Hoosier Defense Proves Itself Consistent With Dominating Performance to Defeat Michigan 38-21
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Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by Amanda Pavelka (@AmandaPavelka3)
It was a downright dominant performance by the Indiana defense that left Michigan in the dust 38-21 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. It was the dust IU had collected over the past 33 years that they had come up without an answer for Michigan and their consistently talented teams, and Saturday they had every answer from the first kick.
Kane Wommack’s defense was quick to shut down Michigan’s operations from the start. Michigan’s first drive ended a 3-and-out, that would be one of four caused by the Hoosiers on Saturday.
“I told Michael Penix Jr. that the offense has to start fast,” IU cornerback Reese Taylor said, “He told me the same thing that the defense has to start fast. We rallied up the defense and told them. We have to start fast this game and get these stops.”
The Hoosiers ability to completely shutdown the Michigan running game was key. The Wolverines had 13 rushing yards. On 18 carries. In 60 minutes.
Kevin Peoples and his ironclad defensive line made it impossible for the Wolverines to make anything happen on the ground. IU gave Michigan quarterback Joe Milton no other choice, but to throw the football on Saturday.
“We knew going in this game, we said we got to stop the run,” Tom Allen told the media, “And we felt like that is what they were going to try to establish. I thought the running backs are extremely talented, which they are but we eliminated the run from their game. Then, at that point and we started just focusing on defending the pass.”
Milton (344 yards) slightly overthrew Mike Penix (342 yards) on the stat sheet, but not enough to make up for IU’s red hot stops that stunned the Wolverines on 3rd down. IU defense frustrated Michigan big time, allowing them to convert only 3 of 11 (27.3%) of 3rd downs. As a result, IU held possession of the football for nearly double the time— 38 minutes and 50 seconds.
Even with the early loss of Jamar Johnson, who was ejected for throwing a punch, the Hoosiers went to the locker room with a comfortable 24-7 halftime lead, but came out a little too relaxed. A Indiana three-and-out and sluggish defense allowed a quick touchdown by Michigan.
IU offense stepped up and responded promptly with a touchdown and extra point by the trusty Charles Campbell. With a 31-14 lead, the Hoosiers marched into the 4th quarter with determination.
With 12:42 to go, Jaylin Williams caught a Milton pick and ran it 39 yards— his third in three games. From the 29-yard line, Williams’ interception translated to a much-needed touchdown to put the Hoosiers up 38-21– a lead they carried to the buzzer.
“It was zone coverage, so I had to get under the No. 1 wide receiver,” Williams said, “I was looking at Joe Milton, I saw him release the ball, and I thought that I could get to the ball and I did. I was just trying to get Michael Penix Jr. and our offense back on the field.”
The pressure IU put on Milton all afternoon payed off when Devon ‘Monster’ Matthews caught the interception that sealed the win for the Hoosiers.
Allen stormed the field and tackled Matthews to celebrate, taking a hit to the cheek bone in the process.
“I knew that was the dagger,” Allen said, “I knew that was it. I really believed the way our offense was playing that that was the final thing that we had to do to secure the win and so I just took off. Sometimes I do not really think much in those situations. That is why I got this cut on my cheek. So, unfortunately his helmet hit my cheek bone. I do not think he broke it but it does not feel very good right now, but bottom line is I do not really care.”
With 5:05 on the clock and possession of the football, it was their minutes to stall. And they absolutely did to put away Michigan for the first time since 1987 and for the 10th time in IU football history.
“I just love this team. These guys, they work so hard and everybody has doubted us and said this and that and just so neat to see them be able to be rewarded for believing and for coming here. Some of these guys came here, could have gone a lot of other places in the recruiting process but they believed in what I was telling them, what our staff was telling them, and we are basically doing the very thing we said we could do even though we had not done it yet, Allen said.
“Devon Matthews is just one of those guys. He was a guy we had to recruit really hard to get him here from the state of Florida, a very gifted athlete, and he believed in us and a whole bunch of guys in that locker room are in that same situation. So, you know that was just a game changer. You intercept the ball like that and that is how you win games. You make those kinds of plays. So that time, it was my reaction.”
Matthews totaled 5 tackles, behind Taylor who led the Hoosiers with 7 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. Micah McFadden had a solid game with 5 tackles, 3 solo, and a quarterback hurry, and Tiawan Mullen made a huge impact with his 3 solo tackles, 2 momentum swaying pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
“It is a talented group of guys,” Allen said, “and I still think we got a lot more in us to keep growing and getting better. And, that is what we got to do, get a little bit better every single week. And that is the objective in order for us to be able to reach our full potential. No, really proud of this defense and you stop the run and you create takeaways you are going be tough to beat.”