Hoosiers Hold Off Wolverines to remain Unbeaten

By: Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   The #11 Excel H Sports Ranked Indiana Hoosiers had to battle for 60 minutes and held off the Michigan Wolverines 20-15 at a sold-out Memorial Stadium Saturday Afternoon to improve to 10-0 on the season and 7-0 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have never won 10 games in a season, or seven Big Ten Wins in a season.

 

   Curt Cignetti is 10-0 and started 10-0 at James Madison a season ago before they dropped its only regular season game at home against Appalachian State. Indiana saw its 9-game streak of winning every game by double digits and scoring 31 or more points in every game snapped but the Hoosiers beat Michigan for just the third time since 1987 and all in Bloomington and last won in 2020 was only played in front of families due to the COVID-19 Pandemic so having a sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd that was loud from start to finish was huge and played a major factor in this game.

  Michigan jumped out a 3-0 lead when Dominic Zvada hit a 39-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the first quarter and Indiana trailed for the second time this season after trailing 10-0 after the first quarter at Michigan State last week.

   Indiana responded with Kurtis Rourke finding Omar Cooper Jr. on a seven-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 left in the first quarter to make it 7-3. Rourke threw his second touchdown pass of the game with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 12:10 left in the second quarter to make it 14-3 Indiana.

 

   Rourke becomes the sixth player in IU History to throw 20 or more touchdowns on the season and tied with Nate Sudfeld who threw 21 in 2013 and is within striking distance of Kellen Lewis who set the single season record with 28 passing touchdowns in 2007.

   Indiana forced a Michigan fumble by Terry Jones Jr. and recovered by Mikhail Kamara that gave the Hoosiers the ball back and led to a 40-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic with 2:20 left to play in the second quarter. Indiana went into the locker room up 17-3 at halftime and 228 yards of offense compared to 94 for Michigan in the first half. Both teams struggled in the running game as Indiana outgained Michigan 38-11. The Hoosiers lost defensive back Jamier Johnson to a targeting call late in the second quarter.

   In the third quarter Indiana was backed up deep in their own territory as Kurtis Rourke was picked off by Zeke Berry, but the Hoosier defense stood their ground and held the Wolverines to a 22-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada for his second of the game to make it 17-6 with 8:41 left in the third quarter. Zvada hit his third field goal of the game with 8 seconds left in the third quarter as he connected from 56 yards to make 17-9 Indiana going into the fourth quarter with Indiana only having 7 yards of offense all on the ground and did not have any passing yards as Rourke was held 0-4 in the third quarter and being held scoreless for the first time all season in the third quarter. Michigan had 66 yards of offense in the third quarter going 4-5 for 28 yards passing and 14 carries for 38 yards.

  Michigan got within two points when Kalel Mullings scored a one-yard touchdown with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter but missed the two-point conversion as Davis Warren overthrew the receiver in the end zone as the Hoosiers led 17-15. Michigan had to punt on its next possession and Indiana used a 6 play 16-yard drive using up two minutes and forty-five seconds of clock as Nicolas Radicic kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:34 left to give the Hoosiers a 20-15 lead. Michigan went for it on fourth down from their own 33-yard line and David Warren threw a 9-yard pass Peyton O’Leary and Aiden Fisher made the first down saving tackle as O’Leary was short of the first down marker and turned it over on downs. Indiana kept the ball on the ground and Kurtis Rourke ran the ball 9 yards and slid for the first down with 51 seconds left giving the Hoosiers a fresh set of downs and the Hoosiers lined up in victory formation twice and Indiana continues to make history and they sent the sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd home happy but their double-digit streak ends as well as scoring less than 31 points for the first time this season.

   The Hoosier defense held its ground forcing the Wolverines to punt 5 times, a fumble and turnover on downs. The Wolverines are 5-5 and 3-4 overall in the Big Ten and have Northwestern at home and travel to Ohio State to close out the regular season. Davis Warren finished 16-32 passing for 137 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions as 7 different players caught the ball and Colston Loveland led the way with 4 catches for 37 yards. Michigan ran the ball 34 times for 69 yards and one touchdown as Donovan Edwards had 15 carries for 46 yards.

   Kurtis Rourke finished 17-28 passing for 206 yards and 2 touchdown passes and interception. Ke’Shawn Williams had 6 catches for 70 yards as the Hoosiers used seven different receivers. Ty’ Son Lawton rushed 12 times for 55 yards and Justice Ellison 9 times for 17 yards as Indiana ran the ball 28 times for 40 yards because Rourke had 5 carries for -28 yards. Indiana will travel to Ohio State in two weeks in game that will go a long way in deciding the Big Ten Championship race and then the regular season hosting Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket in three weeks.