Michigan pulls away from Indiana for 31-10 win

Michigan came out gunning in a 31-10 win at Indiana, running play action on the first play, but sputtered before pulling away in the second half. The Wolverines’ defense adjusted and held Indiana scoreless in the second half to improve U-M to 6-0 halfway through the season.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy got it working early. He found junior receiver AJ Henning for 16 yards on his first pass, and the sophomore completed three straight to get Michigan close to midfield. 

Junior Blake Corum took over from there. He notched a 50-yard run to the 1-yard line on his first carry and finished with a touchdown on the next play to give U-M a 7-0 lead. Five plays, 77 yards and about two minutes in, the Wolverines were on the board. 

The defense held on six plays, but the offense gave it back. A second-and-4, 5-yard loss on a Donovan Edwards run put them behind the chains and resulted in a punt. 

Indiana started to move. A questionable pass interference call on a third-and-1 deep ball kept the drive alive, and a deep ball to Cam Camper set up first-and-10 at the 11. The Hoosiers tied it with 4:54 remaining in the quarter on an 11-yard pass from Connor Bazelak to Josh Henderson. 

Michigan went back to work through the air. A sideline pass to Ronnie Bell from McCarthy netted 26 yards. Two running plays with Edwards failed to work, however, and the Wolverines had to settle for a 44-yard Jake Moody field goal. 

Lack of discipline cost the defense on the next drive. Jaylen Harrell notched a sack, but a celebration penalty turned what should have been a drive-ender into a first down and kept an Indiana drive alive. 

Second Quarter — Indiana goes toe to toe with U-M

The Hoosiers appeared to score a touchdown, but it was called back on an offensive pass interference call while Indiana was lining up for the extra point. 

The Wolverines held, and Charles Campbell tied it with a 41-yard field goal. 

Michigan went back to the ground on its first two plays of the next drive. The Wolverines picked up 5 yards but punted after a McCarthy incompletion on an apparent miscommunication. 

Rod Moore got the ball back at the Indiana 42 with a pick, and Michigan was back in business. 

The Wolverines moved to the 19 on a pass to Bell and a penalty and faced third-and-1 after a 12-yard completion to Bell on second-and-13. They picked up the first down, but then stalled on three consecutive plays inside the 10. Moody’s 26-yard field goal attempt was blocked, and it remained 10-10. 

The Hoosiers’ offense continued to move. A Jaylin Lucas 39-yard run moved the ball into Michigan territory. They had first-and-goal, but the U-M defense held. Campbell’s short field goal was blocked, and the game remained tied at 10. 

Michigan started to march. A third-and-2 slant to Edwards moved the Wolverines to the Indiana 38 and kept the drive alive with 2:08 remaining. 

They got to third-and-short, but two running plays failed to net any yardage, and a TFL on Corum ended the drive at the 40. 

A Mike Morris sack ended the Hoosiers’ threat, and the half ended 10-10. 

Michigan had 206 yards to Indiana’s 193. The Hoosiers were averaging 9.1 yards per completion, far above their average, and were 4-of-8 on third down. Corum rushed only 9 times for 10 yards on his carries after the 50-yarder. 

Third Quarter — Michigan takes the lead

Indiana opened the third quarter with the ball and started to move a bit on the ground. Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson, though, notched a 9-yard sack, and the Hoosiers had to punt. It went into the end zone, but a 5-yard offside penalty forced a re-kick, and it rolled to a stop at the 2.

Michigan senior receiver Cornelius Johnson dropped what should have been a 20-yard reception on third down inside the 5, but Bell picked up a first down on a 14-yard drag route. McCarthy picked up a key third-and-7 with his feet, and a few plays later scrambled and found Johnson uncovered underneath coverage. He took it all the way for a 29-yard touchdown.

It was 17-10 with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The Michigan defense then tightened. Freshman corner Will Johnson came up with a big play on third-and-6, and AJ Henning’s big 35-yard punt return plus a 15-yard late hit gave U-M first down at the Indiana 33.

McCarthy, however, threw into coverage in the end zone. His ball was tipped and picked off, and Indiana took over down only one score. A penalty got the ball to the 35 and IU made it to its own 43 before punting to the Michigan 5.

McCarthy found Andrel Anthony for some breathing room, but Michigan faced second-and-17 from its own 15 after a two-yard Corum loss and a five-yard false start penalty by junior right guard Zak Zinter.

Fourth Quarter — Michigan finally pulls away

Michigan ended up punting, but Brad Robbins came up big. His 58-yarder pinned Indiana deep in its own territory, and a three-and-out, finished by an Eyabi Okie sack, gave the offense the ball back near midfield after a punt.

Play action to Luke Schoonmaker for 15 yards, a great catch low, moved the ball to the Indiana 41.

Then the Wolverines finally got the running game going. Schoonmaker picked up another first down before Corum churned out another. On second down, McCarthy found Schoonmaker in the flat — he turned it up for a 9-yard score, and Michigan finally had some breathing room at 24-10.

Yet another three-and-out led to the fifth punt on five second-half drives for the Hoosiers, and Michigan was in full control. Bell caught a couple passes on the drive, including a 21-yarder to start it. McCarthy connected with Johnson for a 6-yard TD toss, and the score made it 31-10.

The defense held once more, and Michigan ran out the clock on a three-score win.

McCarthy finished 28-of-36 passing for 304 yards and 3 scores. Bell notched 11 catches for 121 yards, and Corum rushed 25 times for 124 yards in the victory.