Indiana scores school-record 77 points in rout of Western Illinois

Field Level Media|published: Fri 6th September, 22:42 2024

Indiana's Andison Coby (0) catches a touchdown pass during the Indiana versus Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.

Kurtis Rourke passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and Justice Ellison rushed for 117 yards and two TDs, lifting host Indiana to a 77-3 rout of Western Illinois on Friday in Bloomington, Ind.

Indiana established a program record for most points in a game, surpassing the previous standard set against Franklin College in 1901. The Hoosiers also set a program best with 701 yards of offense.

Elijah Sarratt (six catches, 137 yards) and Omar Cooper Jr. (four catches, 131 yards) each had touchdown receptions for the Hoosiers.

Indiana (2-0) limited Western Illinois to 121 yards.

Western Illinois, which surrendered 706 yards in last week's season opener at Northern Illinois, lost for a program-record 26th consecutive time.

Leathernecks quarterback Nathan Lamb was 13-for-25 passing for 109 yards and two interceptions. Christian Anaya had five catches for 56 yards.

Indiana visited the end zone on six straight possessions to open the game, failing to score when it had the ball moments before the first half ended with the hosts on top 42-3.

Quick, explosive drives proved the norm for the Hoosiers, who needed 1:58, 2:22 and nine seconds, respectively, to score their first three touchdowns. The last in that sequence was a 71-yard scoring pass from Rourke to Sarratt.

The Hoosiers slowed things down a bit after that, swallowing at least 4:11 of clock time on their next three TD drives.

Western Illinois (0-2) avoided a shutout when Antonio Chadha connected on a 31-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The Leathernecks moved the ball 69 yards in 12 plays during their most complete drive of the night. A 30-yard pass from Lamb to Demari Davis brought Western Illinois inside the red zone.

Rourke played a sterling first half for the Hoosiers, going 14-for-16 passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a 1-yard score.

Indiana outgained Western Illinois 415-98 before halftime while boasting a 21-4 edge in first downs.

The Hoosiers, who hadn't faced the Leathernecks before Friday, improved to 18-1 against FCS schools, including a 15-game winning streak.

Indiana tight end James Bomba was helped off the field in the first half with an apparent

leg injury.

--Field Level Media

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