UPDATE: Hoosiers dominate season opener with 39-20 win against Western Michigan

The IU football team kicked off the 2006 season on a positive note Saturday night, defeating Western Michigan University 39-20 behind strong efforts from both the offense and defense.\nThe Hoosiers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, marching down the field on a seven play, 73-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. Junior quarterback Blake Powers capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Andrew Means, giving IU the 7-0 lead. \nAfter a Western Michigan field goal, both teams went cold offensively. Sophomore cornerback Chris Phillips ended the scoring drought with a 66-yard interception return for a touchdown that extended IU's lead to 14-3 with a little over ten minutes remaining in the second quarter.\nIU's defense came up big in the second quarter, stopping several Bronco drives thanks to a Geno Johnson fumble recovery and a Will Meyer interception return for 37 yards that led to a Josiah Sears 2-yard touchdown run.\nBroncos kicker Nick Meyers hit a second field goal late in the half to cut IU's lead 20-6 going into halftime.\nIU stymied the Broncos coming out of the locker room on the Broncos' first possession. Junior cornerback Tracy Porter returned a punt 86 yards for another Hoosier touchdown, giving IU the 26-6 lead after Austin Starr had a second PAT blocked.\nThe Hoosiers scored three more times in the second half, including two Austin Starr field goals and a Graeme McFarland to Marcus Thigpen 30-yard touchdown reception, to clinch the season-opening victory.