FOOTBALL: Indiana's passing leads team to win instead of running
Ryan Wood
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With memories of last year's game against Indiana University fresh in the minds of Ball State University defenders, the Cardinals knew how productive Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis could be running the football.
In Saturday's rematch, the Ball State defense learned first hand why Lewis is second in the Big Ten in total offense per game.
Against a secondary that allowed a University of Nebraska school record 438 passing yards earlier this season, Lewis threw for a career-high 354 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Ball State cornerback Trey Lewis, who intercepted the Hoosier quarterback on Indiana's first play of the game, said the defense focused more on Kellen Lewis' running ability than passing.
"We knew he could run, and we've struggled with running quarterbacks," Trey Lewis said. "So there was a little more emphasis on him running than passing."
Kellen Lewis started his career day with the interception and two lost fumbles, the second coming on a dropped snap within the Ball State five-yard line.
After the final lost fumble, which came with 12:29 left in the second quarter, the Hoosiers didn't have a turnover in the rest of the game. Indiana receiver Ray Fisher said he tried to settle his quarterback down in the second quarter.
"I just told him, 'this is your team, and we're going to follow your lead, so you've got to start doing better,'" Fisher said.
Kellen Lewis' primary receiver was James Hardy, who is second in the nation with 13 touchdown receptions. Hardy led the Hoosiers with eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
However, it was Fisher's big plays that kept Ball State's defense off balance throughout the last three quarters. Fisher finished with six receptions, a team-high 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
On Fisher's first touchdown the sophomore caught a bubble pass and ran 60 yards, taking away Ball State's lead for good.
Cardinals' coach Brady Hoke said Fisher's speed kept the defense from stopping the play.
"On the bubble, we didn't get off the blocks and we took bad angles," Hoke said. "The sad part is we knew that was the play they were running. We just weren't in the right position."
Even with Kellen Lewis' success through the air, he also produced 52 rushing yards. Most of his rushing yards came on designed runs, which kept the Cardinals' defense off guard throughout the game.
Ball State linebacker Bryant Haines said Indiana's offensive balance wore out the Cardinals' defense.
"I felt like we were on the field for a long time, but I think they just found things that were working for them and they were continuing to use them," Haines said. "[Saturday] was disappointing, but it's something we can overcome by coming out next week and playing hard."
Rivalry history
2007: IU def. BSU 38-20
2006: IU def. BSU 24-23
1999: IU def. BSU 21-9
1997: IU def. BSU 33-6
In Saturday's rematch, the Ball State defense learned first hand why Lewis is second in the Big Ten in total offense per game.
Against a secondary that allowed a University of Nebraska school record 438 passing yards earlier this season, Lewis threw for a career-high 354 passing yards and four touchdowns.
Ball State cornerback Trey Lewis, who intercepted the Hoosier quarterback on Indiana's first play of the game, said the defense focused more on Kellen Lewis' running ability than passing.
"We knew he could run, and we've struggled with running quarterbacks," Trey Lewis said. "So there was a little more emphasis on him running than passing."
Kellen Lewis started his career day with the interception and two lost fumbles, the second coming on a dropped snap within the Ball State five-yard line.
After the final lost fumble, which came with 12:29 left in the second quarter, the Hoosiers didn't have a turnover in the rest of the game. Indiana receiver Ray Fisher said he tried to settle his quarterback down in the second quarter.
"I just told him, 'this is your team, and we're going to follow your lead, so you've got to start doing better,'" Fisher said.
Kellen Lewis' primary receiver was James Hardy, who is second in the nation with 13 touchdown receptions. Hardy led the Hoosiers with eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
However, it was Fisher's big plays that kept Ball State's defense off balance throughout the last three quarters. Fisher finished with six receptions, a team-high 134 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
On Fisher's first touchdown the sophomore caught a bubble pass and ran 60 yards, taking away Ball State's lead for good.
Cardinals' coach Brady Hoke said Fisher's speed kept the defense from stopping the play.
"On the bubble, we didn't get off the blocks and we took bad angles," Hoke said. "The sad part is we knew that was the play they were running. We just weren't in the right position."
Even with Kellen Lewis' success through the air, he also produced 52 rushing yards. Most of his rushing yards came on designed runs, which kept the Cardinals' defense off guard throughout the game.
Ball State linebacker Bryant Haines said Indiana's offensive balance wore out the Cardinals' defense.
"I felt like we were on the field for a long time, but I think they just found things that were working for them and they were continuing to use them," Haines said. "[Saturday] was disappointing, but it's something we can overcome by coming out next week and playing hard."
Rivalry history
2007: IU def. BSU 38-20
2006: IU def. BSU 24-23
1999: IU def. BSU 21-9
1997: IU def. BSU 33-6
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