2023 WEEK 4: INDIANA HOOSIERS @ MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

After starting the season 0-2 the Hoosiers decided to give sophomore Joshua Fife the start for Week 4. It didn’t change much on the scoreboard.

It was all Michigan State Saturday inside Spartan Stadium.

Each team was held scoreless in the first quarter. The Spartans started the scoring with 9:57 left in the second quarter when freshman wide receiver David Lindsey caught a one-yard pass from junior quarterback Kendall Grenier to put Michigan State up 7-0. They added a 43-yard field goal by junior Joshua Burks with 6:21 in the half to stretch the lead to 10-0.

The Spartans added another 10 points in the third quarter. Starting with a 32-yard field goal by Burks with 7:17 remaining. On the next Hoosier drive, they started at their own 28-yard line with 7:11 left in the quarter. On the drive’s second play, Fife completed a 10-yard pass to senior wide receiver Mark Ortiz, which Ortiz fumbled and MSU recovered on the Indiana 38-yard line.

Freshman strong safety David Shipp intercepted junior quarterback Kendall Grenier on the first play of the proceeding MSU drive, giving Indiana the ball on their own 38-yard line with a 1st and 10.

The momentum didn’t last long as Fife immediately threw a pick-six to junior free safety Yo’heinz Irons to stretch the Spartans lead to 20-0. Indiana finally got on the board with 11:47 left in the fourth quarter on a 53 yd field goal by senior Gary Langer to make it 20-3. The day’s final score for Indiana came a one-yard run by freshman wide receiver Louis Grider to cut the lead to 20-9.

Senior running back Eugene Sheehan broke free for a 32-yard rushing touchdown with 1:12 left in the game, stretching the lead to 27-9.

In his first start of the season, Hoosiers quarterback Joshua Fife went 27-of-48 for 192 yards with 0 touchdowns and one interception. His counterpart, junior Kendall Grenier went 25-of-41 for 271 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Hoosiers gained only 47 yards on the ground compared to 105 for Michigan State. Freshman James Silva led the way for Indiana with 32 yards on 18 attempts. Senior Eugene Sheehan led the Spartans with 72 yards on 12 attempts with one touchdown.

The Hoosiers now face #2-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions next week at Memorial Stadium. Early predictions has Penn State as a three-point favorite.

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