BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Smiles? Don’t do it. Don’t think about it. Not during a game, certainly not anywhere near Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. That’s what the post-game locker room is for; that’s reserved for the aftermath when victory is achieved and full throttle effort on every play attained.
Take, for instance, second-ranked Indiana’s 56-6 victory over previously surging UCLA on Saturday. The Hoosiers (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) didn’t mess around, asserting ruthless dominance starting from linebacker Aiden Fisher‘s pick-6 two plays into the game to backup quarterback Alberto Mendoza‘s fourth-quarter touchdown run.
“We want to capitalize on every possession in every game,” starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza said. “Every game is a big game.”
Here was linebacker Isaiah Jones in the weight room at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, contemplating why the Hoosiers have two 50-point Big Ten victories — they earlier beat then-No. 9 Illinois 63-10 — when no one else has one.
“We’re bummed they got the six points,” Jones said. “We were going for the goose egg. You can’t always be perfect. It’s something we have to learn from and fix in the film room.
“Coach Cig doesn’t want to see smiles on the sidelines at all. It’s 0-0 every time we step on the field. It’s always about getting better. We have an ultimate goal at the end of the season. That means no smiles till we get to the locker room.”
IU entered the game with a conference-leading 32.3-point average margin of victory and then extended it as it continues to break the will of opponents.
“To see a team wave the white flag,” Cignetti said, “it takes a while. Maybe that’s what happened here.”
Why does it keep happening?
“We have everybody on the same page,” Cignetti said. “I know what I want. Our assistants have been together a long time. We have good players with good character and leadership. We play every play like the game is on the line.”
UCLA’s three-game winning streak had no chance to reach four. IU reduced an offense that had averaged 33.3 points in its previous three games to rubble, intercepting two passes, forcing and recovering a fumble, and holding the Bruins (3-5, 3-2) to 201 total yards and a pair of field goals. They were just 1-for-11 on third downs.
Offensively, the Hoosiers broke open the game by scoring touchdowns on seven of eight possessions in one stretch, and only punted once in the game, one more than in its win over Michigan State the previous week. No scoring drive took longer than 5:45.
Whatever will the Bruins had entering the game was long gone by the end.
“That’s our mentality,” running back Roman Hemby said. “We want to impose our will on the defense. We did that. We just lean on them. When you have a great offensive line like we have, one that’s moving people off the ball, when the third and fourth quarters hit, we’re able to have our way.”
Added Jones: “Aiden started it off with the pick-6. Eventually, they started to give up. It’s will vs. will, and I think ours was stronger.”
Fernando Mendoza overcame a slow start to finish 15-for-22 for 168 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He also ran for 45 yards and a 20-yard touchdown.
Alberto Mendoza replaced him late in the third quarter and went 4-for-7 for 45 yards and an interception. He also ran for 39 yards and a four-yard touchdown.
Receiver E.J. Williams Jr. capitalized on UCLA double teaming Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. with five catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
“They were doubling Elijah and Coop, and that allowed the one-on-one for E.J.,” Mendoza said. “That’s great. The smile goes on my face when that happens.”
IU ran for 262 yards and four touchdowns. Hemby led with 81 yards and two touchdowns. Kaelon Black added 70 yards.
“UCLA was dialing up the pressure on us,” Mendoza said. “They showed us a lot of looks that we hadn’t seen. They did a great job of preparing for our pass game, which opened up our run game.”
Fisher hurt his knee in the first half and never returned. Cignetti said he was taken out for precautionary reasons and they would evaluate it moving forward.
Jones took over making the defensive calls. He finished with a team-leading eight tackles, one forced fumble, one pass breakup, and one quarterback hurry.
“You hope it never happens,” Jones said. “I want him to play the whole game. You have to step up when your called upon.
“Aiden is such a big part of the defense. We rep it quite a bit, but we have so many exotic packages that we’re always bouncing around the field playing different positions. Sliding over one position was no big deal. Be ready and be in your notebook and playbook.”
The Hoosiers were more than ready.
“We want to keep going, keep chipping away, chipping away,” defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker said. “After the game, we can think we did a good job. During the game, it’s keep going.”
IU kickoff specialist Brendan Franke was hurt on the opening kickoff. Quinn Warren took over the rest of the way.
The Hoosiers’ defense opened on the attack, sacking quarterback Nico Iamaleava on the game’s first play, intercepting him with Fisher’s pick-6 on the second.
A few minutes later, Mendoza’s third interception of the season gave UCLA the ball at midfield. The defense held, stuffing a fake punt attempt.
A Mendoza 30-yard completion to Williams Jr. set up Hemby’s 1-yard TD run. Mendoza hit Sarratt for a 1-yard scoring pass and a 21-0 early second quarter lead.
Jones forced a fumble and defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler recovered it. Hemby followed with a 13-yard TD run for a 28-0 lead.
IU countered a UCLA field goal with a Mendoza touchdown pass to Williams Jr. for a 35-3 halftime score.
The Hoosiers got Mendoza’s 20-yard TD run followed by his 62-yard scoring pass to Williams Jr. for a 49-3 third-quarter lead. UCLA added a field goal.
Alberto Mendoza replaced his brother and ran four yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown to complete the 56-6 final score.
IU plays at Maryland next Saturday.
“We’ve got to keep it going,” Cignetti said.
Courtesy of Indiana University Athletics, used with permission
