INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 14 UIndy football team (4-0) continued its early-season magic Saturday night, topping visiting Hillsdale, 45-38, to remain unbeaten through the first four games of 2017. Senior Martece McClinton's pick-six with three minutes left broke a 38-38 tie, helping ensure the Greyhounds' first 4-0 start to a season since 1997.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
With three minutes remaining and the score knotted at 38, Hillsdale found itself in the red zone, driving for the potential game-winning score. But on 2nd & 8 on the UIndy 13, a Hillsdale pass went off a receiver's hands, allowing McClinton to corral the ball and head the other way. The Markham, Ill., native rambled all 93 yards – the longest UIndy pick-six since 2000 – for what proved to be the game-winning score.
 

McClinton's pick-6 gives @UIndyFB a 45-38 lead over @HCChargers late in the 4th quarter! #GLVCfb pic.twitter.com/wiOtAdBOVv

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) September 24, 2017

 
UIndy started the night by notching the game's first 23 points, but the Hounds would ultimately surrender the lead late in the third quarter when the Chargers took a 31-30 advantage. That lasted all of 25 seconds, however. After a 72-yard kick return by senior Tuwan Payton, junior Malik Higgins provided an answer with his third receiving touchdown of the night and then added a two-point conversion to shift the lead back to the Hounds and set up the thrilling fourth quarter.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Not lost in the action was Payton's record-breaking night. The Albany, Ind., native became UIndy's all-time leader in kickoff return yards. He finished with 190 yards on six attempts Saturday, pushing his career total past the 1,624 kickoff return yards of former-program-leader Ryan Forney (2008-11).
- Higgins had a monster game statistically, racking up nine catches for 198 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
- Junior quarterback Jake Purichia finished 20-for-32 passing for a personal-best 342 yards, four TDs and zero interceptions. He was also the game's leading rusher, racking up 105 yards on just eight carries. His rushing performance marked the first time a UIndy QB went for triple digits since Matt Kohn managed an even 100 yards on the ground in 2003, also against Hillsdale.
- Linebacker Joe Lambright led all players with 12 total tackles, good for his third consecutive double-digit output.
- In addition to McClinton's game winner, the Hounds had two other interceptions Saturday, with cornerbacks Mike Hamilton and Robert Williams each garnering a pick.
- The Hounds did not turn the ball over for the third straight week.
 
HOUND BYTES
McClinton on the game-winning pick-six...
"They were running slants just like they were all game. I put myself in a position just to make the tackle. It landed right in my hands and I took it home."
 
McClinton on the team's mental strength after surrendering the lead and being tied late in game
"It's all about playing the next [snap] here. We bend and don't break. That's our motto. Even when things aren't going our way, we keep our heads up. As long as there's still time on the clock, we still have an opportunity. We put ourselves in an ugly situation, but this team's going to make plays. We just have to keep going."
 
MORE NOTES
It was 1997 when the Greyhounds last won each of their first four games. That club started 6-0 before finishing at 8-3 for the year – the first of back-to-back eight-win seasons for the Hounds … UIndy has won eight straight overall dating back the last season … Hillsdale WR Trey Brock set a Hillsdale single-game record Saturday with 302 receiving yards.
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds will play at Key Stadium for a third straight week, as they'll host Truman for their 2017 Homecoming. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. ET.