At halftime against Idaho on Saturday night, Indiana football was trailing by 10 points and Hoosier Nation was confused as to what they were watching after a Week 1 comeback win against Illinois.
Things changed in the third quarter, where the Hoosiers’ offense completely turned things around and scored 23 unanswered points after half. Disregarding the offense from the first half, there were two Indiana football players that did not make the list that were still key factors in the game for the Hoosiers: Cam Jones and A.J. Barner.
Jones finished with the second most total tackles (7) on the team, along with a pass deflected, a quarterback hurry, and the “tackle” that forced a safety nearly 30 seconds after Indiana football scored its first touchdown of the game in the third quarter. Jones was very effective all around the field. Though he didn’t play as well as he did in Week 1, Jones was still a leader for the defensive unit that kept the Hoosiers in the game.
Barner recorded his second receiving touchdown of his college career, his first of the season, with a 43-yard pass from Connor Bazelak. Barner finished the game with three receptions and a team-high 57 receiving yards. He seemed to be quite effective in the run-blocking game, but also made himself available for Bazelak when he needed him most.
HOOSIERS TAKE THE LEAD. 😤@_ajbarner_ X @IndianaFootball pic.twitter.com/Ukc34I54UQ
— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) September 11, 2022
Three key Indiana football players vs. Idaho
#3. Connor Bazelak – QB
Week 2 stats vs. Idaho: 16/29 (55.1 pct), 197 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
If you asked me if Connor Bazelak would end up being a key player after his performance in the first half, I would have laughed in your face. I wasn’t ready to give up on Bazelak like most of Hoosier Nation, but it made me question what expectations should be as we progress forward with Bazelak as the starter.
Bazelak came out in the first half and seemingly could not hit water with a pass even if he was on a boat in the ocean. After an incredible drive to win the game against the Illini, Bazelak still has some growing and learning to do.
If Bazelak comes out like that against Western Kentucky or Cincinnati, the Hoosiers have no chance of staying in a game to have even a slight chance. If Bazelak comes out to start a game like he did after halftime, Indiana football has a chance to beat both Western Kentucky and Cincinnati, approaching conference play.