IU football: Three quick reasons why Indiana beat Indiana State 73-0

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana defeated Indiana State on Friday at Memorial Stadium by a final score of 73-0.

Below are three quick reasons why the Hoosiers won, along with highlights and final stats. For Curt Cignetti postgame, GO HERE.

Indiana (3-0) will host Illinois next Saturday to open Big Ten play.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the game from The Daily Hoosier.

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THREE QUICK REASONS WHY INDIANA WON

1. Fernando Mendoza nearly perfect. Indiana went with a pass heavy approach in the first half, and starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza set a program completion percentage record with a 19 of 20 performance. He threw for 270 yards and five touchdowns, all in the first half. Mendoza tied for the third most passing touchdowns in a game in program history. He also rushed six times for 19 yards and another score. His brother Alberto Mendoza played in the second half and completed 6 of 9 passes for 104 yards and two more scores.

2. Defense lives in the Sycamore backfield. The Hoosiers amassed 16 tackles for loss and five sacks as Indiana State gained just 77 yards and five first downs in the game. Linebacker Isaiah Jones led the way with 2.5 tackles for loss. Five different players had sacks, and 12 different players had at least a share of a tackle for loss. The Sycamores were forced to punt 10 times and only had one first down until the fourth quarter when the second and third string teams were in the game. ISU averaged just 1.5 yards per play.

3. Cooper cannot be contained. Omar Cooper, Jr. put his name in the record books too, with a 10 catch, 207 yard, and four touchdown performance. The four receiving touchdowns tied James Hardy for the most in a game by a Hoosier, and the 207 yards were the seventh most in a game. Cooper and Jonathan Brady both caught touchdowns passes from both of the Mendoza brothers.

HIGHLIGHTS