BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Kurtis Rourke threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score — all in the first half Friday night — and Indiana broke the school’s scoring record with a 77-3 rout of Western Illinois.
The Hoosiers (2-0) surpassed the previous mark of 76 points, set in a shutout of Franklin College in 1901, on Charlie Becker’s 3-yard touchdown run and the ensuing extra point with 9 minutes, 10 seconds to play. Curt Cignetti became the fourth Indiana coach since 1948 to win his first two games at the school.
Western Illinois (0-2) extended the longest losing streak in Division I to 26 games. The Leathernecks’ last win came on Oct. 30, 2021.
This one was never close.
Indiana scored touchdowns on each of its first six possessions, produced 415 yards on 38 plays in the first half and led 42-3 at halftime. The Hoosiers finished with 701 total yards.
Rourke, the 2022 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was sensational in his second game with Indiana. He finished 15 of 17 for 268 yards while rushing three times for 13 yards. Justice Ellison ran nine times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Sarratt caught six passes for 137 yards, including a 71-yard TD.
Andison Coby got things started with a 38-yard touchdown catch on the fifth play of the game. Ellison’s 2-yard TD run made it 14-0 before Sarratt’s long scoring play. And Ty Son Lawton’s 19-yard touchdown run gave Indiana a 28-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Western Illinois’ only score came on a 31-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half.
Ellison sealed it with a 47-yard touchdown run to open the second-half scoring.
The takeaway
Western Illinois: This season certainly has not started well for the only active FBS or FCS team with two straight winless seasons. Both losses came in blowouts, and the Leathernecks have lost eight of their last nine games by 39 points or more.
Indiana: The Hoosiers are off to a solid start that has been helped by a soft schedule. Things get much tougher next week in their Big Ten opener at UCLA.
Power outage
It wasn’t just Western Illinois lacking power Friday night. During warmups at halftime, both of the stadium’s scoreboards faded to black. After a short delay, officials announced they would keep the time on the field. A few minutes later, the scoreboards rebooted, showing about 10½ minutes left in the third quarter.
Up next
Western Illinois: Visits former conference foe Illinois State on Sept. 14.
Indiana: Makes its first appearance at the Rose Bowl since 1968 on Sept. 14 against UCLA.
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