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    • IU football vs Western Illinois numbers: Hoosiers set points record
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    IU football vs Western Illinois numbers: Hoosiers set points record

    Vaseline Posted on

    BLOOMINGTON – As expected, Indiana Football defeated Western Illinois 77-3 on Friday night.

    There would have been nothing particularly special about IU’s performance, given the unassuming nature of its opponent. Still, as recent pre-conference tune-ups go, this one did the trick. IU’s 77 points were the most in program history, as the offense also compiled a record 701 yards.

    Here’s how the Hoosiers (2-0) rated it:

    ATTACK

    B+

    It’s hard to give anything an A when Western Illinois (0-2) saw its losing streak extended to 26 games on Friday night. The Leathernecks were never meant to challenge Indiana, aside from the battle Curt Cignetti himself said last week needed to be waged against the human nature that seeks complacency. But the Hoosiers deserve credit for a clean sweep, if for nothing else. Kurtis Rourke was efficient and effective, finishing with as many incompletions (two) as touchdowns. Both Rourke and Tayven Jackson, as well as three different running backs, scored on the ground. Indiana’s first-team offensive line didn’t allow a sack, and the only one of IU’s first nine drives that didn’t end in a touchdown was the one that ended the first half.

    DEFENSE

    B+

    Same story. Western Illinois was painfully outscored from the start, and it showed. But again, points for effectiveness and efficiency. The Leathernecks converted just a third of the first half, and Indiana finished with six sacks in all four quarters. Western Illinois’ first five offensive drives lasted just three plays each. Cignetti seemed more irritated by the field goal his defense allowed late in the first half, the only points his first-team team allowed all night.

    SPECIAL TEAMS

    B

    There’s really not much to judge here. Indiana didn’t ask much of its special teams on Friday night, and what was asked was clean and without incident. Fumbles after points were converted. No one messed up a point or kick. One kickoff bounced out of bounds, but that didn’t matter much in the end.

    COACHING

    A

    Indiana won Cignetti’s battle against human nature in a landslide. Crucially, the Hoosiers performed well enough and, frankly, scored quickly enough to distribute snaps to second- and third-teamers who needed the work far more than the starters on Friday. Overall, IU appeared healthy coming out of its Week 2 win, with James Bomba’s leg injury the only glaring concern coming out of Friday’s win. There will be tougher and more important games than this one, but Indiana did more than it needed to on Friday.

    PLAYER OF THE GAME

    Elijah Sarratt, wide receiver

    Considering the level of competition, this was the Sarratt that had Indiana fans so excited out of the portal. He caught six passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, all from Rourke. His longest was a 71-yard touchdown on a one-play, nine-second drive that ended with the Hoosiers’ third touchdown. After a sluggish start on offense last week against Florida International, it must have been encouraging to see Rourke connect so smoothly with some of his top targets, none more so than Sarratt.

    GAME OF THE GAME

    There was none, at least none that were substantially more noteworthy than any of the others. Western Illinois was never a match for IU in this game, but nights like this — when 123-year-old records fall — don’t come around often, especially for this program. There’s nothing wrong with wearing them with pride, as a team, before we quickly turn the page on next weekend’s crucial trip to UCLA.

    Listen to Mind Your Banners, our podcast about IU Athletics, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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