#13 Hoosiers Wax Wolverines 38-21 in Another Historic Victory

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Ranked thirteenth in the country and sitting at 2-0, the Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) came into Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium with more positive momentum than the program has had in a very long time. Sitting in their way of a 3-0 start was a program that has inflicted 24 straight defeats on the Hoosiers with Indiana not beating Michigan since 1987. True to Tom Allen’s words regarding that long streak of frustration, the past would not be predictive as IU thoroughly outplayed the Michigan Wolverines (1-2) and convincingly downed the Maize and Blue, 38-21.

On a bright and seasonably warm day in Bloomington, Michigan won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Instead of establishing their attack on the first possession, IU’s defense began the game positively and forced a three and out. The Hoosiers then marched down the field as Michael Penix started out hot. The redshirt sophomore quarterback connected with Ty Fryfogle for a couple of nice completions and then threw a 13-yard touchdown to Miles Marshall to put Indiana ahead 7-0. After starting slow against both Penn State and Rutgers, it was a good opening statement from the Hoosiers. The teams would trade punts without getting any first downs and then IU’s Jamar Johnson was ejected for throwing a punch on the Wolverines third offensive possession. On the first play after the ejection, Joe Milton found Cornelius Johnson for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven. The Indiana Hoosiers answered the challenge with a potent passing attack that took apart the Wolverines secondary. Ty Fryfogle feasted on the defensive backs and found the end zone with a 24-yard reception on a perfectly thrown pass by Michael Penix. The two teams again traded punts until midway through the second quarter as Indiana drove into Michigan territory. They came up short on third down but Charles Campbell nailed a career-long 52-yard field goal attempt to make it 17-7. Michigan’s offense had to punt after another three and out and they pinned the Hoosiers at the four-yard line. Undaunted by the poor field position, the Hoosiers marched 96 yards with a mix of the run and the pass. IU finished the drive with a two-yard completion for a touchdown to Peyton Hendershot and led 24-7. Reese Taylor sacked Joe Milton to end the Wolverines final drive of the half and the Hoosiers took a knee and went to the locker room ahead by 17 points. Michael Penix was electric in the first 30 minutes with 254 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Indiana began the second half with the ball and got a first down with a pass interference penalty on the first play of the drive. The offense got across midfield but were shut down there, punting into the end zone. Michigan got the spark they needed as Ronnie Bell had two long receptions and freshman Roman Wilson finished the drive with a diving catch in the end zone to make it 24-14. Michigan had momentum but once again, the Indiana offense was able to answer in a resounding way. Peyton Hendershot began the drive with a couple of receptions to get the Hoosiers to midfield. The Wolverines helped out with a pass interference penalty on third down. Penix threw a bullet to Jacolby Hewitt for a 31-yard gain to the one-yard line and Stevie Scott pounded it into the endzone to put IU back ahead by 17 points. Michigan had to punt and the Hoosiers had a punt of their own on the next possession. The Wolverines crossed midfield on the final play of the third quarter and Joe Milton again found Ronnie Bell, this time for a touchdown that cut the lead back to ten points at 31-21. IU was unable to move the ball or take any time off the clock as they threw three incompletions and Michigan took over on the 35-yard line with a chance to get the game within one possession. For the third straight game, it was IU’s Jaylin Williams making a huge play. The junior from Memphis darted in front of a long Joe Milton pass and picked it off, returning it to the Michigan 29-yard line. The offense took advantage as Stevie Scott ran into the red zone, then converted a fourth and inches and two plays later dove into the end zone for his second touchdown to restore the lead to 17 points at 38-21. Indiana’s defense allowed some screen passes and some soft coverage allowed Michigan to move down the field but Tiawan Mullen forced a fumble on a cornerback blitz that was recovered by Michael Ziemba. The replay officials somehow overruled the call on the field and called the play an incomplete pass. Undeterred, the IU defense sacked Milton and then on third and 25, Devon Matthews intercepted a jump ball thrown towards the endzone. The Hoosiers took over possession with a little more than five minutes left. Stevie Scott carried the load, earning a first down and forcing Michigan to call all three of their timeouts. IU was just of a second first down and chose to go for it on fourth and inches. Once again, it was Stevie Scott powering through the Michigan defensive front to seal the deal. After 24 consecutive defeats at the hands of the Maize and Blue, Indiana defeated Michigan and did so in convincing fashion by a final of 38-21.

Michael Penix finished 30 for 50 with 342 yards and three touchdowns and Stevie Scott ran for 97 yards with two touchdowns. Sampson James chipped in 25 rushing yards and Ty Fryfogle had a monster day with 142 receiving yards and a touchdown. Joe Milton ended up throwing for 344 yards with three touchdowns but he had two interceptions and was only 18 for 34. The Hoosiers held Michigan to only 13 yards rushing on 18 carries and they outgained Michigan 460 to 357. IU controlled the ball with 38:20 of possession, nearly a two to one advantage. IU is 3-0 and now heads to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans. There is a real chance they make that trip as a top ten team. Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of this contest.