No. 23 Indiana (2-0) put its first-game red-zone woes behind it and rode a strong offensive performance to a 56-9 victory over Kennesaw State (0-2) on Saturday afternoon at Merchants Bank Field inside Memorial Stadium.
Indiana redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza finished 18-for-25 passing for 245 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, while senior receiver Elijah Sarratt hauled in three scores. The Hoosiers, who tallied 309 yards on the ground in Week 1, rushed for 313 yards on 39 attempts Saturday.
Defensively, Indiana was feast-or-famine. The Hoosiers allowed five passing plays that went for at least 19 yards, including three that went for at least 30 yards, though one ended with a fumble and was subsequently recovered by Indiana. However, the Hoosiers collected 14 tackles for loss, and 10 players had at least one stop in the backfield.
The outcome was never really in doubt.
After both sides started with three-and-outs, Indiana’s offense delivered the first punch.
The Hoosiers marched 81 yards on eight plays in just over three-and-a-half minutes, and tight end Riley Nowakowski — formerly a fullback at Wisconsin — capped the drive with a one-yard rushing score on 3rd and 1. It marked Nowakowski’s second career touchdown and first on the ground in his 41st college appearance.
Through Kennesaw State’s first two drives, totalling just six plays, Indiana’s defense forced four tackles for loss. Safety Amare Ferrell also nearly intercepted a quick-hitting pass by Owls quarterback Dexter Williams II, a former Hoosier.
Indiana scored another touchdown on its third possession. Mendoza threw a jump ball to receiver Sarratt in the right corner of the endzone, and Sarratt hauled in the catch through contact, finishing a six-play, 48-yard drive with a nine-yard score.
The Hoosiers’ next two drives ended without points, one with a punt from near midfield and the other with a turnover on downs from the Owls’ 27-yard line. Indiana scored its third touchdown with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, as redshirt junior running back Lee Beebe Jr. found the endzone on an 11-yard run.
Kennesaw State scored field goals on its final two possessions of the first half. The Owls pieced together a 12-play, 63-yard drive and a seven-play, 64-yard drive to keep their deficit at 21-6 entering halftime.
Indiana dominated the second half. The Hoosiers scored touchdowns on their first five drives after the break, and after an opening-series 50-yard field goal, the Owls didn’t score.
The Hoosiers return to action at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Indiana State at Merchants Bank Field inside Memorial Stadium.