Eyeing IU

  • Keys to the game
    Cody Zeller scored 22 points as Indiana defeated Illinois 84-71 Thursday at Assembly Hall.
  • Video: Jordan Hulls and Cody Zeller
      Indiana's Jordan Hulls and Cody Zeller answer questions after Thursday's win against Illinois.
  • Video: Tom Crean
      Indiana coach Tom Crean meets with reporters after Thursday's win against Illinois.
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IU leads at halftime 28-17

Ray Fisher became the second Indiana player to return more than one kickoff for a touchdown in a season, helping the Hoosiers take a 28-17 lead into halftime against Northwestern.

IU has been in complete control. Darius Willis scored his second touchdown, on a 3-yard run, to give Indiana a 21-0 lead. That score was set up by a 22-yard run on a third-down play by quarterback Ben Chappell.

Northwestern kicked a field goal, but Fisher then returned the ensuing kick 93 yards for a touchdown. It was his second return of the season, the other coming on the opening kickoff Sept. 19 at Akron. Marcus Thigpen returned three kicks for touchdowns in 2006. Fisher is sixth on the school’s single-season kickoff return list with 623 yards.

Northwestern staged a late rally to pull within 11 at halftime.

Mike Kafka got in rhythm in the second quarter for Northwestern. The quarterback had 160 passing yards in the quarter. He scored on a 1-yard run to cut the deficit to 28-10. The Wildcats had 38 yards of total offense in the first quarter.

Kafka completed an 8-yard pass to Zeke Markshausen with seven seconds remaining to make it 28-17. The Wildcats benefited from a pass interference call on third down and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Nick Polk to set up the touchdown. Markshausen made a nice catch in the back of the right side of the end zone, getting one foot down before going out of bounds.

LaMond Pope blogs on Indiana University sports.