‘Having a quarterback like that is a dream’: Kurtis Rourke continues phenomenal season, taking IU football offense to new heights

IU football is putting together performances unlike it has in the past. Its offensive production is unlike anything most recent Indiana football teams have done. The numbers are incredible and it’s why Indiana is undefeated and bowl eligible through six weeks — all in the debut season for Curt Cignetti in Bloomington.

The ‘blueprint’ of a successful Curt Cignetti system has been dissected and discussed on numerous occasions — but one of the reasons for the success is also one of the reasons why Cignetti was hired in the first place; quarterback production and development.

The offensive staff of Cignetti, Mike Shanahan and Tino Sunseri have a reputation of explosive offenses on the heels of great quarterback play. And, that’s exactly how the first six weeks for IU football have gone.

Kurtis Rourke has been phenomenal for Indiana in the first six games and needs to be in the conversation among the best quarterbacks in the nation. He has thrown for 1,752 yards on 73.8 percent passing with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.

In Big Ten games alone, he has thrown for at least 300 yards in each game and totaled 10 touchdowns.

So, Saturday was no different when he helped lead Indiana to a 41-24 win over Northwestern. Rourke finished with a line of 25-of-33 for 380 yards and three touchdowns.

His play once again led IU to 40+ points, the first time in IU football history that it has scored at least that amount of points in five straight games.

“It’s awesome to be able to have such great athletes and playmakers all around,” Rourke said after the win. “The receiver room is one of the deepest in the country. We have one of the best running back rooms in the country. And, put that together with the o-line and the way they’re playing, and that’s why we’re able to put up so many points.”

Indiana is ranked third in the country averaging 47.5 points per game and sixth with 515.7 yards per game.

The way Indiana has been able to score is outstanding. It’s due to a versatile skillset in both the wide receiver and running back rooms and then coming together with the offensive line and the growth that group has seen in year two under Bob Bostad.

“The quarterback has been outstanding and offense, there’s so many playmakers and it all starts up front with the line,” Cignetti said.

While Indiana has been able to score, and score in bunches, it has been the ability to respond and put up touchdowns that has separated this team from others in the country.

Indiana has 37 redzone trips, which 30 have resulted in touchdowns. Its 37 trips are 12 more than the next closest Big Ten team.

“We have a pretty good idea of what type of looks we are going to get, so it’s really all about execution,” Rourke said earlier this season about redzone success. “Everything is a little bit tighter in the red zone, so being on time is especially important, so putting the emphasis throughout the week on being as fine-tuned as possible for when the time comes. We do that as much as we can and we’ll get there.”

Part of that success if the ability to have anyone score from anywhere. Five receivers have at least two touchdown receptions, while three running backs have at least four touchdowns.

And for IU’s wideouts, the top five receivers are all averaging at least three receptions per game and at least 30 yards. But, there may be nobody more trusted and connected with Rourke and Elijah Sarratt. Sarratt, who has 29 receptions for 513 yards on the season, had his third 100+ yard game of the season on Saturday — and his second in a row.

“Just trusting each other,” Sarratt said about their relationship. “I try to be where he wants me to be at the right time … you’re going to have your bumps in the road … just work everything out, it’s not going to happen all in one day, so we are still trying to build that.”

“He’s the type of guy that gets open all the time,” Rourke said. “That’s his nickname, right? So just being able to have a guy like that that can win — whether that’s a go-ball, whether that’s inside, whether that’s making a scramble play — I trust him to be there, to have those sure hands. I’m glad he’s on our team.”

That connection was on full display late in the game when IU was looking to put a pin in the game. Rourke and Sarratt connected three time, including a 27-yarder on a 4th-and-5 that led the Hoosiers to their final touchdown of the afternoon.

“You have two committed, dependable guys,” Cignetti said about that duo. “They certainly do have that trust, but I think he’s got trust with a lot of those wideouts, which is why we’re rolling the way we are.”

After two straight possessions to start the game that were scoreless, Indiana then scored on the next — and final — seven drives of the game. Five of which were touchdowns. And, after an inconsistent performance last week, IU’s offense picked up the defense on Saturday.

“I think a big thing today was just we had the defense’s back like they had ours the last week when we turned the ball over so many times and they had our back and made those stops,” Rourke said. “And we had to respond every time Northwestern scored, right. So kind of just have each other’s backs and keep rolling because adversity strikes and you’re gonna have to respond.”

“It seems like every time when the offense has needed to respond with a touchdown,” Cignetti added. “We have.”

After Northwestern cut the 14-point IU lead to three at the 11:19 mark of the fourth quarter, the Hoosiers responded with two-straight touchdown drives.

“Just how we practice, preach being resilient, being poise,” IU football receiver Ke’Shawn Williams said. “Playing our best ball late in the game because that’s when we can close it out.”

Williams, who added 87 yards on Saturday, added to his team-leading number in touchdowns with four. This score, however, came on a route he ‘didn’t expect’ to receive a look on. But that’s exactly how in sync Rourke is with this system and this offense.

“That may have been the best ball I’ve ever seen,” Williams said. “Coming out of my route, I didn’t expect the ball coming out to me. I looked up and the ball is here, he just gave me a layup. Having a quarterback like that is a dream.”

Was that a surprise, though? No says Williams.

“At this point, no. He’s made them (impressive throws) so long, from spring ball to fall camp, summer workouts and in the season,” Williams added. “It’s an expectation (now).”

Next up — a bye week for IU football, just in time to add more juice to this team and a bigger chip on this team’s shoulder.

“Looking forward to the bye week. Everyone could use a day off,” Cignetti said. “I think for the players it’s a good time to get rejuvenated a little bit. We’ll use it constructively. We have an older team. I’m not really concerned about them so much reading about their accolades on social media and the paper because they’ve been around the block a little bit. They’ll be reading a lot about how we aren’t good enough to do this and then. I want the chip on their shoulder to keep growing.”

SEE ALSO: ‘We can certainly improve a lot more’: IU football locker room not satisfied following 41-24 win over Northwestern

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