Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Loses Heartbreaker to Michigan, 34-31
10/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Indiana Loses Heartbreaker to Michigan, 34-31
Bloomington, Ind. -- Indiana (4-5 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) overcame a 17-0 deficit to take a 24-17 lead but Michigan (6-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) kicker Hayden Epstein's 20-yard field goal with :18 seconds remaining in the contest gave Michigan a 34-31 victory before 41,516 in attendance at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. Sophomore quarterback Antwaan Randle El's "Hail Mary" pass with no time remaining on the clock almost connected with junior wide receiver Jerry Dorsey but the pass fell incomplete. On the day, Randle El completed 18 of 34 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 31 yards. His 321 total yards made him the first player in Big Ten Conference history to surpass 5,000 total yards (yards gained rushing and passing) in his sophomore season. He also set Indiana University's single season record for touchdown passes with 16 (Steve Bradley; 13 in 1983) and set a new Indiana record for single season total offense with 2,939 yards (QB Trent Green, 2,829 yards in 1991).
Michigan jumped to a quick 17-0 lead in the contest. Running back Anthony Thomas (42-197-3TDs rushing) capped an 11-play, 77-yard, drive when he scored on a one-yard run with 11:34 remaining in the first quarter that gave the Wolverines a 7-0 lead after an Epstein kick. Michigan extended its lead to 10-0 when Epstein connected on a 22-yard field goal with 7:11 remaining in the opening frame.
On Michigan's first play following a blocked punt by Michigan's Cato June, Thomas scored on a 15-yard scamper that gave Michigan a 17-0 advantage with 7:44 left in the half.
However, as Indiana has shown all year long, they are a resilient bunch and bounced right back. The Hoosiers put together an 8-play, 80-yard, drive that was capped with a seven-yard scoring pass from Randle El to true freshman tight end Kris Dielman (2-32-1TD) with 4:23 remaining in the first half. The key plays on the drive were a 26-yard pass play from Randle El to sophomore running back Levron Williams (12-64-15LG) and a 25-yard pass play from Randle El to Dielman on a 3rd-and-6 from the Michigan 37-yard line.
Indiana forced a Michigan punt on its next possession and the Hoosiers took over at their own five-yard line with 1:56 remaining in the first half. A 10-yard rush by Williams and an 11-yard run by true freshman Jeremi Johnson (11-20-11LG rushing, 1-1-1TD receiving) moved the ball to the IU-31. On third-and-seven from the 34-yard line, Randle El found Dorsey for a 27-yard pickup to the Michigan-39. On the very next play, Randle El found Dorsey again, this time on a 33-yard pass play that moved the ball to the Michigan six-yard line. On the last play of the half, junior kicker Andy Payne connected on a 23-yard field goal to close Michigan's lead to 17-10 at halftime.
A defensive battle ensued and neither team scored in the entire third quarter helping to set up a fourth quarter that was full of fireworks and six different scoring plays, three by each team.
With 13:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, Johnson culminated a 15-play, 75-yard, 6:26 minute, drive with a 1-yard reception from Randle El on fourth down. On the ensuing kickoff, junior Johnny Anderson forced a fumble by Michigan's Anthony Thomas that was recovered by redshirt freshman Ron Bethel at the Michigan nine-yard line. Three plays later, on third-and-four, Randle El found Dorsey (5-154-2TDs) in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard scoring pass. An Andy Payne extra point gave Indiana a 24-17 lead with 12:06 left in the fourth quarter.
Michigan answered back just four offensive plays later as quarterback Tom Brady (29-17-226-1TD passing) completed a seven-yard scoring pass to Bennie Joppru that tied the game at 24-24 with 10:54 left.
Michigan took a 31-24 lead with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter on a four-yard run by Thomas. But, Indiana answered back again, this time when Randle El was flushed to his left and hit Dorsey for a 70-yard touchdown pass on a first-and-10 at the IU-30.
On their next drive, the Wolverines took over at their own 25-yard line with 4:59 remaining in the half. A costly personal foul face-mask penalty and a defensive holding penalty helped set up a 20-yard field goal on Michigan's tenth play of the drive that gave Michigan its final winning margin.
Indiana took over with :18 seconds remaining and moved as far as the 45-yard line on a pass from Randle El to junior wide receiver Versie Gaddis and a 12-yard rush by Randle El. With :04 seconds remaining, Randle El let one fly into the wind that was knocked down in the end zone after almost being caught by Dorsey.
