Indiana football’s Friday game against Northwestern was not for the faint-hearted. The Hoosiers bolted down the guests in an intense fourth-quarter battle and won 29-23.
The Hoosiers survived a Big Ten opener against the Wildcats at Memorial Stadium, with Lee Beebe Jr. delivering the biggest performance of his career. He took over after starting running back Turbo Richard left the game with an injury in the first half.
Beebe finished with 203 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He broke free for runs of 70 and more than 60 yards, giving Indiana a much-needed spark as Northwestern kept the pressure on quarterback Josh Hoover.
After the game, Curt Cignetti didn’t hesitate to give Beebe his flowers for the electric performance. Cignetti kept his response short but made sure to praise the junior running back.
Article Continues Below“Guy's got a lot of heart,” Cignetti said.
That heart showed up when Indiana needed it most. Northwestern cut the lead to two points in the second half, putting the pressure back on the Hoosiers. Beebe responded by finding running room and helping Indiana move the chains.
His production was even more important as the passing game struggled to find rhythm. Hoover threw a touchdown pass to Nick Marsh, but Northwestern's defense kept Indiana from pulling away.
The Hoosiers also got a strong effort from their defense. Indiana recorded four sacks and held Northwestern to 32 rushing yards.
Beebe's performance helped Indiana avoid what could have been a costly upset in its first Big Ten game. With Richard's status for Week 5 still unclear, the Hoosiers now know they have a back ready to take on a bigger role if needed.