Wolverines win as Denard Robinson scores with 17 seconds left
A group of tailgaters try to enjoy themselves as rain pours down outside of Memorial Stadium prior to today's Michigan at Indiana game.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Fourth quarter Michigan 42, Indiana 35: Denard Robinson led Michigan 73 yards in five plays, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds left in the game.
Michigan 35, Indiana 35: Darius Willis scored on a fourth-and-five play, catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ben Chappell.
Third quarter
Michigan 35, Indiana 28: Vincent Smith scored on a 56-yard run. Smith has 76 yards on seven carries. Denard Robinson was back at quarterback after missing a few plays the previous series.
Michigan 28, Indiana 28: Darius Willis burst up the middle and into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run. Ben Chappell was 3-of-3 passing for 58 yards on the drive.
Robinson hurt: Denard Robinson, who sat out much of last week's game with a bruised knee, went down at 11:06 in the third quarter and was helped off the field. (He returned on Michigan's next series) Tate Forcier replaced Robinson at quarterback. Robinson is 8-of-22 passing for 222 yards and three touchdowns. He has nine carries for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan 28, Indiana 21: Junior Hemmingway took a quick pass from Denard Robinson and finished with a 70-yard touchdown reception as Michigan scored quickly to open the second half.
Second quarter
Michigan 21, Indiana 21: Ben Chappell hit Demarlo Belcher on a 2-yard pass on the final play of the first half.
Michigan 21, Indiana 14: Denard Robinson's second touchdown pass of the day went to Kevin Koger for a 3-yard score. Michigan scored on a nine-play, 81-yard drive after Cameron Gordon intercepted a pass from Ben Chappell. Robinson has 152 yards rushing and 154 yards passing.
Michigan 14, Indiana 14: Darius Willis scored on a 22-yard run, capping a 13-play, 99-yard drive. Indiana took over at its 1-yard line when Denard Robinson fumbled a snap.
First quarter
Michigan 14, Indiana 7: Denard Robinson hit Roy Roundtree on a 32-yard touchdown pass. Robinson already has 105 yards rushing and is 2-for-2 passing for 49 yards.
Michigan 7, Indiana 7: Michigan sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson raced up the middle to score on a 72-yarder on his first carry of the day. A two-play, 77-yard, 46-second drive.
Indiana 7, Michigan 0: Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell found Duwyce Wilson alone in the middle of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass. The Hoosiers drove 77 yards on 11 plays.
Kickoff: The game is under way with Indiana opening on offense.
Pregame
Which trend matters when the Michigan football team takes on Indiana today?
Take your pick:
• Michigan (4-0) has won 16 consecutive games against Indiana (3-0) and 31 of the last 32 games.
• Rich Rodriguez is 1-8 in October games as Michigan's coach.
• Rodriguez is 2-0 in Big Ten Conference openers.
The game begins at 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU). We'll update this file throughout today's game.
Join our live chat: Rich Rezler and Michael Rothstein are your hosts
Catch up on the week's coverage: Our mega guide
The Michigan injury report: Out: Mike Jones (leg), Michael Shaw (knee), Fitzgerald Toussaint (shoulder), Jared Van Slyke (clavicle), Mike Williams (head), Troy Woolfolk (ankle) Questionable: John Ferrara (hand) Probable: Brandon Herron (ankle), Carvin Johnson (knee), Denard Robinson (knee)
Comments
81wolverine
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 8:12 p.m.
The time of possession deficit was gigantic. That's a HUGE area of concern. Our defense was on the field WAY too long. Michigan went for the long ball too many times in the 2nd half instead of going for the easy medium yards against IU's porous defence. Obviously, we want to score any way we can (fast or slow) but the coaches need to reign in Denard if he's trying to do too much sometimes. Next week is a HUGE game of biblical proportions. Michigan WILL win!
3 And Out
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:40 p.m.
I dont. MSUs defense is vastly better than IUs. If we didnt have D Rob we would have 2 wins right now.
Steve
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:35 p.m.
@ 3 and out that's why they play the game. I like our chances. Go Blue
Sparky79
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.
We're stuck with the defense we have, so get used to these type of games this season. They did a good job containing Indiana's run game (88 yards on 34 carries), but got the secondary just got shredded as expected. Seems like we just sit eight guys back and let opponents find the holes all game, not actually try to cover anyone. But I agree, must question some of the play calling. Had them 3rd and 16 from like their 10 yard line and we only rush three, giving Chappell all day to find the open man for 19 yards and a first down. If we blitz and give it up, I can accept that. But basically just sitting back and handing it to them, especially when Chappell has been tearing you apart all day every time you give him time...yeah, that's frustrating! The other thing that was frustrating is when the defense finally did get a few stops on Indiana in the second half, the offense couldn't get anything going. I gotta give some props to the defense, though, because the offense certainly didn't give them any time to rest. Four of Michigan's TD drives took under a minute. Indiana's offense ran 98 (!) plays to Michigan's 45. The quick strike offense is fun, but if the defense doesn't get a few stops, they are going to be on the field a long time without much rest. Oh, and Mike Martin is a beast!
3 And Out
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:17 p.m.
If this team loses to Sparty and Rich Rod becomes the first Michigan coach maybe ever to lose 3 straight to Sparty.... then....?
azwolverine
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 6:16 p.m.
I was actually surprised that when Indiana's offense stalled in the second half, UM's stalled right along with it. Every time IU had to punt or failed on 4th down, I thought Michigan was going to blow the game open which never materialized. Eerily similar to last season's game.
Fat Bill
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 5:48 p.m.
Next week will be brutal if Greg Robinson can't get a better defense on the field. MSU just finished off Wisconsin; their offense is firing on all cylinders...
johnnya2
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 5:36 p.m.
Why in the hell are they only rushing three? The are ripping you apart, why wouldn't you put pressure on the QB? This is not Randell-El at Indiana.
81wolverine
Sat, Oct 2, 2010 : 4:12 p.m.
Michigan's defense is playing as badly as expected. The interception was a huge play however. Michigan should have had 28 if not for Denard's fumble. But, the biggest problem is we're getting killed in time of possession. This keeps IU in the game. Michigan absolutely MUST make several stops on defense in the 2nd half. And our offense must play flawlessly. IU is terrible on defense too. So, IF we execute, scoring shouldn't be a problem. They are particularly bad on the outside where Denard and the receivers are having a field day. Go Blue!