September 12, 1998

INDIANA DEFEATS WESTERN MICHIGAN, 45-30 RANDLE EL ACCOUNTS FOR SIX TOUCHDOWNS

BLOOMINGTON, IND. -- The Indiana University football team (1-0) opened the 1998 football season with a 45-30 win over Western Michigan (1-1) before 31,238 fans at Memorial Stadium Saturday evening. In doing so, the Hoosiers ended a seven-game Bronco winning streak, the nation's fourth longest.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Antwaan Randle El and sophomore wide receiver Tyrone Browning stole the show for the Hoosiers. Randle El, playing in his first college game after sitting out last season as a partial academic qualifier, completed 22 of 29 passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 82 yards on 23 carries and added three more scores on the ground. Randle El's 467 total offensive yards set the all-time IU record (Bob Hoernschemeyer, 458 vs. Nebraska in 1943). Browning caught 13 passes for 258 yards and 1 touchdown. His 258 receiving yards set a Memorial Stadium record.

The Hoosiers got off to a quick start scoring 21 first-quarter points, the most by IU in an opening quarter since September 27, 1980, when the Hoosiers scored 21 at Colorado. The Hoosiers scored with 10:51 remaining in the first-quarter on a 10-yard run by Randle El. At the 7:37 mark Randle El found sophomore wide receiver Levron Williams (2-81-43LG-1TD receiving; 3-32 rushing) in the end zone for a 38-yard scoring strike. Western Michigan cut the IU lead to 14-7 on a 2-yd run by Darnell Fields (14-97-39LG-1TD) with 6:20 remaining in the first stanza but IU put together a 4 play, 38-yard, 2:06 minute drive that was capped by a 21-yard Randle El to Browning connection. A 38-yard kickoff return by senior Chris Gall gave the Hoosiers great field position setting up the short scoring drive.

Indiana led 31-14 at halftime but Western Michigan scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter to close the Hoosier lead to 31-24. Running back Robert Sanford (10-29-1TD rushing) scored on a 2-yd touchdown run and kicker Brad Selent connected on a 36-yd. field goal in the third quarter.

Indiana would score twice in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Randle El scored on a 1-yard run with 8:13 remaining in the fourth and Chris Gall scored on a six-yard reception from Randle El with 1:32 remaining in the fourth stanza. Western Michigan's Jake Moreland caught a 4-yd. touchdown pass from Lester to close the scoring. Tim Lester's 371 yards passing is the 4th-best mark in Western Michigan history.

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