Lawton, Rourke Lead IU Over FIU

Saturday, August 31

Bloomington, Ind.

3:30 P.M.

Indiana University

1-0 , 0-0

FIU

0-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

FIU

Indiana

8/31/2024 7:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes VIDEO: Curt Cignetti Postgame Press Conference VIDEO: Aiden Fisher Postgame Press Conference VIDEO: Ty Son Lawton Postgame Press Conference VIDEO: Kurtis Rourke Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Elijah Green ran until he could run no more, the back of the Memorial Stadium end zone reached, a final 51-yard touchdown run secured, cheerleaders celebrating just in front of him, students cheering in stands just behind them, FIU Panthers in his wake, a cannon poised for another after-every-Indiana score blast.

Green raised a right index finger for silence, but none was coming, not for this Saturday special, the Hoosiers' 31-7 season-opening victory over FIU, the beginning of the Curt Cignetti era ending exactly how Hoosiers had hoped.

"It was the best day of the year," quarterback Kurtis Rourke said. "We've been looking forward to this."

Green hadn't played much until the fourth quarter. Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison had carried the running back load with 16 and 10 carries, respectively. Lawton had 74 yards and two touchdowns. Ellison had 68 yards.

Green finished with five carries for 82 yards. His touchdown -- IU's only one in the second half after totaling three in the first 30 minutes -- pushed the Hoosiers over the 30-point mark, a significant achievement for any team, let alone one trying to establish itself as an offensive force.

"I was really impressed with Green," Cignetti said. "He broke through and showed some speed and burst, and they couldn't catch him."

IU rocked FIU with a touchdown pass and three TD runs, with an interception and four sacks. It ran (234 yards) and passed (180 yards) with balance, attacked offensively and defensively with controlled ferocity. The Hoosiers totaled eight tackles. They scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions, and seemed poised for at least three more.

In the aftermath, IU athletics director Scott Dolson gave Cignetti the game ball for getting his first Hoosier victory.

And yet …

Nine penalties, most on the offense, and missed opportunities hurt. Allowing a 75-yard touchdown drive near the end of the third quarter stung.

"Sometimes, when you get up like that, you can get comfortable and start to lose sight of what's going on," tight end Zach Horton said about the offensive slowdown. "You start going through the motions when you get comfortable. We have to say uncomfy in situations like that. Find a way to keep working and put the game away and finish drives the way we want to."

Defensively, said linebacker Aiden Fisher, who led with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and sack, it must be better.

"The end of the second quarter didn't go the way we were expecting," he said. "We did a lot of sloppy things, messy things, missing tackles, taking bad angles. That's not what our defense is about.

"Shutting them out in the second half, we played solid. There are a lot of things to grow and learn from."

Cignetti provided overall perspective.

"We had a crisp start. We had it clicking on all three phases. Midway through the second quarter, it got sloppy on both sides. To the defense's credit, they shut them out in second half.

"The offense had too many opportunities squandered. The protection has got to get better. We've got to learn to play with the lead and keep the edge."

Cignetti's win-now approach is designed to generate excitement and turn Memorial Stadium into an intimidating venue for opponents. That wasn't helped when a large number of students left at halftime

"There are a lot of things we're trying to change, including keeping people in the seats after halftime," he said. "We have to create a powerful environment, but we have to play better.

"It's a win, something to build on."

Rourke's IU debut was efficient -- 15-for-24 for 180 yards and a touchdown while completing at least one pass to seven difference receivers. The Ohio transfer, once a Mid-American Conference offensive MVP, scrambled out of trouble multiple times to make plays, none better than his 30-yard completion to Miles Cross on third and 21 that led to a touchdown.

"Mostly, it's reactionary," Rourke said about his scrambling. "It's something that I pride myself on. I trust my arm. If the play dictates it or I need to escape, instincts kick in. I try to do whatever I can to move the chains."

As far as the offensive struggles, Rourke said there were "multiple plays we could have piled it on more and really attacked them. I would have liked to have a couple of throws back, a couple of moments back.

"We had some negative plays, missed assignments, penalties, me missing reads. Those can kill drives. We had too many today, especially in the second half."

Added Cignetti: "(Rourke) made some plays; he scrambled out of pocket and made plays. He missed two to four reads, which happens. It's about playing more reps.

"We left at least 10 plays offensively, but it was not the quarterback. I liked the way he moved around."

Rourke, who basically hadn't been hit since last season, said he quickly adjusted to the contact.

"At this point in my career, it's the first hit and I'm ready to go. It's like, welcome back. It doesn't have to be a big hit. You get hit and it's all right, the contact is back."

Receiver Myles Price led with four catches for 29 yards. Cross, like Rourke, an Ohio transfer, led in spectacle with his leaping, one-handed 30-yard catch.

"He's a really talented receiver," Rourke said. "I'm happy he was able to come with me and be able to be such a great weapon. He showed out."

The teams opened the game by exchanging punts. IU gained five yards on its first three plays. FIU lost five yards on its three plays.

Then came Rourke's nine-yard touchdown pass to Horton and Lawton's 13-yard TD run for a 14-0 first-quarter lead, which became 21-0 midway through the second quarter on Lawton's two-yard scoring run.

FIU scored just before halftime on a seven-yard touchdown pass for a 21-7 score.

Nicolas Radicic's third-quarter 35-yard field goal pushed the lead to 17. IU defensive back Amare Ferrell's interception and 20-yard return early in the fourth quarter ended FIU's only real second-half scoring threat.

Green's touchdown run in the closing minutes delivered the final 31-7 score.

It's just the beginning, Horton said.

"When we first came out, the stadium was packed. That was awesome. We liked how the fans showed out. Hopefully, we'll get it where the fans stay. I'm excited for the rest of the season."

Added Rourke: "Any time you get a win, you're happy about it. We're pumped up and ready for more wins."