The Hoosiers take the field for their season opener against second-ranked Ohio State Thursday night, August 31, at IU Memorial Stadium. Despite leading 14-13 at the half, Indiana fell short to the Buckeyes, 49-21. Photos by Rodney Margison
BY MARK MOTZ
There are no moral victories, but…
Indiana University head football coach Tom Allen (see Bloom‘s August/September 2017 cover story here) entered his first full season at the helm Thursday night, August 31, against second-ranked Ohio State University. Under the glare of the national spotlight–including his predecessor, Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson, and former IU head coach Lee Corso and ESPN Game Day–the Hoosiers didn’t blink.
In fact, IU led 14-13 at the half before a sellout audience of 52,929.
However, Ohio State true freshman J.K. Dobbins ran for a first-game record 178 yards and a touchdown to help the Buckeyes to a 49-21 win.
Junior wide receiver Simmie Cobbs impressed for IU with 11 catches, 149 yards, and a touchdown. Quarterback Richard Lagow threw for 410 yards on 40-for-65 passing, but the Hoosiers posted just 17 yards on the ground.
OSU took the lead with 6:57 left in the third quarter when Heisman Trophy candidate J.T. Barrett scored on a two-yard run to put the Buckeyes up 20-14.
Indiana bounced back the ensuing series when Lagow hit Ian Thomas for his second TD and a 21-20 lead. But Barrett found junior Parris Campbell for a 74-yard score on the next play from scrimmage and the Buckeyes never relinquished the lead.
VIEW OUR PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME
(PHOTOS BY RODNEY MARGISON)
