IU Pulls Out Tight Defensive Struggle at Navy

The Hoosiers traveled to Annapolis, MD on Saturday to take on the Midshipmen from the Naval Academy. And what looked like could have been disastrous for the Indiana run defense turned out to be a disaster alright...but for Navy. The IU defense held the vaunted Navy rushing attack to only 121 yards on the day on 30 carries, while the offense scored just enough to win by the score of 14-6.

On Navy's first play from scrimmage, they ran an option play and the QB was able to gain 51 yards, immediately putting the pressure on the Indiana defense. But as they have been doing so far this season, they did not break. They forced a chip shot 26 yard field goal attempt, which was good, to put Navy up 3-0. On the ensuing drive, using the arms and legs of Blake Powers and Demetrius McCray, Indiana sucked 5:38 off the clock on a 15 play, 68 yard drive capped by a QB sneak for the Hoosiers first rushing touchdown of the season. This is how the score would stay, as both defenses seemed to be able to stop the other offenses just before they reached scoring territory. Just before halftime, Navy was able to kick through a 43 yard field goal to cut the Indiana lead to 1, 7-6.

After half time, IU gave the ball to Navy on a fumble, but Navy could not capitalize and had to punt. Then, on the very next play, Powers hit Andrew Means on an arrow route. It caught Navy in a blitz and the man assigned to Means got held up in crossing traffic, allowing Means to scamper all the way down the sideline for a 73 yard touchdown. Indiana led 14-6.

This would usually be the point where I'd print something about how Navy responded with a long score, or at least a score of some sort. But they could not. With the Hoosiers stacking the box with 8 or 9 guys on every play and basically daring the Middies to throw, Navy's stubbornness got the best of them. They threw only 13 passes to their 30 running plays, which is typical of a Navy offense. But most of the running plays were running into a brick wall, namely the IU defense. Navy's inital play gained them 51 rushing yards. On their next 29 carried, they only gained 80 yards.

Navy did have one chance with just over a minute to go, but their 4th down option was stopped for a loss, and Indiana took over and was able to run out the clock.

Indiana welcomes Connecticut into Memorial Stadium next week.