Indiana Football Defense's Failed Akron Test: Mood Wasn't the Best

Indiana football safety Louis Moore was glad Akron's kicker didn't have the best track record as he missed a game-winning field goal attempt, leading to IU's four overtime win.

In a thrilling four-overtime victory, Indiana football safety Louis Moore expressed his relief that Akron's kicker, Dante Jackson, had a less-than-stellar track record. Jackson's missed 32-yard game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation gave IU's defense a chance at redemption.

Moore acknowledged that the kicker had only been successful 40 percent of the time throughout the year, emphasizing that kicking is not an easy task in football. He recognized the opportunity for someone to miss, and that's exactly what happened in this case.

Akron managed to make a comeback from a 17-10 deficit in the final minutes, thanks to a remarkable 71-yard touchdown run by starting running back Lorenzo Lingard. Lingard found an opening on the right side of the line, with only linebacker Myles Jackson having a slim chance to stop him.

Quarterback DJ Irons played a crucial role in setting up the game-winning play. He made a significant gain on the ground by evading defenders in the pocket and recognizing the gap in the middle of the field.

Moore expressed his disappointment in the team's performance, stating that they cannot afford to play like that. He recognized the need for improvement and emphasized that such mistakes should not happen.

Indiana's defense believed they had thwarted Akron's hopes of an upset when Moore scored his first pick-six of his career in the third quarter. It was his second interception of the day and third overall.

The manner in which Akron orchestrated their comeback was surprising, especially considering their poor rushing offense ranking. Prior to this game, they ranked second to last out of 133 FBS teams in rushing yards. However, on Saturday night, they managed to accumulate 263 rushing yards, the most since their Week 2 win in 2017.

Irons played a significant role in Akron's rushing success, accumulating 141 yards with an impressive average of 7.8 yards per carry. His performance in the fourth quarter and overtime exceeded Akron's total rushing yards in the first three weeks of the season.

Irons consistently evaded pressure in crucial moments, reminding coach Tom Allen of the breakdowns his team experienced the previous week against Louisville quarterback Jake Plummer. Allen acknowledged Irons' dangerous athleticism and his ability to beat opponents with his legs.

Although Indiana managed to make a pair of stops during the two-point conversions in the third and fourth overtime, it did not compensate for the failures that occurred prior to that. Moore expressed his belief that they should have dominated Akron, but acknowledged that they did not take their opponents for granted.

Overall, Indiana's victory was hard-fought and showcased both the strengths and weaknesses of their team. The game served as a reminder of the importance of consistent performance and the need for improvement in certain areas.