Hoosier Rout: Part I, how it went down.

The game against Indiana was really only close for about 28 minutes.  For that time, the Falcons were in the game, but a late second quarter TD stretched the Hoosier lead and from there it was really no contest.

That might be partly an illusion.  Indiana was moving the ball effectively for much of that time, only to meet stout red zone defense from BG.  Meanwhile, BG's offense was wasting opportunities on the way to producing exactly 3 points.

For example, Indiana took the opening kickoff.  Indiana drove to the BG 2 in 8 very quick plays.  Then, from there the BG defense really played well, stopping the Hoosiers on 4 straight plays and taking the ball over on downs.

The good feeling was short-lived.  BG went 3 and out, punted Indiana back to their own 49 and one play later they were on the BG 3 and this time they scored to take a 7-0 lead.

The BG offense needed to get some traction or else it was going to turn into a track meet.  BG did reasonably well, getting 3 first downs and to the Hoosier 29 but then failed to convert on a 3rd and 3 pass and then Tyler Tate missed a long 47-yard FG.  This was also the drive where Jordan Hopgood got behind the Hoosier d-backs and dropped a perfectly thrown pass that would have been a TD.

Indiana came out hot again with 28 yards on two pass plays.  BG's defense then forced a punt, and the team made its biggest play of the game.  Facing lousy field position, Paul Senn instead pulled of a ridiculous punt block where he pretty much took the ball right off the punter's foot and then he ran it in for a TD to tie the score.

Indiana went right back onto the attack and BG's defense was playing better---except on 3rd down.  First, after getting a 3-and-out, BG was called for roughing the kicker on 3rd and 18 and then Indiana converted on 3rd and 13 and 3rd and 10...and was back at the BG 4.  The Falcons got another goal line stop, taking the ball over again on downs.  Indiana was moving the ball up and down the field, but it was still 7-7.

BG's offense was still reasonably effective. Spurred by back to back pass plays covering 42 yards, but BG stalled out after a false start penalty on 2nd and 4 threw them off schedule and Tate nailed a 45 yard FG and BG led 10-7.

Here was BG's best chance.  On the kickoff, Indiana fumbled and BG recovered at the Hoosier 31.  Facing a chance to take a two-score lead, BG went false start before the first play.  They ended up with a 4th and 1, went for it and ran a play that was totally blown up for a loss and the big chance was squandered.

Indiana turned it the other way.  Less than two minutes later, after converting a 3rd and 17 they found a 43 yard run for a TD and led 14-10.

The next exchange wasn't much better.  BG drove to the Indiana 46 but had to punt.  It was a touchback and Indiana went 80 yards in 2:10 for another touchdown.

BG had the ball back with 2:44 left in the half and one last chance.  BG ran an effective driving using the short pass and got down to the Indiana 15 where 3 straight incompletions led to a very makeable 33 yard FG attempt that would at least have kept the game within one score.  Tate missed that kick and it was 21-10 at the half.

BG has been a second half team and caught a huge break when Indiana onsided the opening kickoff out of bounds.  With great field position BG made one 1st down and then threw an INT to end the drive.

Indiana went 80 yards in 4 plays and it was all over from there.  Indiana scored two more times and the game ended 42-10, a one-sided rout at the hands of Indiana.