
3rd Downs
2
5
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
29:34
30:26
1st Quarter
IU 0, MSU 3
MSU - Kim,Jonathan 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:36
IU 0, MSU 10
MSU - Marsh,Nick 18 yd pass from Chiles,Aidan (Kim,Jonathan kick) 13 plays, 71 yards, TOP 06:18
2nd Quarter
IU 7, MSU 10
IU - Horton,Zach 17 yd pass from Rourke,Kurtis (Radicic,Nicolas kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:26
IU 14, MSU 10
IU - Lawton,Ty Son 1 yd run (Radicic,Nicolas kick), 4 plays, 64 yards, TOP 02:13
IU 21, MSU 10
IU - Sarratt,Elijah 4 yd pass from Rourke,Kurtis (Radicic,Nicolas kick) 6 plays, 37 yards, TOP 02:45
3rd Quarter
IU 23, MSU 10
IU - 0 yd safety
IU 30, MSU 10
IU - Price,Myles 18 yd pass from Rourke,Kurtis (Radicic,Nicolas kick) 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:43
IU 33, MSU 10
IU - Radicic,Nicolas 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 04:56
4th Quarter
IU 40, MSU 10
IU - Cooper Jr.,Omar 16 yd run (Radicic,Nicolas kick), 2 plays, 21 yards, TOP 00:49
IU 47, MSU 10
IU - Sarratt,Elijah 11 yd pass from Rourke,Kurtis (Radicic,Nicolas kick) 5 plays, 37 yards, TOP 01:37
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
4
YDS
263
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
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WR
/ Football
WR
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