BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson finally figured out how to get his offense in sync.He shuffled his best players in and out of Saturdays game, got the ball into his playmakers hands and just let them go to work.The result: Three players topped the 100-yard mark, five players scored on touchdown runs and the Hoosiers got back into the bowl hunt with a 42-36 victory over Maryland.When you get that running game going, that stuff is easy. When youre playing one dimensional, its a lot easier to get defended, Wilson said. A lot of things that we did today, we wouldnt have done last week because of the scheme of the (opposing) defense. Some of the things we did were just part of the nature of what we do within the structure.The bottom line is it worked -- and if Indiana (4-4, 2/3 Big Ten) can keep it rolling they could be headed to a second straight bowl game for the first time since 1990 and 1991.Devine Redding ran for 130 yards and one score. Tyler Natee, the 270-pound freshman running back, ran 18 times for a career-high 111 yards and a TD. And Diamont, the backup quarterback had 11 carries for 104 yards and two scores as Indiana snapped a three-game losing streak.For Maryland, it was a frustrating day.Despite leading 21-16 at halftime and 24-23 with 1:11 left in the third quarter, the Terrapins (5-3, 2-3) couldnt put away the rugged Hoosiers.Instead, Mitchell Paige closed out the third quarter with a 15-yard TD run on a reverse and Perry Hills fumble led to Natees 2-yard plunge that made it 35-24. The Terrapins got within 35-30 late in the game but the 2-point conversion pass failed and Maryland couldnt get any closer.We didnt tackle well, we didnt execute, new Maryland coach DJ Durkin said. We didnt play at any sort of standard that would help us win a game.KEY NUMBERSMaryland running back Ty Johnson topped the 100-yard mark in the first half, thanks largely to a 66-yard scoring run. He finished with 13 carries for 142 yards. Maryland quarterback Perry Hills ran for two scores and threw for two more on a day he was 22 of 33 for 248 yards with one interception and one lost fumble.Indiana came up just short of breaking the school record for most yards rushing (455) at Memorial Stadium, set in 2014 against Indiana State. The Hoosiers had 650 yards, 414 on the ground. Quarterback Richard Lagow was 16 of 25 for 207 yards, as the Hoosiers became the second team this season to throw for more than 200 yards against the Terrapins defense.DEFENSIVE STRUGGLESThe two offenses combined for 1,167 yards, with 683 yards coming on the ground. Indiana averaged 7.3 yards on 57 carries, while the Terrapins averaged 5.4 yards on 50 carries. And despite all those chances, the Terrapins had the only two turnovers of the game.THE TAKEAWAYMaryland: The Terrapins were hoping to eliminate any suspense about their postseason plans before entering their most rugged stretch of the season -- at No. 2 Michigan, home against No. 6 Ohio State and at No. 7 Nebraska. Instead, Maryland came up short and may have to wait until the season finale against Rutgers to finish the job.Indiana: The Hoosiers got a huge boost with the win. They can become bowl-eligible with two wins in their final four games, a stretch that includes a trip to reeling Rutgers and a home date against rival Purdue.UP NEXTMaryland: Nov. 2 at No. 2 Michigan. Its the first time the Terrapins will face a ranked team all season and it comes on the road against a team fighting to win the Big Ten title and make the playoffs. There will be nothing easy about this one.Indiana: Nov. 2 at Rutgers. After a rugged start to the conference season, facing five teams that entered the weekend a combined 24-11 and playing bowl-eligible teams, the Hoosiers finally get a break. Theyll face the two-win Scarlet Knights, the Big Tens only winless team in league play.---The APs college football page: http://collegefootball.ap.org For the fifth consecutive regular-season game, the Cleveland Browns turn to a new starting quarterback on Sunday (1 p.m. ET) when they visit the Miami Dolphins in a Week 3 matchup of 0-2 teams.Rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler climbed the depth chart from third string to No. 1 in the span of two games. Robert Griffin III opened the season as the starter, and was replaced Week 2 by Josh McCown due to injury. Both are dealing with shoulder injuries.Uncertainty pervades each locker room considering the Dolphins have very little gauge of Kesslers NFL readiness.I think the hardest thing for our guys is going to be just kind of the unknown, Miami head coach Adam Gase said. You can always try to do as much research as you possibly can as far as what looks like could be his strengths and weaknesses in the NFL from the limited exposure you have on him.You try to lean on possibly some of the scouting evaluation that went on coming out (of college), as much as you can; but obviously its such a different game at this level.The Browns started Johnny Manziel, who is out of football, and Austin Davis in the final two regular-season games of 2015.Kessler was drafted ahead of Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, a fourth-rounder who is 1-1 and has not thrown an interception in 75 attempts.With a less-heralded collection of skill-position talent and a remade offensive line, Kessler still has the full confidence of Browns head coach Hue Jackson. When Jackson drafted Kessler earlier than pundits rated the USC quarterback, the coach said trust me on this one.He stands by the declaration even headed to South Beach to face defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, defensive end Mario Williams and pass rusher Cameron Wake.Youre going to trust me this weekend, Jackson said. Here we go. Here we go. Trust me. Here we come. Here we go. Well see what that statement was all about.Cleveland has lost 10 of its last 11 road games.Kessler is disappointed for McCown, who is unsure when hell play again, but the 23-year-old is eager to validate Jacksons faith in him. He said he doesnt have to change his routine because he has been preparing to start since rookie minicamp in May.I think its been awesome, because Hues trusted me through this whole process, Kessler said. He knows since I got here from Day One, that I really am excited. When you get a coach like that, that really loves the game and also really loves his players and really wants you to succeed, it makes you want to play better.The Dolphins have a pair of tight losses to perennial contenders -- 12-10 at Seattle and 31-24 at New England.dddddddddddd Gase, a first-year head coach who turned down the opportunity to interview in Cleveland as offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos in 2013, gets his home debut in the Dolphins first game at renovated Hard Rock Stadium. The home digs of the Dolphins underwent a $500 million renovation in the offseason in hopes of being considered as a Super Bowl venue.Whether the Dolphins can build a team capable of playing in that game is not clear after two weeks.The Dolphins are operating without center Mike Pouncey (hip) and have 36 rushing attempts this season. Miami has only six first-half points, which has dictated a lean toward throwing the ball. Gase sees promising signs despite the NFLs 27th-ranked running game, which will likely be without running back Arian Foster (groin).We know what were doing as far as what we need to emphasize, Gase said. Its like I told our media here, if I feel like there are problems with the run game, I wont be afraid to say it.The Dolphins are also 27th in the NFL in points scored. Gase expects things to change quickly.He credited quarterback Ryan Tannehill with consistent play and called on the supporting cast, including running backs Jay Ayaji and rookie Kenyan Drake, to step up in support.I dont know how much more he can really step up considering that hes doing everything right now that we need him to do, Gase said of Tannehill. Its just that we need every guy to pull their weight.Cleveland can test the Dolphins on the ground to help Kessler settle in, especially considering Miami allowed 136.5 rushing yards per game over the first two weeks of the season. Fellow rookie Corey Coleman had two touchdowns last week and was developing into a featured component of the Cleveland offense prior to breaking his hand in practice Wednesday.Kessler worked overtime to get ready for the Dolphins. He was at the team facility for 18 hours on Monday and reported early Tuesday, typically a rest and treatment day. He said he watched the first two games of the season six or seven times apiece.I want to give myself the best chance to take advantage of this opportunity this weekend, Kessler said. It is definitely a long process, definitely a long week, but for me, Im just staying focused on what I can control. That is how I prepare and how I perform. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' ' 

The Wall

No comments
You need to sign in to comment

Post

Added Feb 23 '17, 11:04PM

Rate

Your rate:
Total: (0 rates)