Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has his Heisman second.
On Saturday, School Soccer Playoff No. 2 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 in Huge Ten) survived a fourth-quarter collapse towards upset-minded Penn State (3-6, 0-6 in Huge Ten), 27-24, needing heroics from Mendoza on a late two-minute drive after blowing a 20-7 lead. The win not solely inched the Hoosiers nearer to a first-round playoff bye however might have solidified Mendoza because the chief on this yr’s Heisman race.
Recreation-winning drive versus Penn State is Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman second
When Indiana wanted Mendoza probably the most, he delivered, going 5-of-8 for 87 yards and the profitable landing with 36 seconds left on the Hoosiers’ closing possession. His efficiency down the stretch made up for an earlier miscue within the quarter when an interception arrange Penn State’s go-ahead landing.
Mendoza did not have flashy numbers general, ending the sport 19-of-30 for 218 yards, one landing and one interception. However that makes his profitable drive much more spectacular. Mendoza was nowhere close to his greatest towards the Nittany Lions, but he nonetheless managed to do sufficient the win.
He was aided by some absurd catches, together with sophomore large receiver Charlie Becker’s 17-yarder that set Indiana up with a 1st-and-goal at Penn State’s 7-yard line and junior wideout Omar Cooper Jr.’s ridiculous toe-tapping seize in the back of the tip zone for the late lead.
