Despite a season opening win, Curt Cignetti wants IU football to ‘learn to play with a lead’ going forward

IU football opened its season up Saturday afternoon, hosting Florida International. The opener was Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti’s first game as head coach of the Hoosiers, marking the beginning of a new chapter of Indiana football

Indiana shined for a majority of the first half, coming to an early 21-0 lead. Once having a generous advantage, pieces slowly started falling apart — finishing with just a 31-7 win.

Coach Cignetti reflected on the dip of play from his team, criticizing the teams performance.

“I thought it was a really crisp start,” Cignetti said following the win. “Jumped up twenty one nothing, had it clicking in all three phases and then from the middle of the second quarter to halftime, really sloppy ball on both sides.”

There were several factors coach Cignetti noted the team needs to work on going forward in order to find success.

“Offense, too many opportunities squandered. Protection, just got to get better there. Gotta learn to play the lead,” Cignetti emphasized. “Twenty one nothing man got to keep the edge.”

Indiana’s offensive line left quarterback Kurtis Rourke in trouble, as Rourke fumbled the ball twice and got sacked twice. Lack of line protection forced Rourke to scramble six times, gaining just three yards.

While Rourke didn’t turn the ball over once on offense, the team totaled nine penalties throughout the game, eight of which being on the offensive side.

Coach Cignetti didn’t seem worried about the high amount of penalties, providing a good reason.

“When you look around college football you’re seeing that in the opener it’s almost like their teachable moments and they learn from it the next game.”

James Madison transfers Zach Horton and Ty Son Lawton shined throughout the game. However, both agreed with the idea that there is work needed to be done. 

Horton put Indiana on the board early, with a nine yard touchdown in the first quarter. Horton, who had three receptions for 36 yards, felt there are improvements the team needs to make before Friday’s home game against Western Illinois.

“So many times we played behind the sticks,” Horton said. “We can’t be doing that, ball teams can’t win like that playing behind the sticks.”

Horton’s former JMU teammate Lawton had himself two first half touchdowns, rushing for 74 yards on the day.

Lawton still felt a bigger presence was needed from the entire offense.

“The offense,” Lawton said. “I’m not really satisfied with how much points the offense put up, but feel like we should have put up more.”

Indiana’s coaching staff now has a handful of areas to work on in the upcoming days before the teams next game.

IU football will stay in Bloomington, hosting Western Illinois on Friday, playing under the lights.

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