Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Charlotte
Rourke, Lawton Help Unbeaten Indiana Rout Charlotte, 52-14
9/21/2024 3:15:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Adversity is coming. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke knows it. Running back Kaelon Black and the rest of the Indiana Hoosiers know. The wave of blow-out victories to the season -- Saturday's 52-14 win over Charlotte was the latest example in this 4-0 start -- won't continue.
It's all Big Ten opponents the rest of the way, starting next Saturday against Maryland (3-1). These Hoosiers seem built for what's coming.
"We have to continue to stick with what we do in our training," Rourke said. "We work hard. Every day we come in ready to work. We'll revert to that when adversity comes, because it will come. When it does, you have to stay strong and continue on."
The Hoosiers have outscored opponents 202-37 while making Curt Cignetti the first IU head football coach to begin his career 4-0.
"This team has learned a lot," Cignetti said. "We have strong character. There are a lot of good guys and good players. The whole key is maintaining our focus. We can't have any distractions. We're looking forward to what's ahead."
The players are all in.
"We're playing together as a team," Black said. "It's nice to be undefeated, but we still have a lot of things to work on to make sure we maximize our potential."
IU did plenty of maximizing on Saturday. It rushed and passed for more than 200 yards each for 510 total yards. It averaged 7.5 yards a play.
IU's first seven drives produced six touchdowns and a field goal. Only when the backups began playing late in the third quarter did the Hoosiers have to punt, and that was only once, with James Evans going for 50 yards.
"Our ability to move the ball down the field, I don't want to say it's easy," receiver Myles Price said, "but it's almost been easy. I'm happy about that. Everybody is doing his job."
It starts with Rourke, who finished 16-of-20 for 258 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 32 yards and a touchdown. He didn't play in the fourth quarter.
"He makes my job easy," Price said. "The ball is on the money every time. I love it."
In the last two games, Rourke is 41-of-53 for 565 yards and five touchdowns. For the season, the former Ohio University standout completes 75.5 percent of his passes for 1,013 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
"He's playing well," Cignetti said, "but he'll be the first to tell you he's not perfect. He had a solid performance today. That's why we recruited him. He'd already proven himself. I like where he's at."
Running back Justice Ellison rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown. Black had 55 yards and a TD. Ty Son Lawton had 35 yards and two scores.
Seven receivers caught at least one pass. Miles Cross had five catches for 46 yards. Price had three catches for 77 yards.
"Having that abundance of talent helps in every aspect," Rourke said. "You hand it or throw it to athletes on the outside, and they have a good chance of getting yards or touchdowns. I'm excited that everyone can see the talent we brought it."
Cignetti built the offensive scheme, with offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and co-offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri refining it to suit IU's personnel.
"It's a real group effort," Cignetti said. "We're not afraid to throw something up there. We have a lot of experienced players. They can handle a heavy plate. If you execute it, it puts the defense in a bind."
Defensively, IU allowed more points than it had in any game this season against a balanced first-half Charlotte attack.
Then the Hoosiers shut down everything. On Charlotte's final seven drives, they allowed just 86 total yards and zero points, plus forced a fumble.
IU didn't get a sack but totaled eight tackles for loss while holding the 49ers to 256 total yards. Cornerback Jamari Sharpe, starting after D'Angelo Ponds was sidelined for the first half because of the previous week's targeting call, had a team-high four pass breakups.
"That offense does a lot of motion," defensive back Shawn Asbury said, "so you have to communicate fast. They did a lot of things we'd never seen before, but we were able to make adjustments and took control in the second half."
Added Cignetti: "They had us on our heels. The defensive coaches were not pleased. We came out and dominated the second half."
IU's start-the-game dominance continued. It defended Charlotte (1-3) into a three-and-out, then drove for a touchdown set up by Rourke's 12-yard, third-down completion and capped by Lawton's 8-yard scoring run. It led 7-0 in less than five minutes.
Nicolas Radicic's 27-yard field goal made it 10-0 with four minutes left in the first quarter. Charlotte countered with a touchdown run to close within three points early in the second quarter.
Rourke's 37-yard pass to Price, followed by a 29-yard toss to Elijah Sarratt, set up Ellison's touchdown run for a 17-7 lead.
The 49ers closed within 17-14 on a touchdown pass with 5:19 left in the half. Rourke's 12-yard TD run and then his 19-yard scoring pass to Ke'Shawn Williams made it a 31-14 halftime score.
The Hoosiers opened the second half with Lawton's 5-yard touchdown run for a 38-14 lead. Black's 21-yard TD run made it a 45-14 third-quarter score.
Tayven Jackson took over as IU quarterback near the end of the third quarter. Running back Elijah Green scored on a 13-yard touchdown run for the 52-14 final score.
Eight straight Big Ten teams are next.
"We have a lot of guys who have played successful, winning football," Cignetti said. "Now, it's about taking it to the Big Ten."
