It only took one quarter for IU to make its statement this week.
In the 38-21 victory over No. 23 Michigan on Saturday, No. 13 IU came ready to go and didn’t look back after leading 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.
What IU has missed this season is quick, explosive starts. It got one Saturday as the Hoosiers marched down the field on their first drive, turning in a 74-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Miles Marshall.
“That was a strong emphasis, the whole starting fast,” sophomore quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. “Just making sure we execute our plays. That’s what we did in the first half.”
Against then-No. 8 Penn State, IU took a 17-7 lead into the half, but relied on its defense to provide scoring opportunities. Junior cornerback Jaylin Williams intercepted a pass and took it into Penn State’s half. IU took that drive 22 yards before kicking a field goal. The Hoosiers only needed to go four yards to score after an interception by junior safety Jamar Johnson.
This lead was different, earned the hard way by the offense.
The first drive was methodical, as Penix dumped screens and Scott pushed short runs into the end zone before the touchdown completion put them up seven.
“We just continued to go with what was working,” Penix said. “The O-line was doing a great job, just gave me time to be able to make those plays.”
It was the first time IU scored first this season. Penix was only three for 10 passing last week after the first quarter and talked during the week about the offense’s need to light it up early.
He completed his first five passes against the Wolverines, taking advantage of their soft coverage after being burned on deep routes last week against Michigan State.
IU did what it failed to do early against Penn State and Rutgers. It found ways to move the ball forward, led by Penix. Penix threw for 38 yards combined in the first quarters of the first two games. He had 136 in the first quarter against Michigan.
“The bottom line is Penix is a special player,” IU head coach Tom Allen said.
The defense came out looking just as it has all season.
They were ballhawks, swarming to passes and controlling the line of scrimmage to keep Michigan from putting together anything effective. IU swallowed up Michigan’s run game before it was able to get going, only allowing 10 rush yards in the first quarter.
“It’s what I envisioned,” Allen said. “It was what I expected. We talked about this year being a top 10 defense, not just being top 25.”
There was only one blemish for the Hoosiers in the first quarter. Johnson was ejected after he punched junior Michigan receiver Ronnie Bell. The following play was a 37-yard passing touchdown, right in the area Johnson would have been.The Hoosiers went three and out on their second drive before allowing the Wolverines to score on the back of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that got Johnson ejected.
IU woke up again on the third drive, storming for 75 yards and switching from short screens to long balls. Penix hit senior receiver Ty Fryfogle twice, once for 31 yards and again for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Penix finished the half with 22 completions on 32 attempts for 254 yards, more than he had in either of the first two games on his way to a career high 342 passing yards.
The Hoosiers never relinquished the lead after first taking it, only once letting the Wolverines tie the game back up. The lead carried IU for its first win against Michigan since 1987.
