Sunday, December 02, 2001
Indiana 26, Kentucky 15
Randle El goes out on top
The Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Antwaan Randle El carried the Indiana Hoosiers for four years. On Saturday afternoon, his teammates returned the favor.
Randle El rode into the locker room on his teammates' shoulders after throwing two touchdown passes and leading the Hoosiers to a 26-15 victory over Kentucky in his final college game.
“That hasn't happened since high school,” Randle El said. “I'm happy, I'm emotional. But you won't see tears — I'm fighting that.”
Randle El finished his career the same way he started it — by setting records in an impressive victory.
He completed 15 of 31 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 43 yards. He wound up 36 yards short of his second straight 1,000-yard season and five completions short of the school record.
Still, he continued to etch his name in major college's record books. In the first half, he became the first player to accumulate 2,500 yards in total offense for four consecutive years. In the second half, he moved past Boston College's Doug Flutie and into fifth place on the NCAA's total yardage list, finishing with 11,364 yards.
On Saturday, though, Randle El wasn't carrying the Hoosiers (5-6) by himself.
Jeremi Johnson rushed 17 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and Levron Williams carried 21 times for 85 yards and that proved too much for the Wildcats (2-9) to handle.
“I don't know what happened today,” coach Guy Morriss said. “We came out with no fire or intensity. We can't expect to come out and just win the game. Emotionally, we just weren't there.”
Kentucky managed just 16 yards rushing in 19 carries and rarely threatened to score.
Indiana didn't suffer the same problems.
The Hoosiers ended their six-game losing streak to the Wildcats by winning for the fourth time in five games and sweeping its trophy series — against Michigan State, Purdue and Kentucky — for only the third time since their 1967 Rose Bowl.
That's what Randle El wanted.
“We talked about bringing the three trophies here and we wanted to win out,” he said. “We hadn't ever beaten Purdue or Kentucky so that meant a lot.”
The victory celebration was marred, however, by a minor skirmish in the middle of the field. When Randle El took a knee on the game's final play, players from both teams began pushing and shoving. The benches emptied onto the field as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Nobody seemed to have an explanation for what happened.
“I had my back turned, so I don't really know what happened,” Randle El said. “It's no different than the Purdue game in terms of intensity. We knew what was going to happen, but my guys weren't going to back down.”
The Hoosiers didn't back off a bit Saturday.
Kentucky took a 7-0 lead on its second possession of the game when Jared Lorenzen threw 19 yards to Tommy Cook, who fumbled the ball into the end zone. Derek Abney pounced on the ball for the score.
Indiana responded with Williams' 49-yard kickoff return and a 46-yard drive that ended with Johnson plunging in from 1 yard out.
Randle El followed that with a 30-yard TD pass to Kris Dielman and a 19-yard pass to Courtney Roby, which gave Indiana a 19-7 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers sealed the victory when Johnson burst 27 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter.
“He's just a load,” Randle El said of Johnson. “I don't know anyone that can hold him. He's gotten faster and stronger and he's a great offensive weapon.”
Kentucky ....... 7 0 0 8—15
Indiana ....... 7 12 0 7—26
First Quarter
Ky—Abney 0 fumble recovery (Hanson kick), 6:32
Ind—J. Johnson 1 run (Braucher kick), 2:47
Second Quarter
Ind—Dielman 30 pass from Randle El (kick failed), 9:53
Ind—Roby 19 pass from Randle El (pass failed), 1:06
Fourth Quarter
Ind—J. Johnson 27 run (Braucher kick), 14:28
Ky—Boone 7 pass from Lorenzen (M. Johnson pass from Lorenzen), 4:07
A—26,449.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Kentucky, Scott 2-34, Pinner 7-23, M. Johnson 1-2, Lorenzen 9-(minus 43). Indiana, J. Johnson 17-97, L. Williams 21-85, Randle El 15-43, Team 1-(minus 2), Roby 1-(minus 8).
PASSING—Kentucky, Lorenzen 26-47-1-324. Indiana, Randle El 15-31-0-194.
RECEIVING—Kentucky, Cook 7-115, Abney 7-63, Boone 3-46, D. Smith 3-39, Scott 2-26, Pinner 2-12, Harp 1-19, Kelly 1-4. Indiana, Dielman 4-62, Haney 3-37, L. Williams 3-32, Roby 2-39, Halterman 1-9, G. Johnson 1-8, J. Johnson 1-7.
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Indiana 26, Kentucky 15
