HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL – Indiana football 77, Western Illinois 3

Week 2 of the Indiana football season is here and the Hoosiers are looking to build momentum from last week’s beatdown over FIU. Coming into town this week is FCS program, Western Illinois.

After last week’s win, Curt Cignetti became the 15th head coach in program history to win the first game of his Indiana tenure.

This will be Indiana’s seventh ever Friday night game and the third-straight season that the Hoosiers have played in one.

See Also: Indiana Football Game Preview: Western Illinois – key questions, injury report, how to watch

The game will kick at 7 p.m. ET and air on the Big Ten Network.

Below is a live blog with updated coverage throughout the game.

Pregame Notes: 

Availability Report:

First Quarter

Indiana football gets the ball first.

Myles Price completes the first catch of the night. Rourke 2-2 on pass attempts to Price early here.

Hello Andison Coby. Broke out in the spring game this year and questions about where he would land in the WR room emerged. After a quiet week one, explodes for a 38-yard touchdown on the first drive tonight. #iufb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) September 6, 2024

Indiana football forces a 3-and-out. On the punt return, Myles Price was hit late out of bounds. IU with the ball on the IU32.

Curt Cignetti talked about making the offense more explosive after week one and it took all of five plays to have the most explosive play of the year. This offensive group is truly deep at both the RB and WR position — talent is not an issue this year. #iufb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) September 6, 2024

Touchdown Indiana football. 2-yard TD from Justice Ellison. His first in his Indiana career. Hoosiers up 14-0 with 9:30 left in 1Q.

Again, that was way too easy.

Kurtis Rourke finds Elijah Sarratt for a 71-yard TD.

Indiana up 21-0 with 7:41 in 1Q. #iufb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) September 6, 2024

The lack of explosive plays and aggressiveness in the passing game in week one was a sticking point for Indiana football. Curt Cignetti has given Kurtis Rourke the green light to sling it and he's already up to 157 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 6 attempts. #iufb

— Drew Rosenberg (@drew_rosenberg2) September 6, 2024

Indiana football averaging 17.5 yards per play thus far.

Indiana Offense: 3-for-3 finding the endzone. Indiana Defense: 3-for-3 on Three-and-Outs

First penalty of the game for Indiana. Pass Interference on TE Zach Horton.

Touchdown Indiana. Ty Son Lawton 19-yard rush TD. Hoosiers up 28-0 with 2:03 in the 1Q.

End 1Q: Indiana football 28, Western Illinois 0

Second Quarter

Indiana football’s defense forces another stop to start the 2Q.

Indiana’s 279 yards in the first quarter were most for the Hoosiers in the opening quarter since 2016.

Another injury on the Western Illinois side. Hate to see that for them.

11-yard rush TD from Elijah Green. Hoosiers up 35-0 with 9:40 left in the first half.

Indiana’s Lanell Carr Jr comes up big with a monster sack on third down, causing a seven yard loss. Western Illinois forced to punt the ball, once again.

Kurtis Rourke sneaks in for a 1-yard TD rush. Hoosiers up 42-0 with 2:27 left in the half.

Western Illinois finally grabs a first down as we near halftime.

Little similar from last week, Indiana’s defense a little lackadaisical closing out the first half.

Western Illinois gets on the board with a FG. Hoosiers up 42-3.

At the half: Indiana football 42, Western Illinois 3

Third Quarter

Western Illinois ball to start the half.

Second sack of the night from DT Mikaii Kamara.

Indiana football opens up the half with a stop.

Kurtis Rourke remains in the game for now.

Justice Ellison! 47-yard rush to the house. Indiana leads 49-3 with 8:58 left in the 3Q. Ellison has 117 rushing yards on the evening. Indiana’s seventh touchdown of the game.

Tayven Jackson steps in at QB for the Hoosiers.

Indiana with some little trickery there and results in Tayven Jackson sneaking in for the TD. Hoosiers up 56-3 with 1:02 left in 3Q.

End 3Q: Indiana football 56, Western Illinois 3

Fourth Quarter

Center Grove to Lawrence North. Tayven Jackson to Omar Cooper Jr. for a 69-yard TD. Indiana up 63-3 with 13:34 left.

Alberto Mendoza taking snaps now. In for Tayven Jackson.

Indiana football with a turnover on downs at the goal line.

Rolijah Hardy gets an easy pick-6. Hoosiers up 70-3 with 11:29 left.

Trending: Indiana is one TD away from scoring the most points in program history.

Indiana forces a fumble and they recover it. Sets them up nicely to break the all-time scoring record in program history.

Tyler Cherry is in the game now. All 4 QBs have gotten snaps.

Indiana has a new scoring record in the program’s history. 77-3 with 9:10.

Final: Indiana football 77, Western Illinois 3

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