Local Sports News: October 21, 2024

Indiana University Football Dominates Nebraska to remain unbeaten With the national spotlight on the Indiana Hoosiers Football team the 16th ranked Hoosiers delivered with a 56-7 dominating win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers before a sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd of 53, 802 Saturday Afternoon in Bloomington for a very happy Homecoming on the Indiana University Campus. Indiana is 7-0 for just the second time in program history and first time since 1967. The Hoosiers are 4-0 in the Big Ten and it’s the first time since 2020 that Indiana has won 4 Big Ten Games in a season. it’s the 14th time in program history that the Hoosiers have won 4 Conference games in a season since joining the Big Ten in Football in 1952. Before the Big Ten Indiana had won 4 or more games in the Western Conference 3 Times before that. Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti is 126-35 in 14 seasons overall and remains the only coach at IU and in the FBS this season to remain unbeaten in his first season as Hoosier Head Coach.  Indiana will look to tie the 1967 team for the best start in school history as they host the Washington Huskies at Noon Saturday.

Nebraska drops to 5-2 and 2-2 in the Big Ten.  The Cornhuskers were the only team that had not allowed a rushing touchdown all season and the Hoosiers scored 5 of them with 2 by Justice Ellison along with Ty Son Lawton Kaelon Black and Elijah Green as the Hoosiers ran the ball 33 times for 215 yards. Freshman Quarterback Dylan Raiola went 28-44 234 yards and threw 3 interceptions. Indiana brought the pressure all game on Raiola sacking him twice and overthrowing his receivers. The Nebraska running game struggled as the Huskers ran the ball 29 times for 70 yards and 1 touchdown as Jacory Barney Jr from 7 yards out with 7:03 left in the second quarter. Thomas Fidone II led the Huskers with 6 catches for 91 yards. Nebraska finished with 304 yards of offense, 20 first downs, 7-16 on 3rd down conversions and 0-5 on fourth downs and 75 plays. The Huskers had the ball for 32 minutes and 8 seconds and went 1-4 in the red zone.  Nebraska had 5 turnovers on offense with 2 fumbles adding to the three interceptions.

Kurtis Rourke was 17-21 for 189 yards with a touchdown and interception. Tayven Jackson came in the third quarter and was 7-8 for 91 yards and 2 touchdown passes. Justice Ellison threw an incomplete pass. Ellison had 9 carries for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Indiana offense continues to score early and often and has not trailed in a game this season along with Army who beat East Carolina 42-28 to improve to 7-0 on the season just like Indiana. The Hoosiers have scored 341 points and allowed 96 in 7 games. Indiana is averaging 48.7 points on offense and giving up 13.7 points on defense.  Indiana had 24 first downs, 5-9 on third downs and 1-2 on fourth down conversions. Indiana ran 63 plays and went 7-7 in the red zone. The Hoosiers controlled the ball for 27 minutes and 52 seconds. The Hoosiers have scored over 40 points in six straight games and continue to change the narrative of past Hoosier Football performances.

Indiana took the ball first and scored led 7-0 after Justice Ellison’s first touchdown run with 9:35 left in the first quarter. Indiana is the only team in the FBS not to allowed their opponents to score in the first quarter the entire season. Rourke was sacked once on the day threw his only touchdown pass on a 7-yard play to Myles Price with 13:37 left in the second quarter to go up 14-0. After Nebraska scored to make it 14-7 with 7:40 left in the second quarter. The Hoosiers took control scoring two rushing touchdowns go up 28-7 heading into the locker room. Indiana added four more touchdowns 2 in each quarter as the Hoosiers had 495 yards of offense with a balanced attack of 280 passing yards and 215 rushing yards.

Indiana beat Nebraska 54-14 in 1945 and this was the largest margin of victory for the Hoosiers since that 40-point win over Nebraska in 1945. Indiana leads the series 11-9-3 and now tied 3-3-1 in games played in Bloomington. Indiana ties the largest margin of victory ever against a Big Ten Opponent when the Hoosiers won 49-0 over Minnesota in 1945. Both Indiana and Nebraska were coming off bye weeks and for Indiana the week of rest just refueled the Hoosiers for the stretch run with five more Big Ten Games left and more national attention focused what is becoming one of the biggest turnarounds in College Football.

Hoosier Hysteria kicks off Indiana University Basketball Season Friday Night before a big football game on campus was the official kickoff to Basketball Season for the Indiana University Women’s and Men’s Basketball Programs as Hoosier Hysteria commenced before a big crowd in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Bloomington Native Tricia Whitaker was the emcee for the event. Whitaker is a sideline reporter for Major League Baseball coverage on Apple TV and MLB Network. “This is my Super Bowl” Whitaker told the crowd. “Does not matter how many games I cover in Yankee Stadium, this is home”. Whitaker is an IU Graduate, Bloomington North Graduate attending Binford Elementary and Tri North Middle School and Said “Sorry Anthony Leal wherever you are it’s Cougar Time tonight not Panther Time” referring to the fifth-year senior being a Bloomington South graduate.

The Women’s team was introduced with each player coming out to their own music and thrown out T-Shirt. Sharneece Currie-Jelks came out with her baby after missing most of last season. Yarden Garzon came out with the Israeli Flag draped around her and PA Announcer Jeremy Gray introduced her as Yarden “Shalosh” Garzon which the trademark announcement when she buries a three at home. Teri Moren came out to a John Mellencamp song which is tradition for her being Seymour, Indiana native.  Moren talked with Tricia Whitaker after introductions and talked about what being the Indiana Women’s Basketball head coach means to her. “Everybody knows how much I love this place, and we have the best fans in the country” Moren Said. “This group is hungry, and we had a bitter defeat to the National Champions South Carolina, and we haven’t forgotten that, and it motivates us every day”. Moren added. Indiana was one of the leaders in attendance last season and Moren expects that trend to continue this season. “There is no reason why we can’t fill this place up every night so please come out and support us.”   

The Men’s team was introduced and Transfers Myles Rice and Oumar Ballo showed off their dance moves and Langdon Hatton is from Georgetown; Indiana came out to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” which is song that Teri Moren normally comes out to, but she used another Mellencamp song instead. The Coaching Staff wore the scrip Indiana Warmup and the Candy Stripe pants since there are three former Hoosiers on Staff with Bloomington Native Jordan Hulls, Calbert Cheaney who is the Big Ten’s All-Time leading scorer and head coach Mike Woodson. Woodson talked with Whitaker and Indiana Basketball and its fanbase does not change from the time he played to being back as head coach “45 years ago, I left this gym with a big ten title, and it never changes, and we have the best fans in college Basketball” Woodson said.  Woodson knows what the goal is and he feels good with the team he has brought in. “We have the opportunity to win a Big Ten Title and I love this team and we have lot of work to do, we got a whole new team” Woodson Said. When players take a visit to Indiana Mike Woodson make its clear to them what the vision is for this program “trying to win a big ten title and national title that’s the only thing I sell” Woodson said. “it’s not about me its about what Bob Knight built, there is nothing else more for me do but win a Big Ten Title and National Title and would mean the world to me but would mean more to the fans because that is what it’s all about.”

The Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff Show is in town and Rob Stone, Matt Leinart, Mark Ingram, Brady Quinn and Urban Meyer made an appearance at Hoosier Hysteria and thew out t shirts and Leinart put up some shots and hyped up the crowd.  Mark Ingram who won the Heisman Trophy at The University of Alabama was recruited by Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti and said Indiana fans are an “Extended Family.  The crew is impressed by Indiana Football and the start Curt Cignetti has had here and Rob Stone told the crowd that the Hoosiers are “Going to make the College Football Playoff.” Former Notre Dame Quarterback Brady Quinn said that there is always a Cinderella story every year in College Football and he said IU is that Cinderella story this year. 

It was time for the competitions Myles Rice and Karoline Striplin won the Skills contest, Shay Ciezki won the Women’s Three Point Contest and Sydney Parrish won the Knockout competition as both the skills and knockout competition involved students as well.  The men had a 12-minute scrimmage as Illinois transfer and Fort Wayne Native Luke Goode showed his three-point range and Oumar Ballo showed his presence inside.  Mackenize Mgbako banked in a three pointer as the scrimmage ended in 29-29 tie. Sydney Parrish who has done sideline work for Big Ten Network plus did interview with Penn State transfer Shay Ciezki and after playing on the other side for two years her choice to come here was simple. “It’s Indiana Basketball and the sky is limit for this team” Ciezki said. Indiana is ranked in Football, Men’s and Women’s Basketball all for the first time in the same week and the excitement on Campus and around Bloomington is Buzzing because winning is infectious.

Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Soccer Handle Michigan State Spartans for Todd Yeagley’s 200th Indiana Victory On top of a fourth consecutive victory and three points in the conference race, most of all Indiana men’s soccer (7-3-5, 5-1-2 B1G) celebrated head coach Todd Yeagley’s 200th victory as leader of the program Friday night on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Since 2010 – his first season as head coach of IU men’s soccer – Yeagley is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men’s soccer. In that time, he has led Indiana to a national title – in 2012 – and 10 Big Ten Championships. Yeagley’s team stretched its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 3-1 win over Michigan State (5-6-2, 4-3-0 B1G). Graduate forward Justin Weiss’ third goal in two games and senior midfielder Patrick McDonald’s penalty gave Indiana a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes before the Spartans answered with a penalty of their own. Six minutes into the second half, senior forward Samuel Sarver restored the two-goal lead with a long-distance strike. For the moment, Indiana sits atop the Big Ten standings with 17 points through eight conference games played. Maryland (16 points) and Ohio State (13) are heavy contenders, both having played six matches in league play.

In the 22nd minute Justin Weiss opened the scoring from a throw-in as senior defender Jansen Miller nodded junior defender Quinton Elliot’s long toss across goal and into Weiss’ path. The forward stuck his left foot out and punched the ball into the back of the net. 18 minutes later Weiss shot deflected off the hand of a Michigan State defender inside the box, winning a penalty for Indiana. McDonald banged it down the middle from the spot as the goalkeeper dove right. In the 42nd Minute Patrick McDonald was on the wrong side of a penalty call moments later as a cross hit his upper arm. Play resumed, but the penalty was given after review. Junior midfielder Cristiano Bruletti converted the try and cut IU’s lead in half. In the 51st minute Samuel Sarver worked a defender into the box, used Elliot’s run alongside him to cause the defender to hesitate and fired from the corner of the box, through the keeper’s fingertips and into the far corner. 13 minutes later Senior goalkeeper JT Harms made a save diving to his left to keep the two-goal lead intact. Harms totaled four saves in the match.

Todd Yeagley previously celebrated 200 career victories following last season’s Sweet 16 win at Virginia. Yeagley won seven games in 2009 as head coach of Wisconsin before returning to Indiana as head coach the next year. During its seven-game unbeaten streak, in which the Hoosiers have a 5-0-2 record, IU has scored 20 goals – an average of 2.86 goals per game. The 3-1 victory extends Indiana’s run of multi-goal performances to seven matches, its longest such streak since 2001. Amidst that run, Indiana is 5-0-1 during the month of October. Over the last four years, Indiana is 22-4-6 (.781) in the month of October. IU owns a 313-56-41 (.813) October record all-time. Indiana’s 5-1-2 Big Ten record is its best through eight games since its 2019 and 2020-21 Big Ten regular season championship seasons, when it posted 7-1-0 league marks. IU won a share of the title with a 4-2-2 record last season.

Michigan State’s penalty kick goal snapped IU’s run of 276 minutes without conceding after consecutive shutouts of Penn State and Michigan. Indiana has scored from a throw-in in three consecutive matches. Weiss scored his third goal in two matches after opening his IU account Tuesday night at Michigan. Weiss and Sarver both recorded goal No. 22 of their careers, matching senior forward Tommy Mihalic as the team’s active career scoring leaders. Sarver’s goal comes as his fourth G/A in as many games. The senior had two assists in the Michigan match and another helper a week before versus Kentucky. Jansen Miller, the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, tallied his third assist in four games. Quinton Elliot has three G/A in two games after scoring a goal and providing an assist in Tuesday’s match. Indiana will travel cross country for its final Big Ten road match as the Hoosiers are set to face Big Ten Conference newcomer UCLA Friday night in Los Angeles. The meeting matches up NCAA Division I men’s soccer’s winningest programs by wins (UCLA – 1,027) and by percentage (Indiana – .773). Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET, and fans can watch the match on the Big Ten Network.

Bloomington South and Bloomington North Win while Edgewood Falls in the Final Regular Season Game Week 9 of High School Football Friday Night saw Bloomington South beat Seymour 42-6 Bloomington North handled Southport 48-14 and Brown County take back the Hoof and Talon Trophy with a 20-18 win over Edgewood.

Bloomington South led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter and led 35-0 at halftime. The Panthers scored with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter to make it 42-0 as the Owls scored their first points of the game late in the quarter. Bloomington South ends the regular season at 5-4 and they will have the week before getting ready for their Class 5A Sectional 15 Semifinal game at Terre Haute South on November 1. The Panthers beat the 2-6 Braves 36-34 at Bloomington South on September 21. Bloomington North led 45-0 at halftime as Southport outscored the Cougars 14-3 in the second half. Bloomington North finishes the regular season at 7-2 for first year Head Coach Anthony Lindsey. Bloomington North will have the week off before getting ready for their Class 5A Sectional Semifinal game at Terre Haute North on November 1. The Cougars will make their second trip to Terre Haute North after beating the 2-7 Patriots 24-14 on September 20.

Edgewood led 3-0 after a 25 yard after by Seth Chase with 7:59 left in the first quarter. Brown County scored 2 touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 14-3 at halftime. Edgewood scored on 13-yard touchdown run by Braxton Carpenter and a 2-point conversion made it 14-11 Brown County scored Landon Scott scored on an 88-yard kickoff return and extra point was blocked to make it 20-11. Michael Law scored with 21.4 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 20-18. Brown County ended the game with an 18-yard run by Tommy Buccos to end the game and give the Eagles the Hoof and Talon trophy for the first time since 2021. Edgewood finishes the regular season 2-7 and will travel to Indian Creek for the first round of the Class 3A 31 on Friday to face 4-5 Indian Creek. Indian Creek beat Edgewood 43-14 on the red carpet in Ellettsville on September 28.

Bloomington South Boys Soccer takes down Castle in Overtime for Class 3A Regional Championship The Number 7 ranked Bloomington South Panthers took down the Number 12 ranked Castle Knights 2-1 in 2 overtimes Saturday afternoon at Seymour High School for the Class 3A Regional Championship. The Panthers advanced to the Class 3A Semi State Championship Game on Saturday evening at 6 pm at Martinsville to face the Southport Cardinals. The Panthers are 19-1 on the season and it is their first Regional Title since 2018 and sixth in program history. Bloomington South led 1-0 as Gus Hanjorgris scored in the 62nd minutes to put the up.  Bloomington South led for 75 minutes, and Castle tied the game with 4:35 left in regulation on the Isaiah Goodge equalizer to send the match to two 7-minute overtime periods, Tom Henry Berry scored the game winner to lead the Panthers to the win.  The Panthers beat #1 Center Grove 2-0 in the Regional Semifinal Thursday Night at Bloomington South to advance to the Championship game. The Panthers only loss of the season came to the Trojans 3-0 in the second game of the regular season. Mateo Soto scored two minutes into the match and Konrad Polit added the second goal with 3:25 left to avenge their only regular season loss.

Bloomington South Girls, Bloomington North Boys Take-home Cross Country-Sectional Titles The Bloomington South Panthers Girls Cross Country team won their 3rd straight Sectional Title and 17th overall with a score of 24at the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional Saturday Morning. Bloomington North finished second with a team score of 53 and will advance to the regional along with Eastern Greene, Bedford North Lawrence and Mitchell to round out the top 5 teams. Lexi Kollbaum of Bloomington South won the Individual Sectional Title. Edgewood finished second with 62 points at the Brown County Sectional and will advance to Regional on Saturday. Columbus North won the Sectional Title with a score of 22 and Seymour, Martinsville and Jennings County round out the top five and The Regional will take place at Angel Mounds in Evansville Hosted by Evansville Mater Dei at 11:30 AM Bloomington time which is 10:30 AM in Evansville.

The Bloomington North Cougars won the Boys Cross Country Sectional Championship with a score of 19 as the Cougars have won five straight sectional titles and 25 in school history. Bloomington South finished second with 62 as Brownstown Central, Bedford North Lawrence and Orleans round out the top five and all advance to the Regional on Saturday. Junior Jacob Mitchell of Bloomington North won the Individual Sectional Title.  Edgewood finished second with 45 points at the Brown County Sectional to advance to Regional. Columbus North won the title with 30 points as Seymour, Jennings County and Columbus East round out the top five and The Regional will take place at Angel Mounds in Evansville Hosted by Evansville Mater Dei at 12:15 PM Bloomington time which is 11:15 AM in Evansville.