Fernando Mendoza threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score as No. 2 Indiana overwhelmed Maryland during a 55-10 Big Ten victory on Saturday in College Park, Md.
The Heisman Trophy candidate completed 14 of 21 passes for 201 yards and one interception as Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) continued its remarkable turnaround under second-year coach Curt Cignetti.
Cignetti has guided the Hoosiers to a perfect start through nine games in both seasons since arriving from James Madison.
Kaelon Black (14 carries, 110 yards), former Maryland starter Roman Hemby (18 carries, 88 yards) and Khobie Martin (11 carries, 80 yards) each scored on a touchdown run for Indiana.
The Hoosiers’ rushing attack rolled up 367 yards as Indiana controlled the ball for 40:22. Indiana’s dominance was such that Mendoza turned the quarterback duties over to his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, after completing a pass on the first play of the fourth quarter.
It was the fourth straight loss for Maryland (4-4, 1-4), which entered with the best turnover margin in the nation (+1.57 per game). The Terrapins threw two interceptions and lost three fumbles that the Hoosiers turned into 24 points.
Louis Moore and Kaiden Turner made the interceptions for Indiana. Devan Boykin added a strip/scoop/score in the third quarter that covered 32 yards.
The play came in the middle of a third-quarter spree when Indiana scored three touchdowns in a span of 2:06 to turn a 20-10 lead into a 41-10 blowout.
Indiana did it most of the way without Elijah Sarratt, who leads the Big Ten in touchdown receptions with 10. Sarratt suffered a hamstring injury in the opening minutes and didn’t return.
It was the first game of his career without a catch, ending his FBS-high 46-game streak with at least one reception.
The Hoosiers turned to Omar Cooper Jr., who caught seven passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. His 22-yard reception, his eighth score of the year, put Indiana up 17-3 with 4:53 left in the first half.
The Hoosiers overcame a slow start as Fernando Mendoza suffered just his fourth interception on the game’s third snap. Jamare Glasker’s 32-yard return set up a 24-yard field goal by Sean O’Haire that gave Maryland a 3-0 lead.
On Indiana’s next possession, Sidney Stewart and Eyan Thomas combined for a sack of Fernando Mendoza to help force a three-and-out.
But from there, it was all Indiana as the Hoosiers cashed in with seven touchdowns and two field goals on their next nine possessions.
In the fourth quarter, Alberto Mendoza threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Brady and added a 53-yard run to set up another score.
Malik Washington completed 16 of 31 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions for Maryland. He also was stripped of the ball that Boykin returned for a score to make it 34-10 at 8:41 of the third. The Terps finished with just 37 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
–Field Level Media
