In the weeks leading up to the Rose Bowl, Fernando Mendoza had commented about the great opportunity to be able to perform in the legendary stadium of Pasadena and do a good job to inspire young Hispanics. The quarterback of Cuban blood responded to expectations with a practically perfect demonstration in which he had more touchdown passes than incomplete ones.
Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy a few weeks ago to become the third Hispanic to do so, he threw 3 touchdown passes and The Indiana Hoosiers continued their perfect season by demolishing Alabama 38-3 at the 112th edition of the Rose Bowl this New Year’s Day.
“It means a lot,” Mendoza said when La Opinión asked him about his performance in the most traditional of collegiate bowls. He said it in English explaining that his Spanish is not good enough.
“In fact I have a lot of Mexican family here and all my family from Miami came to see. It’s a big, historic stage, the Rose Bowl. It is an iconic site not only in college sports, but in all sports. So I think it’s a great opportunity for all of us to be Rose Bowl champions.”
The 22-year-old, whose four grandparents emigrated from Cuba, completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns. He didn’t have to work hard because his team completely dominated, especially in the trenches, accumulating 204 yards per rush. Even, Fernando was relieved by his brother Alberto Mendoza in the final minutes.
“Fernando is a very special guy. He’s unique,” coach Curt Cignetti said of his star quarterback. “He is not selfish, he is the best team player”.
The Hoosiers (14-0) will face the University of Oregon Ducks on Friday, Jan. 9 in Atlanta for a berth to the national championship game. The other semifinal will be between Miami and the winner of Georgia vs. Mississippi.
Up 17-0, the Hoosiers showed their superiority on the first offensive series of the second half. Mendoza, who had used his legs effectively, connected in the corner with receiver Elijah Sarrat for a 24-yard touchdown. The score was 24-0 on the way to what many consider the most important victory in the history of the Indiana team.
Alabama (11-4), whose last national title was in 2020 still with Nick Saban as coach in chief, he was barely able to score his first – and only – points with 2:44 minutes remaining in the third quarter through a field goal.
But the Hoosiers immediately responded to put the game away with a 25-yard run by Kaelon Black for a 31-3 score in the first seconds of the fourth quarter. Another running back, Roman Hemby, added an 18-yard touchdown run for the 38-3 rout.
Rain stopped in time for Indiana show
On a wet field but in good condition thanks to the fact that The rain in the region stopped about two hours before kickoffthe defenses imposed conditions in the first period of the 11th. Rose Bowl.
But at the start of the second quarter, Indiana took the lead with Nico Radicic’s 31-yard field goal to cap a 16-play, 84-yard, 8:55 drive.
On the Hoosiers’ next possession, Mendoza found Charlie Becker with a pass through the middle of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdownincreasing the lead to 10-0.
The only series of the first half in which Alabama was able to move the ball ended with a fumble by quarterback Ty Simpson recovered by Isaiah Jones at the Indiana 46-yard line.
Taking advantage of the good field position, The nation’s No. 1 team mounted an attack in the final three minutes and Mendoza capped it with a 1-yard pass to Omar Cooper Jr.., who separated from a defender while crossing the end zone from one side to the other. The 17-0 score may have sounded surprising, but it reflected Indiana’s dominance, which continued in the second half.
News in development.