BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It’s second-and-goal for USC on the Indiana 6-yard line, and the Trojans are trailing 20-13 with 6:40 left to play in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava, already 4-for-5 for 81 yards on the drive, had the visitors on the verge of tying the game.
Maiava drops back to pass, his eyes on the end zone. Veteran linebacker Isaiah Jones, reading his eyes all the way through, jumps in front of the receiver for an interception at the goal line.
The Hoosiers scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive, putting the game out of reach for USC. Jones’ game-changing play helped No. 9 IU close out a 27-13 victory over the No. 18 Trojans.
“It’s Cover 2, and I’m a hook player; Back goes out, my vision’s on him…immediately cut to the slant and get my eyes back to the quarterback,” Jones said postgame on the interception. “So, just got to make the catch at that point.”
“That was maybe the huge play of the night,” head coach Curt Cignetti added. “It was a key, clutch play.”
The goal line interception was just one of many key plays the linebacker room made on Saturday. Jones also finished with four tackles and a pass breakup.
However, it was the performance of Jacob Savage that really stood out. With veteran Rolijah Hardy out, the true freshman was called on to fill massive shoes in a game that IU had to have.
Savage lived up to the challenge, finishing with a career-high 13 tackles along with a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hit.
“The guy just loves ball. He’s got a nose for the ball…and he’s really smart,” Cignetti added on Savage. “He’s worked his way up into a starting role, and stepped in for Ro Hardy, and played great football.”
The biggest play the freshman made on Saturday was early in the fourth quarter. With USC facing a third-and-8 from the 10-yard line, Savage leapt as high as he could, deflecting Maiava’s pass before it could reach its intended target.
Indiana was initially called for defensive pass interference on the play, but since Savage tipped the pass before it arrived to the end zone, the flag was picked up. USC then proceeded to miss a 27-yard field goal, keeping IU in front by seven.
“I was just reading the quarterback’s vision, saw that he was working to that, and I just rose up on the ball,” Savage said postgame on the pass deflection. “Saw the flag, and…knew I tipped it, so luckily they went back and looked at it and called it no PI. It was just a football play…an instinctual play.”
Savage has impressed with his play but also with his high football IQ, showing uncommon maturity for a true freshman.
“He’s always trying to learn…take as much football knowledge in as he can,” Jones said of Savage. “He wants to play at the highest level…play like guys that are fifth-year seniors…play like guys that aren’t making freshman mistakes…I love being out there with him.”
Savage’s emergence over the last month has added another layer to the depth of the linebacker room, and the front seven as a whole. When Hardy returns from his injury, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will have options.
Largely thanks to the efforts of Jones and Savage, IU’s defense held a prolific USC offense to just three points in the second half. It seemed like every big play the Hoosiers made, one or both of them were involved.
Their effort also allowed the defense to hold the opposition to less than 20 points for the sixth consecutive game, all of them being Big Ten contests.
If Indiana (9-1, 6-1) wins its next two games, they will play in the Big Ten Championship. First, the Hoosiers will travel to Seattle next week to face the Washington Huskies next Saturday, Nov. 21. The time and network for the game has not been announced yet.
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
- The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
