Hoosiers Start off Season on Right Note, blast Towson 51-17
The first football game of the 2010 season started out big for the Hoosiers because there wasn’t any other way for it to start. With a win of the coin toss, IU started off with good fortune that lasted throughout the game against FCS opponent Towson University, defeating the Tigers 51-17. Ben Chappell, senior quarterback and Big Ten Johnny Unitas Golden Arm nominee, could not have seemed any more relaxed while running IU's pistol offense, ending the night having thrown for 182 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
After the first possession of the game ended with a three and out by IU, an interception by senior linebacker Tyler Replogle halted Towson’s first drive. The next drive for IU saw Chappell connect with TE Ted Bolser for a 12-yard pass resulting in the night’s first touchdown.
On the following Towson drive, quarterback Chris Hart was intercepted for the second time in the game, this time by former offensive player Mitchell Evans.
IU then benefitted from a 49-yard touchdown run, courtesy of running back Darius Willis, who finished off the run with a backwards dive into the endzone
The Hoosiers held Towson at bay on their next possession and quickly received the ball back. Using Bolser, Willis, and Damarlo Belcher, Chappell was able to get downfield, with the Hoosiers settling for a Nick Freeland field goal. Towson then turned up the offense in the second quarter and scored twice and closed the scoring gap. With the score suddenly 17-14, everyone in the stadium was nervous.
Fortunately for the Memorial Stadium crowd, IU responded with three big touchdowns, one each by RB Trey Burgess, WR Demarlo Belcher, and a second from Willis., who had over 100 yards in the first half alone. The score at the end of the first half was 38 – 14 Hoosiers.
The third quarter saw the Hoosiers’ first possession end with a field goal by Nick Freeland who was 2-2 on the night from 24 and 36 yards. Towson tried one more time in a valiant effort to get the game close, but IU cornerback Matt Ernest, another former offensive player, stopped Towson’s momentum for good with a pick six of 56 yards. The Hoosier defense came up big in the second half, with the only points that the Tigers scored coming off a field goal by Nick Wallace in the fourth quarter.
Indiana was 6 of 6 in the red zone for the game.. Chappell looked like he could have thrown more touchdowns and exceeded his 182-yard total for the night. Dusty Kiel also saw playing time, but only completed 1 of 5 passes for 21 yards.
Photography by Samantha Dewig
