UIndy football recovers from three-game skid with a come-from-behind victory
By Staci Reafsnyder
Sports Editor
After a three-game loss and sixth rank in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the University of Indianapolis football team (6-4, 5-4 GLIAC) rose to No. 5 in the GLIAC standings on Saturday.
The ‘Hounds traveled to Erie, Pa., to play Mercyhurst College on Saturday. Junior running back Eric Wright had a new career high of over 191 yards.
Mercyhurst stayed ahead in the game until Wright scored his third touchdown in the last minute to put the ‘Hounds ahead. UIndy came out on top with a final score of 43-37.
Saginaw Valley State University defeated the ‘Hounds on the Greyhound turf 29-24 on Oct. 27. Wright totaled 103 yards and junior linebacker Leonard Bush led the team with 11 tackles. This was the 16th consecutive win for Saginaw since 1989.
The Greyhounds played Wayne State University on Oct. 20 in a conference game. WSU took a 21-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter, but the ‘Hounds found life when sophomore defensive back Alex Byrnes picked up a forced fumble made by junior defensive back Josh Kimbowa and ran 20 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. However, five turnovers contributed to the 28-34 Greyhound loss to Wayne State.
“When you have five turnovers, you cannot win a football game,” Wright said.
Head coach Joe Polizzi said that the team played through adversity against Wayne State, and if there had been a little more time on the clock, they would have been able to win the football game.
The ‘Hounds battled the 2006 national champions and No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State University (6-0, 5-0 GLIAC) on Oct. 13.
The resulting score for the game was 41-17. UIndy totaled 233 rushing yards gained and an average of 38 yards per punt.
According to Polizzi, if UIndy had scored some points early in the game, it would have made an opportunity to win.
“I felt like we had opportunities early to really get them on their heels and we were unable to do that,” Polizzi said.
This season the football team has totaled 241 firstdowns, limiting their opponents to 157. UIndy has a total of 2133 yards gained rushing, limiting their opponents to 1283 yards this season. Wright has a total of 981 rushing yards, averaging 123.6 yards per game.
Senior safety Kevin Shaw has a total of 67 tackles, 29 solo and 38 assisted. Bush has a total of 65 tackles and two forced fumbles. The defense has totaled 673 tackles this season, with five forced fumbles.
“The thing I like best about the team is the way there is a mature attitude, solid work ethic, lots of enthusiasm and emotion. I think we hang very well together as a family,” Polizzi said. “There is great balance, offense plays well, defense plays well, kicking plays well and we have the ability to pick up for each other when something is awry.”
The ‘Hounds travel next to Midland, Mich., to face Northwood University at noon on Nov. 10. Northwood (4-4,4-4 GLIAC) is ranked 7th in the GLIAC standings.
