Indiana Football handles business in 52-14 win over Charlotte

Indiana Football improved to 4-0 after a 52-14 win over Charlotte, matching its best start to a season this century (2015, 2020).

Coming off of a massive win in week 3, many saw this game as a potential trap for the Hoosiers.

Through the first 25 minutes of the game, it seemed like Charlotte was going to hang around as they trailed by just three points. Indiana football then scored two late touchdowns as Kurtis Rourke ran for one and threw the other to give Indiana football a 17-point halftime lead.

From there it was all Indiana as Charlotte had no answers for Rourke and the offense. Indiana scored 35 straight points after Charlotte cut the lead to three in the second half.

The Hoosiers scored on their first seven drives of the game behind a balanced attack.

Rourke finished the game 16-20 for 258 yards and a passing touchdown. He also added 32 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown before being pulled in the third quarter.

Indiana football spread the ball around as four different players caught three passes in the game.
Myles Price led the team in receiving yards with 77 on three catches. Price also made a big impact on special teams with 44 yards on three punt returns.

Miles Cross caught a team-high five passes for 46 yards.

Ke’Shawn Williams added four receptions for 46 yards and scored his third touchdown of the season. Elijah Sarratt also had three catches for 47 yards.

Indiana football continued its dominance in the run game with 222 total rushing yards from their balanced rushing attack. No Hoosier had 10 rushes as the offense continues to use the running back by committee approach.

Justice Ellison led the way with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

The other half of the lead tandem, Ty Son Lawton, added 35 yards and two touchdowns on seven attempts.

Kaelon Black also contributed with 55 rushing yards and a touchdown on just seven attempts.

The fourth running back Elijah Green added 29 yards and a touchdown on four attempts.

Indiana totaled 510 yards of total offense in another dominant showing.

On the other side of the football, it was a slow start for the Indiana defense. They allowed 14 points in the first half before turning it on in the second half.

The 14 points is the most that unit has allowed all season and it was the first time Indiana football allowed two touchdowns in a game.

After the slow start, Indiana turned it on and shut the Charlotte offense down. In the first half, Charlotte had 177 total yards led by their quarterback, Trexler Ivey. Ivey finished the game 14-23 for 119 passing yards and a touchdown.

The second half was a different story as Charlotte only gained 79 yards and did not score a point.

Aiden Fisher led the team in tackles once again with eight. Shawn Asbury II and Amare Ferrell each had seven tackles and a tackle for loss.

Mario Landino caused the only turnover of the game with a forced fumble in the fourth quarter that Bryson Bonds recovered.

Charlotte finished the game with 256 total yards after their fast start.

Indiana football now heads into the teeth of their schedule and will look to improve to 5-0 for the first time this century when they host Maryland (3-1) in Week 5.

SEE ALSO: Indiana basketball a ‘dark horse’ for 2025 Final Four

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