ANN ARBOR, Mich. —Â Indiana’s fast start didn’t last.
In the end, the Michigan powerhouse was too strong, the Michigan Stadium challenge too great.
The No. 2 Wolverines (7-0) scored on their final eight meaningful possessions and won 52-7 Saturday. The Hoosiers (2-4), who jumped to an early 7-0 lead, but couldn’t sustain the momentum.
“We had a good start,” IU coach Tom Allen said during his post-game radio show. “We played well early and halfway through the second quarter. Then we had that (hands-to-the-face) penalty when we had a big pass play with a chance to get more points. That was a big turning point. It never allowed us to recover.
“In the end, it was not good enough.”
For 19 minutes, IU out-played Michigan. Credit an extra week of preparation, an offensive coordinator change and Hoosier determination to play to their potential, and perhaps a little bit more.
Case in point — Michigan had allowed three sacks all season. IU had three in the first quarter, and finished with four.
Case in point — the Hoosiers had seven points against the nation’s best defense (6.7 points allowed per game).
Tayven Jackson started at quarterback and played the first two series, leading the Hoosiers to 64 yards and a scoring opportunity before throwing an interception.
Brendan Sorsby took over for the third series. He got things going with a fake handoff, a pump fake and a 16-yard run. A few plays later came a trick play that produced a Donaven McCulley-to-Jaylin Lucas 44-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 Hoosier lead.
It didn’t last.
Michigan forced four turnovers — two interceptions and two fumbles — and dominated the final three quarters.
Jackson finished 7-for-13 for 52 yards and two interceptions. Sorsby was 6-for-15 for 44 yards. He also rushed for 30 yards and had a couple of fumbles.
Allen told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer coaches planned to play both quarterbacks.
“We were trying to find out who could give us the rhythm we needed and score points,” Allen said. “We got some early points there. They both made some mistakes. They didn’t protect the ball. We were trying to decide who we want to lead our team.”
A bowl bid remains possible. IU has to win four of its last six games to become bowl eligible. It hosts Rutgers next Saturday.
“You have to keep the big picture in perspective,” Allen told Fischer. “There’s a lot of football in front of us. We have to learn some valuable lessons and keep getting better.”
IU got the strong start it prepared for.
Under Rod Carey, quick passes, sharp execution and decisive play calling got Indiana within 10 yards of a first-quarter touchdown. A Hoosier penalty and a Jackson interception ended that drive, but not Cream ‘n Crimson momentum.
A shocker came on the second drive behind Sorsby. He threw backward to McCulley, a former quarterback, who threw to a wide-open Lucas for a 44-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
By the end of the first quarter, the Hoosiers had 141 yards to Michigan’s 17.
The Wolverines tied it at 7-7 on a Blake Corum TD run early in the second quarter, then followed with a J.J. McCarthy scoring pass and another Corum touchdown run for a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers had no second-half answer.
Courtesy of IUHOOSIERS.com used with permission
