Quarterback Richard Lagow passed for 240 yards in his in debut, leading the Hoosiers to a 34-13 win over Florida International University on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
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It was the first time since 1966 that IN had two interception returns for touchdowns IN the same game.
“I’m curious to see how he reacts in a game”, said in coach Kevin Wilson, whose team beat FIU 36-22 past year.
The Hoosiers kept the Panthers in check offensively, with FIU gaining just 331 yards.
Despite a fast start and putting up three points on the board first, junior quarterback Alex McGough had a rough game, finishing the night completing 49 percent of his passes and throwing three interceptions.
Along with the defense coming up, IU was also led by new quarterback Richard Lagow, who was 18-of-27 in his first college start with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Also, running back Devine Redding recorded 133 rushing yards on 21 carries. He ran for one touchdown and passed for another.
He led the Panthers to the IN 11-yard line, but FIU ultimately settled for a 24-yard field goal by senior kicker Austin Taylor to take a 3-0 lead. Austin Taylor converted on a 24-yard field goal after a McGough pass into the end zone narrowly missed its target, tight end Jonnu Smith.
IN turned the momentum in an odd way -with a punt.
IN was without six players against FIU. Hurd won the scramble for the loose ball in the end zone to give the Volunteers their only lead of the night. The Panthers also gave up a safety after a holding penalty in their own territory.
The Hoosiers got the ball back and took their first lead on a 22-yard field goal by junior Griffin Oakes.
The fourth quarter, however, was all Indiana. Mitch Leidner was erratic as ever in going 13-for-26 for 130 yards.
Two plays later, IN junior cornerback Rashard Fant intercepted McGough’s pass, returning the ball 34 yards for a touchdown. The betting line rose significantly in the proceeding week, from a meager 3-point line in favor of in, to nine by kickoff.
FIU answered with its first TD of the season, a one-yard run by running Alex Gardner. That drive was ignited by a perfectly placed 40-yard pass by McGough, dropping the ball over the IN defense and into the hands of freshman wide receiver Stan Thomas. McGough lobbed the ball perfectly.
FIU took advantage and drove for a Taylor 29-yard field goal and a 13-12 lead. Jonathan Crawford made some big plays in the second, the linebacker play with Scales and Marcus Oliver was stellar and the Hoosiers were able to put decent pressure on FIU quarterback Alex McGough throughout the game.
In the past 13 seasons, IN has won 12 season openers.
But Lagow connected with Daniel Friend on a 21-yard touchdown pass to put IN on top for good, capped the next Hoosiers drive with a 6-yard scoring run and Tegray Scales ended all doubt with a 16-yard interception return for another score. The reality is there couldn’t have been half that many fans in the stands, and in actually may have had more supporters than the home team.
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The Hoosiers jumped out 12-3 in the second after Fant’s touchdown with 13 minutes left in the second.
