Round 1 Playoff Game - Dayton, Ohio
#18 Indiana Hoosiers (9-2) vs. #16 Central Michigan Chippewas (10-2)
power poll: Indiana #18, Central Michigan #16
the betting man says: Central Michgan by 4
attendance: 14,300 (51,600)
weather: 29 degrees and fair
TV coverage: TV4
Code:
Pre-exisiting Injuries
DT Rico Nason out seperated shoulder 5 weeks
WR Russ Sailer questionable torn calf muscle 3 weeks
LB Winfred Prescott probable stretched knee ligament 3 weeks
LB Mo Graham probable hip pointer 2 weeks
pre-game
All injured players except DT Rico Nason would be in the lineup today. Having Russ Sailer back should be huge for our passing game.
After a couple weeks of studying their performances on film, we gave QB Allen Salinas the start. This was a tough decision, but looking at his statistics he's a more accurate and more effective passer then Devin Spellman. I hope he he'll reward our faith in him.
the game
We received the opening kickoff and went 3 and out deep in our own red-zone. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on 4th down moved us back futher. A decent punt from our own 4 yard line gave Central Michighan the first chance to strike, taking over at our 45.
Our defense looked a bit more prepared then our offense, and we appeared to stop Central Michigan on 3 downs - but wait! There's a flag on the play, and a roughing the passer penalty keeps the drive alive for Central Michigan. Central Michigan would go on to score a 33 yard field goal and take a 3-0 lead.
Our offense was still ice cold, and another 3 and out gave Central Michigan the ball at their 45 yard line.
In a repeat performance of their last drive, Central Michigan was saved by one of our moronic penalites on 3rd down. Eventually holding the Chippewas at our own 1 yard line, we felt grateful to be down only 6-0.
Another 3 and out really had me worried. If our offense couldn't even garner a first down, we'd eventually lose the game - even if Central Michigan could only muster field goals.
After punting it back to Central Michigan they took over at their 31 yard line. On first down, outslide linebacker Winfred Prescott (freshly back from injury) intercepted a pass intercepted for the tight end at the Central Michigan 43 yard line. Prescott broke through 2 tackles and rumbled down the the 11 yard line!
Our offense didn't waste a second. On first down Allen Salinas found TE Norman DeLay for an 11 yard touchdown! We were up 7-6 as the first quarter came to a close.
The interception and touchdown seemed to jump-start our team on both sides. Our offense wouldn't be terribly productive for the rest of the half, but we at lest gained some first downs here and there. Defensively, the big plays continued. One Central Michigan drive that seemed guaranteed to score ended when CB Ed Buchanan intercepted a pass in our end zone. Allen Salinas would toss an interception on a hail mary from the Central Michigan 38 as time expired in the first half. Both teams headed back to the locker rooms with Indiana leading 7-6.
Realizing that this could be the last football game some of our team ever played, we seemed to come out of the locker room inspired. Central Michigan went 3 and out on their first posession of the half and punted the ball to our 49 yard line.
QB Salinas immediately hit WR Jimmy Parr for an 18 yard gain. B.J. Konrad followed it up by plowing for a 10 yard gain up the middle. A few plays later Salinas would find Russell Sailer in the endzone to extend our lead to 8, 14-6!
Not everything would prove to go our way. On the very next play from scrimmage our secondary was caught off-guard by a bomb down the right side. It ended with me throwing my hat and Central Michigan scoring a 61 yard touchdown. Our shocked defense was helpless on the 2 point converstion attempt, and instantly the game was tied at 14-14.
The game's intensity was cleary rising. Allen Salinas came out gunning once again. Two huge strikes to Jimmy Parr (40 yards) and Norman DeLay (29 yards) moved us into scoring range. Sadly the offense would stall, and Norman Lofton would miss a 43 yard field goal attempt. the game remained 14-14.
Central Michigan went to their ground game after the missed field goal, and consistenyl turned out runs over 8 yards long. Contstantly being knocked back on our heels, we wer basically pushed down the field into our own end zone. Central Michigan took a 21-14 lead and appeared to have seized all momentum.
We'd show we still had a few tricks left up our sleeve. We called an end-around to WR Jimmy Parr to open the next drive, and he'd streak for a 19 yard gain to give us some offensive confidence. The next play was a spectacular hook-and-go route to Parr, and he burned his man for a 57 yard touchdown catch! We had tied it up at 21-21! The third quarter was over, and this game was heating up.
Our small group of fans who had made the trip to Dayton, Ohio really became vocal. The ensuing kickoff put our confidence through the roof. Central Michigan was not only stopped inside the 15, but called for holding! They'd start the drive from their own 1 yard line! We felt very confident we could stop them and get the ball back inside the 50, or maybe even hope for a safety.
After being stuffed for 0 and 3 yards, Cental Michigan really starts moving the ball. 2 huge penalties on us (pass intereference and defensive holding) help them along. Unbelievable to players, coaches, and fans, we are gain shoved 99 yards down the field. Central Michigan made it 28-21 with 8 minutes remaining.
On our next posession we seemed to move the ball well again. QB Allen Salinas hit Jimmy Parr for 22 yards, and FB Charles Lyle for 11. Some short runs by B.J. Konrad helped us eek out another first down. Down to the Central Michigan 35, we were forced into a 3rd and 10. Heavy pressure forced QB Salinas to get rid of the ball early, and he was intercepted at the 10 yard line. There were only 5 minutes remaining, and we were getting a bit concerned.
Immediately forcing them into a 3rd and 11, we hope we can hold them and get another shot to tie the game. We have no such luck, and the Chippewas move the ball 20 yards for another time-consuming first down.
Central Michigan grinds out another 2 first downs, and we officially reach a boling point. It's 4th and 3 at our 27 with 1:40 remaining, and we have no time outs left.
Central MIchigan lines up to go for it. The ball is snapped, the quarterback drops back to pass... the ball is in the air and -- complete! 6 yards and a first down. Hearts break all along our sideline and all over Indiana.
We try to deal with the harsh reality that our season is over as we watch Central Michigan kneel on the ball.
Final Score: Central Michigan 28, Indiana 21
Code:
Stat Rundown
Rushing Att Yards Avg Long TD Stufd Sackd
20 Konrad 14 39 2.7 17 0 4 0
3 Salinas 9 -41 -4.5 5 0 1 7
39 Lyle 1 3 3.0 3 0 0 0
84 Parr 1 19 19.0 19 0 0 0
Passing Att Comp Yards Yd/Att Long TD Int
3 Salinas 27 15 284 10.5 57 3 2
Receiving Catch Yards Avg YAC Long TD
84 Parr 7 180 25.7 34 57 1
5 Sailer 3 38 12.6 44 23 1
86 DeLay 3 51 17.0 17 29 1
39 Lyle 2 15 7.5 1 11 0
Defense Tackle Assist Sack Int IntYds IntTD
34 Jarvis 7 1 0.0 1 0 0
90 Prescott 6 3 0.0 1 32 0
77 Humphrey 6 4 0.0 0 0 0
58 Fleming 6 4 0.0 0 0 0
31 Nellums 6 1 0.0 0 0 0
48 Fuller 6 0 0.0 0 0 0
95 Slay 5 2 1.0 0 0 0
43 Graham 5 2 1.0 0 0 0
56 Shanahan 4 1 0.0 0 0 0
35 Buchanan 3 4 0.0 1 0 0
Indiana Drive Chart
Quar Began Poss From Plays Yards Result
1 15:00 1:08 OWN 20 2 8 Punt
1 10:30 1:29 OWN 20 3 -9 Punt
1 2:35 1:38 OWN 28 3 -1 Punt
1 0:18 0:08 OPP 11 1 11 Touchdown
2 12:59 2:00 OWN 26 3 -2 Punt
2 7:19 3:08 OWN 7 6 21 Punt
2 3:35 2:59 OWN 20 7 29 Punt
2 0:26 0:14 OPP 38 1 0 Interception
3 13:37 2:31 OWN 49 5 51 Touchdown
3 10:29 3:15 OWN 20 6 64 Missed FG
3 1:22 0:46 OWN 20 4 80 Touchdown
4 9:49 4:24 OWN 20 11 52 Interception
Central Michigan Drive Chart
Quar Began Poss From Plays Yards Result
1 13:52 3:22 OPP 45 8 9 Field Goal
1 9:01 6:26 OWN 45 11 48 Field Goal
1 0:57 0:39 OWN 31 3 0 Interception
1 0:10 2:11 OWN 27 3 9 Punt
2 10:59 3:40 OWN 33 7 22 Punt
2 4:11 0:36 OWN 46 2 19 Interception
2 0:36 0:10 OWN 21 1 0 Interception
2 0:12 0:12 OWN 49 3 0 Half
3 15:00 1:23 OWN 33 3 9 Punt
3 11:06 0:37 OWN 39 1 61 Touchdown
3 7:14 5:52 OWN 26 10 69 Touchdown
3 0:36 5:47 OWN 1 11 76 Touchdown
4 5:25 5:25 OWN 27 13 64 Game
Player of the Week Nominees
WR Jimmy Parr - 7 catches, 180 yards, 1 touchdown
Code:
Injury Report
DT Rico Nason questionable seperated shoulder 4 weeks
WR Russ Sailer probable torn calf muscle 2 weeks
LB Winfred Prescott probable stretched knee ligament 2 weeks
LB Mo Graham probable hip pointer 1 week
Round 1 Results
---------------
#6 Northwestern 36, #16 Mississippi State 16
#2 Rice 28, #27 Baylor 16
#10 Vanderbilt 38, #19 California 14
#11 Barrow 41, #24 Eastern Michigan 7
#9 Idaho 45, Middle Tennessee State 6
#18 Central Michigan 28, #23 Indiana 21
#15 South Florida 36, Virginia Tech 28
#12 Stanford 34, Miami of Ohio 14