Football wins rainy game
The University of Indianapolis football team hosted the Missouri S&T Miners for Homecoming on Oct. 5, winning 34–3 after waiting through severe weather that delayed the game. In the first quarter, the Miners scored on the first drive of the game with a 24-yard field goal. Throughout the rest of the quarter, neither team scored as both UIndy and Missouri S&T’s defense held the opposing offense in check.
In the second quarter, however, the Greyhounds responded with a 50-yard drive that resulted in a field goal of their own with 9:43 remaining in the half. Shortly after tying up the score, both teams and fans were evacuated inside with 6:22 remaining in the half, following lightning strikes that delayed the game until the severe weather ended. After waiting out the delay for 38 minutes, both teams returned to the field to resume play.
On the first play after the game resumed, Miners’ sophomore quarterback Reed Brown threw an interception to redshirt freshman linebacker Derrick Bryant, giving the Hounds possession deep in Miner territory. The Hounds capitalized on the turnover, as senior running back Klay Fiechter scored on a nine-yard touchdown run with 3:28 remaining in the half, giving the Hounds their first lead of the game. The touchdown by Fiechter set a new school record for career rushing touchdowns by a Greyhound, as he passed Jim Ware (1959-62) who originally held the record with 30.
Fiechter said that being able to become the all-time record holder was an honor.
“He [Ware] was a great running back obviously. [He] held that record for that long. So, [it is] just an honor to be mentioned with him,” he said.
Following the successful drive, the Hounds’ defense followed up with another interception, this time by redshirt junior cornerback Andre Smith, at the Miners’ 48-yard line. Smith returned the ball 23 yards to the Miners’ 25-yard line, setting the offense up close to the end zone once again. The Hounds took advantage, as senior quarterback Chris Mills scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the half, sending the Hounds into halftime up 17-3.
Fiechter said that he believed the delay was beneficial for the Hounds.
“That was big for us,” he said. “Neither team really had an edge, so we went in there [the locker room] and made some adjustments with the little break that we had.”
In the third quarter, the Greyhounds suffered a blow after Mills took a hit following a nine-yard run that sent him to the sideline in pain. This injury kept Mills out for the rest of the game.
After Mills’ run, which was followed by a punt, Smith made another interception, setting up the Hounds deep in Miner territory at the 35-yard line. Following the interception, junior kicker Scott Miller converted once again on his second attempt of the night from 35 yards, which extended the Hounds’ lead to 20-3.
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, the Hounds scored once again with 14:15 remaining, as redshirt sophomore backup quarterback Connor Barthel connected with redshirt junior wide receiver Greg Johnson on a 13-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 27-3.
Later in the quarter, Smith grabbed another interception and returned it to the Miners’ 14-yard line, which set up another UIndy touchdown. The 14-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt junior running back Matt Ripp increased the UIndy lead and would be the last score of game, making the final score 34-3.
Following the win, Head Football Coach Bob Bartolomeo said that he believed turnovers, rather than the delay, were key in securing the victory. The Hound defense finished the game with five interceptions, three of which came from Smith.
Bartolomeo said that Smith did a great job at cornerback making plays for UIndy.
“He read his keys and broke on the ball well,” he said. “[Smith] made some nice catches—made a couple off of deflections and then he made one by himself off of reading the quarterback and just breaking on the football.”
Smith said his performance against the Miners was exciting and that he was happy he could come through for the team.
“The other ten guys that I play with—they work really hard and they work their butts off. So I’m just trying to match their intensity,” he said.
The Greyhounds will travel next to McKendree University to play the Bearcats on Oct. 12. Kickoff is set to take place at 7 p.m.
