Indiana found itself trailing Division 1-AA Nicholls State by three points late in the fourth quarter and the Colonels had the ball at the Indiana 11. The door was just about to be slammed shut on the chance of starting the season with a 2-0 record.

But CB Tracy Porter was not going to let that happen. He came in and stripped FB Anthony Harris of the ball and recovered it to give the ball back to the offense. The Hoosiers were able to take the ball down the field and QB Blake Powers connected with James Hardy for the game-winning 7-yard TD pass with 47 seconds remaining in a 35-31 victory.

"They were pushing the ball down the field, and in the back of my mind I was just thinking that I have to make a play for my team, a big play in some kind of way," said Porter, the only defender between Harris and the end zone. "As soon as he came my way with the ball, all I was focused on was finding a way to take that ball away."

In addition to catching the game-winning TD pass, Hardy also had a 39-yard reception on the first play of the drive and finished the game with 8 catches for 122 yards. Powers was solid as well, keeping his poise on the drive and making a near-perfect throw to Hardy on the game-winning TD pass.

Hoeppner's team survived by the thinnest of margins against a lower-tier opponent. The effort and consistency has to much better if the Hoosiers are going to have a chance in the next game against Kentucky.

KEEP AN EYE ON: WR James Hardy -- He had a huge day for the Hoosiers, catching eight passes for 122 yards, including the game-winning TD pass with 47 seconds left.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was a great feeling to go down the field as an offense and win the game when the team needs you. But at the same time, there are things that we need to fix before next week's game against Kentucky." -- QB Blake Powers on the team's game-winning drive in the fourth quarter over Nicholls State.

--WR Jahkeen Gilmore -- He is solid and forms a nice 1-2 punch with James Hardy. Gilmore caught five passes for 107 yards against Nicholls State.

-- LB Kyle Killion -- He was extremely active against Nicholls State, registering four solo tackles, five assists, a forced fumble and a sack.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The running game does not look very good. A week after stumbling in the opener against Central Michigan, the ground attack didn't look much better against Nicholls State. They ran for 114 yards and averaged just over three yards per carry. At the same time, the Hoosiers struggled against their Division 1-AA opponent's ground game.

-- RB Yamar Washington couldn't get it going against Nicholls State. He ran for 30 yards on 12 attempts and seemed to hesitate every time he got the ball from Blake Powers.

-- DE Victor Adeyanju had just one solo tackle and one assist. He did not put much pressure on Nicholls State QB Yale Vannoy.

ROSTER REPORT: Blake Powers played effectively despite a sore right arm earlier in the week. ... WR James Hardy overcame a sore Achilles to catch 5 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.