INDIANAPOLIS—The UIndy football team kicked off its 2023 campaign with a bang Saturday night, sprinting past the visiting Chargers of Hillsdale College, 39-20. UIndy scored 24 points in the second half, including a pair of 50-plus-yard touchdown passes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After earning a slim 15-14 edge at the midway point, the Hounds put it all together in the latter half. The offense racked up 307 of its 502 total yards after halftime, while the D limited the Chargers to just six second-half points.
 
Sophomore quarterback Gavin Sukup looked impressive in his Greyhound debut. The JUCO transfer and Seward, Neb., native compiled a gaudy 365 total yards and four total touchdowns—three passing and one rushing.
 
The biggest play of the night came when Sukup found a streaking Alonzo Derrick for a 78-yard bomb late in the third quarter, giving the Hounds a double-digit lead. Sukup later found Cobi Lewis on a 55-yard catch-and-run for a score to help seal it.
 

?? | Sukup ?????? Derrick! 7??8?? yards!! pic.twitter.com/2SPwVwLHtJ

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) September 3, 2023

 
On the defensive side, all-conference safety Kivonte Houston came up with a timely interception and 29-yard return midway through the second period. The takeaway cut short a promising Hillsdale drive and also set up a go-ahead field goal by sophomore Colin Seymour.
 
Preseason All-America Michael Brown led the team with nine total tackles, while KJ Roudebush, Landry Mavungu and Clay Schulte had eight apiece. San Flowers had 1.5 tackles for a loss, and Aaron Barnett recovered a fumble.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
-Houston was credited with a blocked punt in the second quarter while Evan Lantz blocked a field goal in the fourth.
-Seymour went 3-for-3 on PATs and 2-for-2 on field goals, including a career-long 39-yard boot in the third quarter.
-Both Derrick (138 yds, 2 TDs) and Lewis (110 yds, 1 TD) surpassed triple digits receiving.
-Five UIndy rushers combined for 182 yards on the ground, with a team-high 67 yards from Jaden Schlabach.
 
MORE NOTES
UIndy is now 19-16 all-time versus Hillsdale, scoring at least 34 points in each game of its current five-game win streak in the series.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will use an open date next weekend to better prepare for another former-GLIAC rival in Wayne State. The Warriors are set to visit Key Stadium Saturday, Sept. 16 for a 6 p.m. kick.