BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Backup quarterback Peyton Ramsey was 13 of 14 for 226 yards and two touchdowns as Indiana shut out Eastern Illinois 52-0 on Saturday.
All it took was one quarter for the Hoosiers (2-0) to put it away. They dominated on defense and took an early lead with touchdowns on their first three possessions.
Michael Penix Jr., Indiana’s starter at quarterback, was 14 of 20 with 197 yards and two touchdowns before taking a seat late in the second quarter.
He first connected with Miles Marshall on a 10-yard touchdown pass on Indiana’s opening drive. Stevie Scott III scored on a 5-yard run and Cole Gest from three yards out to put the Hoosiers ahead 21-0 with 1:34 to go in the first quarter.
The Panthers (0-2) didn’t have any answers.
Indiana defensive end Alfred Bryant made tackles for a loss on both of Eastern Illinois’ first two plays of the game. Then tackle Demarcus Elliot sacked quarterback John Brantley. The Panthers went 3-and-out all three drives in the first quarter.
Brantley finished 8 of 17 for 49 yards. Eastern Illinois had only 116 total yards of offense. Indiana finished with 555 total yards.
The Hoosiers added two more touchdowns in the second quarter. Peyton Hendershot’s 8-yard TD catch made it 21-0 with 1:44 remaining in the half. After Ramsey took over at quarterback, he found Ronnie Walker Jr. on his first pass for a 64-yard score to give the Hoosiers a 35-0 halftime lead.
The Panthers were held scoreless for the first time since Sept. 12, 2015 when they lost 41-0 at Northwestern. Eastern Illinois is 0-9 all-time against Big Ten teams.
