BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –Â Indiana needed a spark, a big play, a moment to rip away Old Dominion’s momentum and start playing to its potential.
Jonathan Brady delivered.
His 91-yard first-quarter punt return for a touchdown – a combination of patience, vision, judgment, and speed – jump-started the Hoosiers to a 27-14 season-opening victory at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.
“You think of it like backyard football you’d play as kids,” Brady said. “Once you get the ball in your hands, and the return team sets up perfect blocks, you have to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Brady did, and if it came without dominant team performance, it gave head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff plenty of coaching points.
“It’s good to get a win,” he said. “It’s hard to win, but I guarantee you, everybody in our organization knows we didn’t play as well as we want to. That’s a flat-out fact.
“I was not pleased with the way we played. It’s a great learning tool for us.”
With IU trailing 7-0 late in the first quarter, Brady communicated with teammates as a punt landed short and bounced toward the Hoosier goal line.
Rather than give the offense possession inside the 10-yard line, the University of California transfer grabbed the ball, sprinted toward and then down the sideline, picking up blockers as he went until finding the end zone.
“It was looking like it was dying down, then it took a bounce, a perfect bounce, I grabbed the ball and ran,” Brady said. “I was like, we have to get what we can get.
“Once I started running, I saw a bunch of red (IU) jerseys. They set up a convoy for me. It was grab and run. I saw a lot of green grass in front of me.”
Running back Roman Hemby called the punt return “perfect timing.”
“It was everything we needed in that moment. It was a great way for us to steal momentum.”
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza said special teams have been impressive since fall camp started.
“We can make those big special teams plays when needed. It was a great break for us.”
The resulting touchdown celebration left Brady with a hurting head.
“It was a blessing to get the juice going for us. The crowd was ready to erupt. I was excited to be part of it.”
It showcased why Brady won the punt return job in fall camp over strong competition.
“He catches well,” Cignetti said. “He makes good decision. He’s an intelligent player with good football skills.”
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Hoosier the Bison parachuted in for his Indiana mascot return debut after nearly 60 years under a postcard-perfect blue sky to launch the season. Teaching moments surfaced early and often – allowing a 75-yard quarterback touchdown run on the game’s first play, then a 78-yard quarterback TD run on Old Dominion’s last offensive play, failing on four-straight plays to score from the 1-yard line, fumbling to stop another promising drive, not scoring despite twice getting inside the 5-yard line – before the Hoosiers settled down.
Mendoza, in his Hoosier debut after transferring from the University of California, was 18-for-31 for 193 yards. He rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown.
“I never take a win for granted,” he said. “Being 1-0 is fantastic. I feel honored and blessed to be Indiana’s quarterback and to help lead us to victory.
“My performance was not up to my standard. I need to be on better rhythm, better on timing, better accuracy, especially on balls down field.
“I left things out there. Our O-line played great. Our running backs played great. I need to give our receivers and tight ends more opportunities.”
Added Cignetti: “He made some good plays. He left some plays out there. He got off rhythm a few times. He has to speed up his process.”
Hemby rushed for 110 yards in his IU debut after transferring from Maryland. Kaelon Black added 92 yards and a touchdown. The Hoosiers rushed for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
Hemby called playing his first Hoosier game after playing against IU the last couple of seasons an “awesome” experience.
“Being part of this culture, this team, this environment, it’s a breath of fresh air for me. I feel so grateful.
“I was shedding tears this morning taking it all in. Not everybody gets second chances. I feel like I got one. I’m still kind of in awe. When I watch the film, I’ll probably be mad at myself for a few things, but I’m so excited.”
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In so many ways, IU dominated. It had 30 first downs to Old Dominion’s 10. It had 502 total yards to the Monarch’s 314. It got interceptions from defensive backs Amare Ferrell, Louis Moore, and D’Angelo Ponds. It had the ball for more than 41 minutes to Old Dominion’s 18.
And yet …
Monarchs quarterback Colton Joseph threw for 96 yards and ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hoosier defense turned stifling after allowing Joseph’s 75-yard touchdown run on the game’s first play, forcing six punts and intercepting three passes before giving up Joseph’s 78-yard TD run.
“They didn’t get much done except for those two big plays,” Cignetti said. “The quarterback is fast.”
Besides the missed red zone opportunities, the offense also had one dropped long touchdown pass, overthrew a wide-open receiver for a long touchdown pass, and was forced to settle for three field goal attempts, making two.
“We had some execution errors,” Hemby said. “The first game is always a little tricky. We have to knock off the rust. It happens across the country. Some teams need a little time to get oiled up. We have some things to clean up. I know we’ll get it done.”
Added Ferrell: “We know it’s going to be a long season. We’ll watch the film and fix our mistakes.”
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Old Dominion needed one play and 11 seconds to take a 7-0 lead on Joseph’s 75-yard touchdown run.
The Hoosiers responded by driving to the Old Dominion 1-yard line before getting stopped on four-straight plays.
IU’s promising second drive ended with a fumble.
Brady’s punt return tied the score at 7-7. Ferrell’s second-quarter interception set up Nic Radicic’s 22-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.
Another interception, this time by Moore off a tipped pass, gave IU the ball on the Old Dominion 14-yard line and led to Mendoza’s five-yard touchdown run for a 17-7 lead.
Hoosier kicker Brandon Franke’s 52-yard field goal attempt just before halftime hit the crossbar. IU kept its 17-7 lead.
IU came out throwing to start the second half — 11 yards to Elijah Sarratt, 46 yards to Omar Cooper Jr. — before Black ended it with a 2-yard run for a 24-7 lead four minutes into the third quarter.
Radicic added a 25-yard field goal later in the quarter. Joseph’s 78-yard TD fourth-quarter run ended the scoring.
IU hosts Kennesaw State next Saturday, and one thing is clear, Cignetti said.
“We’ve got a lot to learn. We’ve got to get better.”
