Posted on by jeffrey9910

2023 WEEK 2: INDIANA HOOSIERS @ CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

The 0-1 Indiana Hoosiers headed to Memorial Stadium to take on the 0-1 California Golden Bears.

The Golden Bears opening drive stalled out with 10:30 remaining in the first period. Senior punter Juan Jones nailed a perfect punt to pin the Hoosiers down at their own 1-yard line. The Hoosiers quickly went three and out, setting Cal up with a nice short field to start their own drive.

The Golden Bears wouldn’t be able to capitalize and after a three and out with some lost yards in the process, they were forced to punt again. After back-to-back punts by both teams, the Golden Bears were finally able to start moving the ball as they’d see themselves with a 3rd and 3 on the Hoosiers 29-yard line. Fifth-year senior quarterback Christopher Mclendon connected with senior wide receiver William Garcia to give the Bears the 7-0 lead.

After another quick three and out the Hoosiers offense was saved by their defense as Cal senior running back Rick Brice fumbled on the first play of their next drive which sophomore defensive tackle Angel King recovered to set the Hoosiers up with 1st and goal on the Cal 8 yard line. After an unnecessary roughness penalty to start the drive, Indiana had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by senior Gary Langer to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Golden Bears scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to head into the locker room with a 21-3 lead. With 3:28 left senior tight end Joshua Jones caught a 14-yard reception from Mclendon and just over two minutes later Roger Johnson was picked off by senior cornerback Cory Porter and returned it 62 yards to set Cal up with a 1st and goal on the Hoosiers 4 yard line. One play later freshman wide receiver Morris Kimbrell caught a 4-yard pass from Mclendon to put Cal up 21-3.

Neither team could score in the third quarter before the Hoosiers finally made it a game again in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers opened the scoring with 9:44 remaining in the game when Langer connected on his second field goal of the game, this one from 47 yards out. After a quick punt, the Hoosiers faced 2nd and 4 from their own 13-yard line. Senior wide receiver Mark Ortiz got behind the defense and proceeded to outrun them and score an 86-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 21-13.

After another quick three and out by Cal saw the Hoosiers, trailing 21-13 take over on their own 13-yard line. They marched down the field and with 1:47 left, Johnson connected with freshman wide receiver Louis Grider from 8 yards out to tie the game at 21-21 after a two-point conversion on a Jaime Rice 2 yard rush.

The Golden Bears took over with 1:04 left and started on their own 20-yard line. Angel King was called for a facemask penalty on the second play to help Cal. With 0:12 left in the game and a 4th and 8 Marquiss Hall showed off his leg as he connected on a 59-yard field goal with just twelve seconds remaining to give the Golden Bears the 24-21 win and move the Indiana Hoosiers to 0-2.