Indiana University
Michigan
Hoosiers Fall At Michigan, 41-14
11/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2005
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Indiana football team scored the first and last touchdowns of the game and held its opponent scoreless in the second half, but it was not enough as the Hoosiers dropped a 41-14 decision at Michigan on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Hoosiers have been eliminated from bowl contention.
Henne spurred the Wolverine attack, completing 17-of-24 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon. Running back Kevin Grady led the ground game, gaining 94 yards on 14 rushes and adding two touchdowns for Michigan.
The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-6 Big Ten) were led by junior wide receiver Jahkeen Gilmore who had three receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Blake Powers added 112 yards in the air and a touchdown to the cause.
The Hoosiers wasted no time taking an early lead on a seven-play, 77-yard drive on the opening possession, capped when Powers found Gilmore for a 42-yard touchdown play. The score gave IU an early 7-0 advantage with 11:57 remaining in the opening 15 minutes of play.
However, Michigan (7-3, 5-2) scored 41 unanswered points, beginning when U of M went right down the field on its ensuing possession and evened the score at 7-7. After a long kick return, Wolverines began the drive at the IU 34-yard line. From there, Michigan went eight plays, topped by a five-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Tyler Ecker.
Once again, the Wolverines took advantage of good field position to find paydirt on its second possession on the game, going 47 yards on six plays in 2:23. It was capped by another Henne touchdown pass, this time finding Jason Avant for a seven-yard touchdown strike, lifting U of M to the lead for the first time in the contest at 14-7.
The Wolverines continued playing well on special teams and were able to maintain their excellent field position after a 53-yard punt return by Michigan's Steve Breaston, which placed the ball deep in Hoosier territory. From there, the Wolverines went six plays and 26 yards, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Grady. After a missed point after attempt, the Hoosiers were down 20-7 with 12:12 remaining in the second quarter.
Michigan scored their final three touchdowns of the opening half came on two running plays and another pass. Grady scored on a 32-yard touchdown run while Jerome Jackson fought to score from six-yards out. In the waning seconds of second quarter, Henne found Breaston for an 11-yard strike, giving the Wolverines an insurmountable 41-7 advantage as the teams headed into the locker room.
The Hoosier defense buckled down in the final 30 minutes of the contest. It was the first time this year IU did not allow a single point in the second half, and it marked the second time this season the Hoosiers held their opponent without any points in a half.
Finally, Indiana broke through with 8:46 remaining in the final quarter. Junior quarterback Graeme McFarland found freshman wide receiver Brandon Walker-Roby for a seven-yard touchdown play, resulting in the final score.
The Hoosiers will close the 2005 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 19, against archrival Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket. Indiana will attempt to regain the traditional trophy for the first time since beating the Boilermakers, 13-7, in 2001. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST at Memorial Stadium.
