Crimson Beats Cream In Overtime To Cap Off Spring Game
As Tom Allen sat back and analyzed Indiana's Cream and Crimson teams after the Spring Game draft he couldn't help but think the two teams were even.
And they were.
Redshirt junior running back Alex Rodriguez took in a four-yard touchdown run in overtime to give his Crimson side a 42-36 victory over the Cream team. The dramatic score capped what was otherwise an even scrimmage in front of a few thousand fans at Memorial Stadium to end Allen's first spring as head coach.
"It was an even draft, I thought," Allen said, "and it was an even game."
Although the overtime period wasn't planned, Allen said he never hesitated in deciding the two sides would play until someone won. After all, a steak dinner was on the line for the winning side.
Redshirt junior running back Ricky Brookins fumbled on a pass play he said his Cream side hadn't run ever before on the first possession of overtime. It was a negative end to an otherwise positive night for Brookins, who rattled off quite a few runs opposite of Rodriguez.
Those two, Brookins and Rodriguez, exchanged blows throughout the evening with the rest of the Hoosier tailbacks battling injury. Rodriguez ultimately capitalized on Brookins's rare mistake to win the ballgame in semi-dramatic fashion.
"I feel like IU was showcased tonight," Rodriguez said postgame. "It's not really about me. It's about the team. I think everybody competed well. Everybody did their own thing tonight."
Redshirt freshman quarterback Peyton Ramsey led the Cream team in the winning effort. The reigning offensive scout team player of the year completed 10-of-17 passes for 92 yards, threw a 10-yard touchdown to redshirt freshman receiver Taysir Mack and got picked off by junior safety Jonathan Crawford late in the first half on a Hail Mary try that was more prayer than fault.
Ramsey, a dual-threat passer, also ran in a score for a touchdown. He was active on his feet throughout the game.
Redshirt senior Richard Lagow, the returning starter, completed 20-of-34 passes with a 24-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior Simmie Cobbs and an intercepted pass by redshirt senior cornerback Rashard Fant, who went on to leave the game early with an unknown injury.
The Spring Game only shows so much about a team, but it was clear in the small sample size that Ramsey is going to give Lagow a fight for the starting spot.
And that's exactly what Allen wants.
"We all need that," Allen said. "We all need to be pushed. People need to feel that there is somebody on their heels. That keeps us sharp, keeps us focused. Again, I am not surprised at all with how (Ramsey) played tonight.”
Defensively, Allen said his players competed on both sides of the ball and admitted it’s tougher to analyze teams that have starters split across them. The good thing, he said, was that it was a competitive game.
All-American linebacker Tegray Scales agreed.
"I think it was good," he said. "I got to watch TJ (Simmons) and Mike (McGinnis) from a different angle and just see them compete. I thought it was good."
That sentiment was consistent across the board, as was the competition.
And to the offseason the Hoosiers go.
"I think it was split down the middle," Brookins said of the game. "It came down to catching the ball, making plays when we needed to, especially that last play by me. But yeah, I thought it was a pretty even game. It was a lot of fun."
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