Indiana Athletics
This is what Curt Cignetti wanted to see. No. 23/21 Indiana got out fast, wobbled a bit, then flat-out buried Kennesaw State with a ruthless, detail-driven second half to win 56–9 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana (2–0) outscored the Owls 35–0 after halftime and finished with 593 total yards, including a second straight 300-plus rushing day (313). Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was poised and sharp: 18-of-25 for 245 yards and four touchdowns, then gave way late to Alberto Mendoza, who tossed a 6-yard score to Charlie Becker to close it down. Wideout Elijah Sarratt was the headline act with nine catches for 97 yards and three touchdowns, answering a quiet opener with the volume turned all the way up.
The sequence that cracked the game open arrived midway through the third. After KSU trimmed IU’s lead to 21–9, Mendoza found Sarratt for a 3-yard TD. On the next Hoosier snap, Omar Cooper Jr. took a reverse and ripped 75 yards down the sideline — a program-tying long TD run for a receiver — and the rout was on. Moments later, Louis Moore jumped a throw for his second interception of the year, setting up Sarratt’s third TD and a 42–9 cushion.
Cignetti’s postgame tone matched the on-field edge. “We made the improvement we needed to make, but it’s far from perfect,” he said. “I liked the way our guys kept playing one play at a time like it was 0-0.” He also praised the ability to “empty the bench” and still execute, singling out Becker and QB Alberto Mendoza for late connections that kept the standard high.
Indiana’s “triple-threat” run game looked the part again. Lee Beebe Jr. led with 90 yards and a score, Roman Hemby added 64, and Kaelon Black stacked 57 — all before Cooper’s lightning-bolt reverse. IU averaged 8.0 yards per carry behind a physical offensive line and wideouts committed to blocking.
Defensively, the Hoosiers were disruptive and opportunistic: 14 tackles for loss, two sacks (Aiden Fisher and Mikail Kamara each recorded one), a forced fumble/recovery by Jamari Sharpe, and Moore’s 24-yard interception return. Kennesaw State managed just 271 yards and 10 first downs, with all nine of its points coming on field goals. “We wanted to finish the fourth quarter,” defensive end Kellan Wyatt said. “I think we did.”
Special teams tilted the field early, too — Clay Conner’s blocked punt set up IU’s second TD, and the Hoosiers went 7-for-7 in the red zone on the day.
Bottom line: Indiana looked like a ranked team should in a tune-up — balanced, explosive, and relentless to the final whistle. Cignetti put it simply: the time to be satisfied is in the locker room. On the field, it’s pedal down.
By the numbers
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56–9 final; second half 35–0 IU
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Total yards: IU 593, KSU 271
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Rushing: IU 313 (Beebe 90, Cooper 75 on one play)
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Passing: F. Mendoza 245 yards, 4 TD (A. Mendoza added 1 TD)
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Receiving: Sarratt 9–97–3
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Defense: 14 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT (Moore), 1 FF/FR (Sharpe)
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
