Final: Indiana 34, Ball State 24
Indiana entered its first game of the 2019 season with a new starting quarterback in redshirt freshman Mike Penix and a new offensive coordinator in Kalen DeBoer. Those offensive changes were on display throughout the first half of IU's matchup with Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium and continued into the second half, despite settling for four field goals. Indiana defeated Ball State, 34-24, to begin its season with a victory.
9:44 1Q: Mike Penix guided the Hoosiers down the field incrementally during his first drive as IU's starting quarterback. He hit four different receivers – Stevie Scott, Whop Philyor, Ty Fryfogle and Peyton Hendershot – going 5-of-7 for 57 yards before the drive stalled in Ball State territory. Logan Justus hit a 48-yard field goal to put IU up 3-0.
3:30 1Q: Ball responded immediately after surrendering the scoring drive to IU by stringing together a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The Hoosiers were able to tighten up near their goalline, and Ball State tied the game at 3-3 with a short field goal.
2:41 1Q: After a short run by Scott, Penix made the pass that IU fans were hoping to see form him. Nick Westbrook ran a skinny post behind Ball State's defense, and after a play action fake, he wound up and hit his receiver for 75 yards and a score to put Indiana up, 10-3.
End 1Q: IU led, 10-3, at the end of the first quarter. Penix was 8-of-11 for 144 yards, a touchdown and an interception he threw just before the break.
14:00 2Q: After Penix's interception, Ball State worked its way into the redzone with a 28-yard pass and catch that set up a short-yardage score by Ball State running back Caleb Huntley. The Cardinals tied the game, 10-10.
10:56 2Q: IU had driven into shallow Ball State territory until Penix delivered a ball toward Fryfogle, who had stumbled out of his break and created an easy opportunity for a Cardinal defender to pick it off. It was the second consecutive drive ended by interception.
3:12 2Q: After forcing a turnover on downs, IU drove 57 yards on 11 plays, including three rushes from Penix and a dropped touchdown pass by Philyor. The Hoosiers settled for a 30-yard field goal to retake the lead, 13-10.
0:01 2Q: After taking a shot to Donavan Hale deep into the endzone, IU trotted out Justus to kick his third field goal of the game, this one from 49 yards out. IU led 16-10.
Halftime: Indiana led, 16-10, at halftime.
11:53 3Q: On IU's first drive of the second half with a chance to pull away, the Hoosiers drove 63 yards in seven plays in less than three minutes featuring a double reverse to Philyor for 22 yards. The drive was capped by Scott's first score of the season on a four-yard run to extend the lead, 23-10.
8:34 3Q: Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt dumped a ball off into the middle of the field to running back Walter Fletcher, and Micah McFadden pursued in defense but missed the easy tackle. Fletcher took off for the sideline and scored from 45 yards out. Ball State pulled within one score, 26-27.
End 3Q: Just before the end of the third quarter, Nick Westbrook got wide open behind the Ball State defense again. Penix didn't put a perfect throw on Westbrook, but the senior wideout dropped the ball inside Ball State's redzone, fumbling what would have been a 40-plus-yard play. IU maintained possession through the change in quarters with a 23-17 lead.
13:47 4Q: Scott punched his way up the middle of the line for his second score of the game. IU pushed its way toward the goalline on a 22-yard pass to Hendershot, who pushed his performance to 59 yards on three catches. IU called a reverse pass from David Ellis to Hendershot to pull ahead by fourteen 31-17.
10:51 4Q: Ball State misses a 42-yard field goal to remain trailing 31-17.
6:28 4Q: Marcelino Ball charged in to defend a pass near the sideline but didn't reach the receiver in time. There was no help above for Ball, and Yo'Heinz Tyler took the ball into the endzone to pull within one score again, 31-24.
2:15 4Q: Logan Justus connected on his fourth field goal of the game with his longest of the day, at 50 yards. The score gave IU another two-score lead, 34-24.
Final: IU defeated Ball State, 34-24.
Mike Penix: 24-40, 326 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 67 rushing yards
Stevie Scott: 19 carries, 59 yards, 2 touchdowns
Nick Westbrook: 3 catches, 103 yards, 1 touchdown
Whop Philyor: 6 catches, 66 yards
Peyton Hendershot: 4 catches, 69 yards
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