Wolverines Regroup With Win Over Hoosiers
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Devin Gardner threw for two touchdowns and Drake Johnson ran for two, helping Michigan to a 34-10 victory over Indiana on Saturday.
Tevin Coleman ran for 108 yards. Coleman entered as the nation’s leader at 170 yards rushing per game, and he remains the only running back in the country to rush for over 100 yards in each game this season.
Gardner gave Michigan a 10-0 lead with a nifty 6-yard touchdown pass to Keith Heitzman in the first quarter. The senior quarterback was nearly brought down around the line of scrimmage but was able to flip the ball forward to Heitzman.
Gardner added a 12-yard scoring pass to Amara Darboh in the second quarter, and Indiana wasted a chance to make up ground before halftime. Chase Dutra intercepted a pass by Gardner and returned it 39 yards to the Michigan 12, but the Hoosiers came away with no points when Griffin Oakes hit the left upright on a 25-yard field goal attempt.
Oakes kicked a 38-yard field goal in the third, but Michigan answered with a 10-yard touchdown run by Johnson. After an Indiana touchdown made it 27-10 late in the fourth, Johnson scored again on a 16-yard run. He finished with 122 yards rushing.
The Hoosiers have lost their top two quarterbacks – Nate Sudfeld and Chris Covington – to injuries. Zander Diamont started against Michigan State. After an open date, he went 5-for-8 against Michigan for just 24 yards.
Gardner threw for 220 yards, the first time all season he’s surpassed 200. He surpassed that mark eight times last season, including a 503-yard performance in a 63-47 win over Indiana.
Saturday’s game drew 103,111 for Michigan’s 257th consecutive game at the Big House with at least 100,000 fans. There was talk that the streak might be in jeopardy this year, but there’s only one more game at Michigan Stadium on the schedule, against Maryland on Nov. 22.
Michigan moved to 4-5 overall and kept its slim bowl hopes alive while the Hoosiers dropped to 3-5 overall with a home date with Penn State next Saturday.