BLOOMINGTON — The longest win streak (19 video games) within the FBS remains to be intact, however Northwestern made l work for it.
The No.4 Hoosiers (4-0) closed out a 29-23 victory on Friday evening after the Wildcats got here storming again within the second half due to a powerful efficiency from quarterback Aiden Chiles.
Chiles, who allowed a security by dropping a snap on the primary play of the sport, put a mistake-filled first half efficiency within the rearview mirror to make a bought out crowd at Memorial Stadium sweat out a victory. David Braun's staff was a 2-point conversion away from night the rating, however Lee Beebe Jr.'s monster fourth quarter helped the Hoosiers pull by.
Right here's a report card for Friday's win.
Extra: n
OFFENSE: C-
a's offense has felt like Jekyll and Hyde far too typically this season. The run sport is increase or bust, with lengthy droughts in between explosive performs. Josh Hoover seems to be out of sync along with his receivers one second to throwing dimes the following. He reeled off six straight completions on consecutive performs on a scoring drive within the second quarter, however that model of Hoover solely made a cameo on Friday evening. Whereas IU's offense put collectively a pair of essential scoring drives within the fourth quarter, Northwestern bailed the Hoosiers out with penalties each occasions.
DEFENSE: C+
Within the first half, Indiana's protection pitched one other shutout and even outscored Northwestern by coming by with a security. The Hoosiers bullied the Wildcats up entrance and held them to 51 whole yards going into halftime. It initially seemed like extra of the identical within the third quarter till Northwestern quarterback Aiden Chiles transformed a third-and-13 on a scramble. The unlikely conversion gave the Wildcats life with Chiles making it a one possession sport by throwing a 4-yard landing to Griffin Wilde on fourth down. He acquired right into a rhythm after that — and eventually acquired a little bit of time to throw — with Chip Kelly's patented no-huddle offense placing stress on Indiana's cross protection.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B-
Nico Radicic, who returned to the lineup after lacking two video games with a rib, went 2-of-2 on subject purpose makes an attempt. Having some of the constant kickers within the FBS is a pleasant weapon to have on particular groups. The one damaging got here when Lee Beebe Jr. muffed a kick return within the third quarter that IU was capable of recuperate. Two weeks in the past, Tyler Morris misplaced his punt return job when he had points fielding the ball. The ball will stand out since Cignetti talked concerning the significance of ball safety on particular groups all through the week.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Lee Beebe Jr.
Beebe saved IU's undefeated season.
He had a career-high in makes an attempt and dashing yards to rescue a listless offense within the closing quarter-hour. It began with a 38-yard achieve within the third quarter that gave IU the burst of vitality it wanted. He adopted that up with a 4-yard landing on a run that seemed like it could be stopped for no achieve.
Beebe bounced to the skin and got here by with a 4-yard rating to make it a two-possession sport. Beebe topped 100 yards for the second time this season on an evening the place he needed to carry a lot of the workload himself .
After Northwestern answered with a rating, he opened IU's ensuing possession with a 70-yard achieve to get the offense proper again into the crimson zone.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Occasions. You possibly can comply with him on X okay.
This text initially appeared on The Herald-Occasions: n
