Michigan downs Hoosiers 42-35 with last-minute TD

Denard Robinson led the Michigan Wolverines (5-0, 1-0) to a 42-35 victory against Indiana (3-1, 0-1) in the Big Ten opener on Saturday with 217 yards rushing and five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing).

The day featured some record-setting numbers with IU senior quarterback Ben Chappell completing 45-of-64 passes for 480 yards. The senior signal caller set the school record for completed passes, passes attempted and passing yards in a game.

Chappell got his day off to a fast start, finding redshirt freshman receiver Duwyce Wilson in the end zone for a 5-yard pass. The touchdown capped off an 11-play, 77-yard drive that got the Hoosiers out to a 7-0 lead. It would be the last lead that the Hoosiers would have on the day.

Robinson set the tone early, running for a 72-yard touchdown on Michigan’s second play from scrimmage. It was a play that quickly took the sail out of a sell-out crowd at Memorial Stadium.

“He’s just a great athlete,” Lynch said of Robinson. “You can see it on film getting ready for him, but on the field you sense the same thing.”

Just three minutes later, the Michigan offense struck again.

After already eclipsing the 100-yard mark for rushing, Robinson connected with sophomore receiver Roy Roundtree for a 32-yard touchdown. The Wolverines took a 14-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

"They’re a big-play team, and it’s hard to replicate that overall speed when the Big Ten season comes,” IU senior safety Mitchell Evans said. “They came out flying, and I think it caught us off guard a little bit.”

Michigan continued its big-play ability in the second quarter. A 74-yard pass to Roundtree had the Wolverines knocking on the door again at the IU 2-yard line.

With the Hoosiers facing a two-touchdown lead to Michigan’s potent offense, it appeared that they were quickly slipping out of contention.

But Robinson made his first mistake of the day. On what appeared to be a miscommunication between Robinson and Michigan center David Molk, the sophomore quarterback put the ball on the ground.

IU senior linebacker Tyler Replogle pounced on the ball to give the Hoosiers possession on their own 1-yard line.

With their starting field-position on their own goal-line, the Hoosiers responded.

After sneaking the ball to get some breathing room, Chappell dissected the Michigan defense. Chappell led the Hoosiers on a 13-play, 99-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Darius Willis.

That possession set the tone for a game that went back and forth throughout.

A 21-21 tie at the half did not last long for the Hoosiers.

Robinson started the second half in similar fashion as the first. This time, Robinson went to the air, completing a 70-yard touchdown pass to Michigan receiver Junior Hemingway.

In what became typical fashion on Saturday afternoon, the Hoosiers offense answered.

After empty possessions from IU and Michigan, Chappell again moved the Hoosiers down the field through the air. Three completions by Chappell got the Hoosiers to the Wolverine four-yard line, where Willis found the endzone for the second time of the day.

A 28-28 tie was broken by another big play from the Michigan offense. Only this time, it wasn’t from the arm or legs of Robinson.

Michigan sophomore Vincent Smith scored on a run from 56 yards out to give the Wolverines another one-touchdown lead with 6:10 left in the third.

The theme of trading touchdowns was halted with both defenses recording multiple stops. The next seven drives ended with punts.

“We saw that the offense was carrying the team the whole game, and we came to the conclusion that we needed to make some step to help them out,” IU junior defensive end Darius Johnson said.

After allowing seven plays for over 20 yards, the IU defense got their offense the ball down 35-28 with 7:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Chappell delivered again.

With the game on the line, the Hoosiers were faced with a fourth-and-five on Michigan’s 19-yard line. Chappell hit Willis on a swing pass on the left sideline where he broke a tackle and found paydirt to tie the game at 35-35 with 1:15 remaining.

Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, it was more than enough time for Robinson.

Robinson got into the IU redzone with a 42-yard pass to Hemingway on a deep fade on the right sideline. The next play, Robinson ran it in for his second rushing touchdown of the game, giving Michigan a 42-35 win.

The loss marks the Hoosiers' first of the year and the ninth time in a row that they have dropped the Big Ten opener.

“That was a great football game. I’m really disappointed for our kids,” Lynch said. “Big plays today, on their part, won out.”