. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana was at risk of trailing and allowing points in the first quarter for the first time all season Saturday against Washington.
As he led the Huskies to the Indiana 31-yard line, quarterback Will Rogers looked to swing a quick screen pass to the outside. But defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, a pair of James Madison transfers, teamed up for a game-changing play.
“I seen him not dropping, so I was just like, â€~Oh, he’s still right here.’ So I just reached my hand out and I got his arm and kind of his hand a little bit, and it affected his throw, and D-Lo did the rest,†Tucker said “I was hype. I was like, â€~Yeah, let’s go.’ I was running with him to the end zone. I almost escorted him to the end zone.â€
“I was blitzing and somebody tipped the ball and it came right to me,†Ponds said. “That’s just a testament of trusting the process and being where you gotta be, and the ball will come to you. It honestly felt unreal, that was my first career pick-six. I was praying for it.â€
Ponds returned the interception for 67 yards and a touchdown, giving the Hoosiers a 7-0 lead with 7:41 left in the first quarter. And that was only the beginning of Ponds’ heroics Saturday.
Early in the second quarter, Rogers lofted the ball to wide receiver Denzel Boston with Ponds providing one-on-one coverage. It may have appeared to be a mismatch in favor of the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Boston against the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Ponds, but the sophomore cornerback didn’t back down.
Ponds credits his good technique on the play, boxing out Boston and jumping to contest the pass. Both players got a hand on the ball, but Ponds maintained his focus after it was tipped and …
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