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On a night that began with a 35-minute delay due to rainfall, Indiana would cement the effort to start the season 2-0.
There were miscues galore at the start of the game. Idaho would free-kick out of bounds and Indiana would commit a false start penalty at the beginning.
The Hoosiers would get nothing on their first drive. A decent Shaun Shivers run would be wasted as Connor Bazelak would get rid of the ball on third down for a three-and-out.
James Evans would then boom an excellent punt on fourth down, and IU’s Christian Harris would make the tackle around the Idaho five-yard-line. This put Indiana in an excellent position.
Idaho manufactured nothing on the ensuing drive, and a short punt put the Hoosiers in enemy territory on their second drive.
Walt Bell started the game aggressively, converting on a 4th down on Idaho’s side of the field. The throwing game wasn’t reliable, however, as a dropped pass by Andison Coby on the sideline forced a 32-yard field goal, which Charles Campbell would miss.
Deep in Indiana territory, Idaho had another three-and-out. Another shanked punt set Indiana up in enemy territory. Yet again, they didn't make anything out of it.
Charles Campbell missed a 28-yard field goal, but an Idaho holding penalty bailed the Hoosiers out. Walt Bell was aggressive, throwing to Donaven McCulley in the end zone on first down but it fell incomplete. Three consecutive rushes were plugged up by Idaho and Indiana turned the ball over on downs.
Idaho finally got a first down on the ensuing drive. QB Gevani McCoy scrambled on third down and picked up the conversion. The following play, McCoy hit a deep shot for 48 yards to wide receiver Jermaine Jackson. The Idaho QB, McCoy, finished 13-23 with 204 yards and three touchdowns.
The drive slowed down after that play. Idaho wasn't able to convert on third-and-long from the 27 yard line, but a 12-yard pickup would see Idaho go for it on fourth down and they converted.
Idaho cashed in shortly after for the first score of the game, taking a 7-0 lead.
Idaho would free kick it out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff, giving Indiana the ball at the 35. After two plays, running back Josh Henderson fumbled, giving the ball right back to the Vandals who were looking to go up by two scores.
Aaron Casey made an energy-producing tackle for a loss on second down on the next drive. The Hoosiers carried that energy on third down and forced Idaho to punt, but the Indiana offense wasn't able to muster anything up offensively to counter. James Evans would punt back to the Vandals.
From there, chaos ensued. McCoy faked a hard count and the running back behind took a direct snap and tried a jump pass to the tight end.
Tiawan Mullen intercepted the floating pass and ran it back to the Idaho 15-yard line, but a pass interference would not only give the ball back to Idaho but it advanced the ball 15 yards from the previous spot and gave them a first down.
Idaho would get in the end zone two plays later, but an illegal formation penalty brought it back. Indiana would persevere and only let Idaho get a field goal from that point on. The Vandals had a 10-0 lead.
Jaylin Lucas would get a turn in the return game with a 38-yard return to the Indiana 40. A five-yard rush by Shaun Shivers and 11-yard completion to Cam Camper had the drive moving.
But, Connor Bazelak threw a pitiful pass to Cam Camper that soared over his head and into the hands of an Idaho defender.
Teams headed to the locker room shortly after with Idaho leading 10-0.
Idaho’s first drive on offense in the second half yielded nothing. Dasan McCullough would record a sack leading to a Vandal punt.
The ensuing drive started with a 31-yard gasser from Shaun Shivers. The Indiana running back had a career day, finishing with 155 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts.
Two completions for 25 yards to DJ Matthews put Indiana in position to score, and Donaven McCulley took a snap in the wildcat offense and cashed in for. The Hoosiers then trailed 10-7.
Two plays into the Vandal's drive, a bad snap entered the end zone in which Idaho settled for an Indiana safety. Indiana would draw within two points.
The two succeeding offensive drives for the Hoosiers were as big of a flip of the initial script as I’ve seen.
Back-to-back scoring drives, the first being a great play by AJ Barner to stay up after contact and work his way into the end zone for a 43-yard touchdown reception. Barner hauled in three catches for 51 yards. Walt Bell would stay with the hot hand in Connor Bazelak who would strike to Donaven McCulley who would then make a great full-extension catch.
Shaun Shivers followed with a 23-yard rush. Bazelak then hit his favorite target DJ Matthews for a 26-yard touchdown. Indiana took a 23-10 lead. DJ Matthews stayed true to his big-play reputation, recording 51 yards for three receptions.
Idaho was not able to do anything on their next drive, and after punting back to Indiana the Hoosiers marched the ball down the field with Josh Henderson who touched it five times and eventually scored. Indiana took a 29-10 lead after a failed two-point conversion. Henderson rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on seven attempts.
Idaho responded on the following drive, however. A long, methodical 12-play drive aided by a 26-yard reception by Roshaun Johnson set up the Vandals in the red zone for the aforementioned Johnson to score on a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Both teams wasted very little time scoring on their next possessions. Shaun Shivers charged through Idaho’s defensive line for a 46-yard touchdown giving Indiana a 35-16 lead. Gevani McCoy converted a 71-yard touchdown pass to Michael Graves to bring the Vandals within 14.
Indiana would run out the clock from there, wrapping up their second win of the season, 35-22.
Indiana quarterback Connor Bazelak threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 16-29 passing.
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