Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. celebrated records, and No. 22 Indiana was nearly perfect as it pummeled Indiana State 73-0 Friday night in Bloomington, Ind.
In posting the program’s largest shutout in 124 years, the Hoosiers (3-0) finished with the third-most points and yards (680) in a game in their history. The Hoosiers (3-0) accumulated 301 yards on the ground, the third straight game with 300 or more.
Mendoza played only in the first half and set a record for highest completion percentage by a Hoosier quarterback. The Cal transfer completed 19 of 20 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns. His 95 percent mark broke Peyton Ramsey’s 92.9 percent rate set against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 7, 2019.
The only blemish occurred when Sycamores defensive back J.T. Anderson got a hand on Mendoza’s passing arm three-plus minutes into the second quarter. That ended Mendoza’s run of 14 completions to start the game.
Cooper caught 10 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns — all career highs.
Mendoza added a 7-yard rushing touchdown that put the Hoosiers (3-0) up 7-0 with 11:22 to go in the first quarter.
The Hoosiers had eight first-half drives. They scored on their first seven and found the end zone six times. The only possession that did not result in points started with 48 seconds before halftime. By that time, Indiana led 45-0.
Alberto Mendoza, Fernando’s younger brother, took over in the second half. On his fourth play, he found Cooper on a 58-yard scoring catch. That let Cooper match the team record with four touchdown receptions set by James Hardy on Oct. 28, 2006.
The younger Mendoza led the Hoosiers to touchdowns on his first three drives. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns before leaving midway through the fourth quarter.
As Indiana’s offense clicked, the defense held the Sycamores (2-1) in check. The FCS school gained just 10 yards in the first half — compared to 383 for the hosts — and did not get a first down until four minutes remained in the first half.
The Hoosiers held their guests to just 77 yards and made 16 tackles for loss, including five sacks.
