Missed field goal in OT sends Hoosiers to loss in Pinstripe Bowl

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Indiana fans haven't seen a postseason victory since 1991. And they'll have to keep waiting after a wild finish to a wild game in Saturday's Pinstripe Bowl.

The Hoosiers took a 41-34 lead with four minutes to play but allowed a last-minute touchdown that forced overtime, then missed a potential game-tying field goal in overtime, dropping the annual game at Yankee Stadium to Duke, 44-41.

Big Ten Kicker of the Year Griffin Oakes came up empty twice in the closing moments Saturday, missing a long 56-yard field-goal try that would've given Indiana a win in regulation and then watching a 38-yard attempt sail directly over the upright, with the officials ruling it a miss, ending the game.

It was a game that matched the style of many others played by the Hoosiers this season. Indiana gained 667 yards of offense and allowed 536 to Duke, the two teams combining for 85 points.

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But it wasn't instant offense for the Hoosiers, who were shutout in the first quarter for just the second time this season. A first-quarter interception thrown by Nate Sudfeld — the Indiana quarterback who threw just five picks during the 12-game regular season — was immediately followed by an 85-yard touchdown run from Duke's Shaun Wilson, the longest rush in program history.

Sudfeld threw another interception in the early stages of the second quarter, but the Indiana offense righted itself after that, going on a 78-yard touchdown drive capped by a 25-yard scoring pass from Sudfeld to Luke Timian. After a Duke fake punt was foiled by Indiana defensive back Ben Bach, the Hoosiers went back down the field and took the lead on a 17-yard touchdown run by Devine Redding. The Indiana defense continued to display its typical habit of allowing big plays and surrendered a 73-yard touchdown run to Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk. The score was knotted at 17 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Indiana got a touchdown on a pass from Sudfeld to Nick Westbrook not long after a 39-yard gain by Redding on a fake reverse. After the Hoosiers defense forced a three and out for the first time on the day, Mitchell Paige fumbled a punt return, leading to a Duke touchdown. Indiana running back Alex Rodriguez fittingly scored a touchdown at Yankee Stadium, giving the Hoosiers a 31-27 lead.

Indiana settled for a fourth-quarter field goal after Simmie Cobbs dropped a pass in the end zone. That was immediately followed by Wilson's 98-yard kick-return touchdown to tie the game at 34. After finding Ricky Jones for a 50-yard gain, Sudfeld hit a wide-open Paige in the end zone for a go-ahead score to make it 41-34. Duke followed that up with a 78-yard touchdown drive capped with a short scoring tote by Sirk.

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After reaching the edge of field-goal range in the game's final seconds — Oakes entered with a career-long kick of 58 yards — a poor hold meant Oakes' 56-yard try as time ran out on regulation was a miss. After Duke kicked a field goal to take a lead in overtime, Oakes again missed, though it was mighty close, with the height of the kick perhaps working against Oakes. Replay showed that the ball passed directly over the top of the upright, though it was an extremely close kick. Oakes pleaded with officials following the ruling on the field, though Duke was given the win.

In his final game at Indiana, Sudfeld completed 28 of his 51 passing attempts for 389 yards and three touchdowns, also throwing a pair of interceptions. Redding had a monster day, setting a new Indiana bowl record with 227 yards on 35 carries. Cobbs caught six passes for 121 yards.

Duke had three rushers go over 100 yards. Sirk finished with 155 yards, Jela Duncan had 109 yards and Wilson had 103 yards.

It was Indiana's first appearance in a bowl game since 2007 and just the program's second postseason trip since 1993. With the loss, the Hoosiers finished the season with a 6-7 record.

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