Indiana’s Offense clicks on all cylinders putting up 52 points on Charlotte
The Indiana Hoosiers are 4-0 for the 8th time program history after a 52-14 win over the Charlotte 49ers Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Curt Cignetti becomes the first Hoosier Head Coach to start his head coaching career 4-0 and he can thank his offense for putting up 202 points through four games become the first time in FBS this season to go over 200 points for the season and the most points in IU Program History through the first four games of a season. The Hoosier defense has allowed 37 points in four games which is something that Hoosier fans are not accustomed to when it comes to watching Indiana Football over the years. Like everything else times are changing, and the new look of this Hoosier Football program has changed under Cignetti for the better and Indiana will look to go 5-0 next Saturday at Noon when the Maryland Terrapins come to town as the Hoosiers return to Big Ten Conference play for the rest of the season. Indiana scored 207 points in 2021 and 266 points a season ago and the Hoosiers are well on their way to breaking those marks not even halfway through the season.
Kurtis Rourke went 16-20 for 258 yards 1 touchdown pass and no interceptions along with 4 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. Rourke found Omar Cooper Jr. on a 11-yard pass play with 5:57 left in the third quarter to give him 1,000 passing yards on the season in just his fourth game of the season. The Hoosiers racked up 510 yards of offense and continued to keep their streak of 400 yards or more of offense alive since the season started. Tayven Jackson went 2-5 for 30 yards replacing Rourke in the final minutes of the third quarter. Indiana’s offensive line did not allow a sack. 7 different receivers caught the ball and Myles Price led the way with 3 catches for 77 yards.
The Indiana running game was impressive with 8 Hoosiers carrying the ball 37 times for 212 yards and 6 touchdowns from five different Hoosiers. The balanced rushing attack saw two touchdowns from Ty Son Lawton and a touchdown from Justice Ellison, Kaelon Black, Elijah Green, and Rourke. Indiana has not thrown an interception or a fumble this season and after last week’s win over UCLA was the first time since 1996, they have not had a turnover in three games and continue to make Hoosier fans believe that this team is making progress in the right direction. Indiana scored on its first seven possessions and after James Evans punt in the third quarter the Hoosiers scored with Elijah Green on a 13-yard touchdown run with 9:36 left in the fourth quarter. Green has scored in the late stages of every game this season for the Hoosiers. The Hoosiers turned the ball over downs and on the final drive of the game they ran out the clock. Indiana had 29 first downs, 4-9 on third down conversion and 2-3 on fourth down conversions running 66 plays. Indiana went 7-7 in the red zone and controlled the ball for 30 minutes and 19 seconds.
Charlotte drops to 1-3 on the season scored on a 13-yard touchdown run by C.J. Stokes with 13:47 left in the second quarter after trailing 14-0. Charlotte cutting the Hoosiers lead to three 17-14 after Quarterback Trexler Ivey found Iasiah Myers on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 5:19 left in the second quarter. Ivey finished 14-23 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers had 6 different rushers carrying the ball 33 times for 137 yards. Charlotte finished with 256 yards of offense including seven penalties for 51 yards and 13 first downs. The 49ers ran 56 plays going 5-13 on third downs and 1-3 on fourth downs. The 49ers were 1-1 in the red zone and controlled the ball for 29 minutes and 41 seconds with 1 turnover and allowing 1 sack.
Indiana led 31-14 and controlled the game from start to finish as the Hoosiers had 287 yards of offense in the first half with 180 passing and 107 rushing. The 49ers had 177 yards off offense in the first half with 91 passing yards and 86 rushing yards. Indiana adjusted in the second half to score 21 second half points and keep the 49ers off the scoreboard. Charlotte punted 5 times, turned the ball over twice on downs and fumbled once along with taking a knee to end the first half. Indiana did not have a letdown after a big win at UCLA Last Saturday as the Hoosiers are just two wins away from bowl eligibility. Indiana started 4-0 in in 1910, 1967, 1985, 1986, 1990, 2015, 2020 and 2024. Five of those seasons have ended in a bowl game and if things continue to go in the right direction for the Hoosiers 2024 could be another trip to a bowl game for a team that has been to a bowl game or had a winning season since 2020.
Caitlin Clark Named Unanimous Associated Press Rookie of the Year
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was unanimously named the 2024 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year, it was announced today. This recognition follows Clark’s achievement as a four-time WNBA Rookie of the Month, three-time WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week and WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month in August. Clark joins Aliyah Boston as the only Fever players to earn AP Rookie of the Year. Clark was also named to the AP All-WNBA First Team with Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and A’ja Wilson, as well as the AP All-Rookie Team with Kamilla Cardoso, Leonie Fiebich, Rickea Jackson and Angel Reese.
Clark started all 40 regular season games for the Fever and had a groundbreaking debut year, marked by numerous WNBA records. Clark finished the regular season leading rookies in scoring (19.2 ppg), field goals made (242), 3-point field goals made (122) assists (8.4 apg), steals (1.3 spg) and minutes (35.4 mpg). In addition to the rookie class, Clark topped the entire league in assists (337) and 3-point field goals made. Clark compiled the most points (769), assists and 3-point field goals made ever by a rookie in WNBA history. Her 769 points were not only the most recorded in a single-season in franchise history, but the most by a point guard in a single-season in WNBA history. On top of points, Clark’s 337 assists broke the previously held single season assist record of 316. Clark also tallied the most double-digit scoring games (35) by a rookie ever and the most double doubles (14) in a season in franchise history and by a rookie guard in WNBA history.
Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double and also the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double. On July 17 during Indiana’s first matchup of the regular season with the Dallas Wings, Clark recorded 19 assists – the most assists in a game in WNBA history. Additionally, Clark compiled the most games (12) with at least 10 assists in franchise history. On July 20, Clark made her WNBA All-Star debut, becoming just the third rookie in franchise history to start an All-Star game. During Clark’s 26 minutes of All-Star playing time, she tied the second most assists recorded in an All-Star game with a game-high 10 assists. Clark also received the most All-Star Game votes in WNBA history with 700,735 votes. In August, Clark became the first player in league history to earn WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors in the same month.
#25 USC remains unbeaten in Big Ten Play with 2-0 Win over Indiana University Women’s Soccer
The #25 USC Trojans ended a nine-game road trip with a 2-0 win over the Indiana Hoosiers in a Sunday afternoon Big Ten Women’s soccer battle at Bill Armstrong Stadium. USC is 7-1-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Big Ten after a pair of 1-0 wins at Washington and Purdue. Indiana is 5-3-1 on the season and 0-3 in the Big Ten and head to the Pacific Northwest to take on Oregon Thursday Night and Washington on Sunday afternoon. This is third all-time meeting between USC and Indiana and the Trojans are 2-1 and get their first win in Bloomington and the first meeting between the two programs since USC joined the Big Ten. USC beat Indiana 6-0 in Los Angeles on August 28, 2005, and the Hoosiers won the previous matchup in Bloomington on September 7, 2007, 2-1 in overtime. The Trojans head back to Los Angeles with three home matches on tap against Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon.
Indiana has been outscored 6-0 in the last three games and all against Big Ten opponents at home against Ohio State, UCLA and USC. Indiana finished the non-conference portion of the schedule 5-0-1 outscoring their opponents 24-2 but the Hoosiers offensive firepower has come to screeching halt in the last three matches. Indiana Head Coach Erwin van Bennekom was not on the sidelines serving a one game suspension after he picked up a Red Card for arguing with the officials after Thursday Night’s 1-0 home loss to UCLA after picking up a yellow card in the second half. Associate Head Coach Tim Verschuren was in charge of the Hoosiers for this match.
It was a defensive battle in the first half as the teams combined for 6 shots with USC having a 4-2 advantage and Indiana got their only shot on goal has Layla Sirdah shot right into hands of USC Goalkeeper Laurence Gladu at the 36.39 mark. Both teams had a shot on goal with Maria Alagoa going bottom right of goal and Jamie Gerstenberg getting save with 1 second left in the first half. Gladu and Gerstenberg both had save in a battle of Goalkeepers. Indiana committed three fouls, and the Trojans committed one foul and both teams had 2 corner kicks. Neither team was called for offsides. Indiana had a chance at penalty kick at the 28:17 mark when Marisa Grzesiak was taken down in the box by a Trojan Defender but after video review it was not a penalty and now foul was called as the teams went into the locker room scoreless.
In the Second Half USC broke the deadlock at the 62:09 when Helena Sampaio when bottom right of goal off her left foot to get it past Jamie Gerstenberg for her second goal of the season. The Trojans added a second goal at the 66:41 mark when Kayla Colbert scored her third goal of the season going to the top left corner off her right foot with Jaiden Anderson getting her second assist of the season and Helena Sampaio getting her third assist of the season. USC outshot Indiana 9-8 and 4-3 in shots on goal. USC Goalkeeper Laurence Gladu made 3 saves and gets her 5th clean sheet of the season as the Graduate Student from Montreal, Quebec Canada joined the Trojans after a three-year career at the University of Pennsylvania in which she started all 47 games she played in with 195 saves and 43 goals allowed. Gladu has made 28 saves and allowed 6 goals in 9 games this season.
Indiana Goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made 2 saves for Indiana. The teams combined for 12 fouls with Indiana committing 8 and USC 4. Indiana had 5 corner kick and USC had 4 and neither team was called for offsides. With not a lot of time to prepare for Oregon and Washington and the travel to Pacific Northwest later this week Indiana Associate Head Coach Tim Verschuren detailed the teams plans after the match “Rest and recover and Tuesday will be a long day looking over film and doing things in small groups to get ready to play Oregon Thursday Night” Verschuren said after the match.
#21 Maryland Starts on Friday and Finishes the Job Saturday over Indiana University Men’s Soccer
The #21 Maryland Terrapins beat the Indiana Hoosiers 1-0 in a Men’s Soccer game that took two days to complete at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The game started at 7pm Friday Night but was suspended with 20 Minutes and 20 seconds remaining due to weather and was restarted at 10am Saturday Morning from that point. NCAA Rules state that 70 minutes is considered a full game if they cannot complete the full 90-minute match and Maryland was pleading to play that final 20 seconds, so they did not have to come back and finish the game on Saturday. Either way Maryland comes out of Bloomington with the full three points as they are 2-0 in the Big Ten and 4-1-3 overall. For Indiana it’s a game that they could not afford to drop at home, but they are now 1-1 in the Big Ten and 2-3-3 overall and travel to Ohio State to continue conference play. Indiana leads the all-time series with Maryland 8-6-8 and its Maryland first win against the Hoosiers since a 2-0 win in College Park on October 31, 2021. It’s the second win for Maryland in Bloomington with the first one coming on October 19, 2014, in a 2-1 victory. The Hoosiers had good chances to score but went wide of the goal as Maryland Goalkeeper Laurin Mack picked up his second shutout of the season.
When Maryland and Indiana battle on the pitch it is always a physical battle and this was no different as the teams committed 28 fouls total and 14 for each team. Each team had a yellow card as Jansen Miller for Indiana was booked at the 39:16 mark and Maryland’s Leon Koehl was booked at the 62:17 mark. Maryland scored the only goal of the match at the 39:16 when Leon Koehl scored on a penalty kick that proved to be the game winner. The Sophomore from Cologne, Germany has been the Terps penalty kick taker and has scored all three of his goals from the penalty spot and has answered the call when called upon for his team to step up and knocked it home and he did that Friday night quieting the Bill Armstrong Stadium crowd. After 13 hour and 20-minute delay the Hoosiers dominated the final 20-minute segment creating four shots and four corner kicks. Samuel Sarver had a chance with Maryland Goalkeeper Laurin Mack off his line but the Maryland defender was able to get back and make a kick save and preserve the shutout. Indiana outshot Maryland 16-14 and Maryland had 7 shots on goal to 5 for Indiana. Indiana Goalkeeper J.T. Harms had 6 Saves and Mack had 4 Saves for Maryland. Indiana had 10 corner kicks to 5 for Maryland. The Hoosiers have 10 regular season games left before the Big Ten Tournament and have been in this position before where they struggle to start the season and finish strong going into postseason play and find success. Indiana is not hitting the panic button yet but with 8 conference games left along with 2 non-conferences battles ahead there is some cause for concern for a team that has found the net 7 times in 8 games and have allowed 8 goals in 8 games.
Bloomington North and Bloomington South Win while Edgewood Struggles on the Road
Week 5 of High School Football saw mother nature make her presence as weather caused delays and postponements around the State of Indiana. Bloomington North beat Terre Haute North 24-14 and Edgewood lost at South Putnam 49-0 in games that were completed Friday Night. Bloomington South had to come back on Saturday Morning to finish their game with Terre Haute South winning 36-34. The Bloomington North Cougars are 4-1 on the season and 3-0 in Conference Indiana while Terre Haute North drops to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in Conference Indiana. Dash King went 7-12 with 64 yards passing and touchdown. King carried the ball 17 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Terre Haute North Running Back Zy’Eiar White carried the ball 23 times for 164 yards and touchdown while catching 3 passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. Joe Luther put the Cougars on top 3-0 with 6:14 left in the first quarter and before Bloomington North kicked off lightning was spotted causing a delay of an hour. Bloomington North led 10-0 at halftime and both teams scored 14 second half points.
The Edgewood Mustangs were shutout for the 2nd time this season as they drop to 2-3 overall while South Putnam improves to 3-2 on the season. The Eagles led 42-0 at halftime as Edgewood threw three first half interceptions. South Putnam scored on a kick return to start the second half to make it 49-0. The game was delayed with 11:22 left in the second quarter as the Eagles led the Mustangs 22-0 at that point and the teams agreed to an abbreviated halftime so they could finish the game. South Putnam led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and dominated the Mustangs from start to finish.
Bloomington South was down 24-21 to Terre Haute South with 1:03 left in the second quarter when the game was postponed to 11 am Saturday Morning. Once the game was resumed Indiana University Football commit Bryce Taylor missed a 50-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter sending the Panthers into the locker room down 3. The Panthers scored with 2:54 left in the Third Quarter to make it 28-24. Terre Haute South hit a 21-yard field goal to make it 28-27 with 9:18 left in the game. Bloomington South scored with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter to make it 36-27 after the two-point conversion. The Braves scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 36-34 with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter and the Panthers held on to improve to 3-2 on the season and 2-1 in Conference Indiana while Terre Haute South is 1-3 on the season and 1-2 in Conference Indiana. Week 6 will see Bloomington North hosting New Albany, Edgewood hosting Indian Creek and Bloomington South Travel to Southport.
Cailtin Clark Named WNBA Rookie of the Month for September
For the fourth time this regular season, Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark has earned WNBA Rookie of the Month honors for the month of September. Clark previously received this recognition in May, July and August and is the seventh player in league history to have been recognized as Rookie of the Month four times. Clark is also a 3-time WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week. In September, Clark averaged 22.5 points, 9.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. Clark led the league in assists and was the league’s second-best scorer in September. For the rookie class, Clark also remained the overall leader in points per game (19.2 ppg), steals per game (1.3 spg), field goals made (242) and minutes per game (35.4 mpg). During the final stretch of regular-season play when Indiana beat the Dallas Wings, 110-109, on Sunday, Clark scored a career-high 35 points on six made 3-point field goals, eight assists, three steals and two rebounds. Also on Sunday, Clark broke the WNBA rookie scoring record and ended the year with 769 points scored. Last Friday during the Fever’s second-consecutive matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, Clark broke the WNBA single-season assists record and ended the regular season with 337 assists.
Indiana Fever fall in their Final Regular Season Game to the Washington Mystics
The Indiana Fever (20-20) came up just short, 92-91, in its final matchup of the regular season against the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena on Thursday night. Thursday’s game was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,711, which set a WNBA record for the largest attendance in league history. Indiana’s bench finished with a season-best 53 points scored, and four Fever players scored in double figures. Fever guard Kristy Wallace led Indiana off the bench with a season-high 17 points and four rebounds. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith followed with 16 points and five rebounds, while center Aliyah Boston and reserve forward Katie Lou Samuelson both added 10 points and combined for seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in the loss. Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark recorded eight points, eight assists and five rebounds in roughly 20 minutes. Clark ended the night with the franchise record for most points scored in a regular season with 769 points. Indiana shot 53.1 percent (33-of-64) from the field and 10-of-20 from 3-point range in the loss and tied a season-high with 28 assists.
Former Indiana University Star Grace Berger played 12 minutes and scored 2 points. Berger went 1-3 form the field, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. Berger played in 11 of the 40 regular season games plying 102 Minutes, 31 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals and committing 12 turnovers. Her 12 minutes are the most she has played in a game since June10, at Connecticut. Indiana led 20-2 to begin the first quarter, but back-to-back 3-point field goals plus a layup from Washington’s side toward the end of the first quarter sparked a 20-4 run from the Mystics and Indiana only led, 24-22, going into the second quarter. The Mystics’ late first-quarter run bled into the second quarter and Washington ultimately led, 52-45, at the half. Indiana was forced to call a timeout after Washington opened up the second half on a 12-3 run, but the Mystics outscored Indiana again, 30-21 and led by 16 points going into the final quarter. The Fever went on a 22-8 surge to end the game and outscored Washington, 25-10, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback effort fueled by the Fever bench.
Five Mystics (14-26) players scored in double-figures in the close win, led by reserve forward Sika Koné’s game-high 20 points on 7-of-10 field goal shooting as well as seven rebounds and two assists. Mystics guard Ariel Atkins and forward Emily Engstler both notched 17 points. Atkins scored 11 of her 17 points in the second quarter alone and also recorded three steals. Engstler tied a season-high in a game with three made 3-point field goals and tallied five rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal, too.
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