After trying week, Michigan handles Indiana

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While Michigan has scheduled many big-time opponents over the next decade, adding Indiana a few more times would help.

The Hoosiers came to Michigan Stadium and, even facing one of the worst U-M teams of the past 30 years, took its beating, as the Wolverines rolled to a 34-10 win, their 19th consecutive over Indiana today.

Michigan rolling is a foreign concept in this disappointing season. It inched forward to 4-5 (and 2-3 in the Big Ten) and kept hope alive for bowl eligibility, which requires six wins.

But with a defense like U-M showed today, it seems like a realistic opportunity.

The Wolverines, playing in their first game since Dave Brandon resigned as athletic director and Jim Hackett took over as interim, dominated the Hoosiers' (3-5, 0-4 Big Ten) quarterbacks, especially true freshman starter Zander Diamont, with double digit tackles for loss and a few sacks.

Indiana's offense, which usually revolves around the nation's leading rusher, Tevin Coleman, was virtually stunted as his 170-yard average was sliced down to a season-low 108 yards.

The defense forced three fumbles, recovering two, and held the Hoosiers without a touchdown until 3:09 remained in the game, ending up tying the Wolverines' fewest points allowed this season.

Combined with an improving offense flourishing around less-heralded players, Michigan showed promise, even though few of the announced 103,111 were around to see the finish with temperatures below 40 degrees.

Those hidden players had career days, with receiver Amara Darboh setting his marks with nine catches for 107 yards plus a touchdown, and tailback Drake Johnson as U-M's leading rusher at 16 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner passed for a season-high 220 yards and showed all of his sides in the first half.

His legs showed off in the red zone, dancing in the pocket and escaping a rush, just enough to get free for a pitch to tight end Keith Heitzman for the Wolverines' first touchdown.

He hit Darboh down the right sideline for a 34-yard completion, just U-M's third 30-plus yard play since the Appalachian State game.

Then Gardner threw a bullet to Darboh for a 12-yard score in the end zone.

The team that had gone seven weeks with only one first half of more than 10 points had a 17-0 lead 23 minutes into the game. It was a potent offense, rarely seen this season.

But Gardner reminded what had plagued them to this point, throwing a near pick-six that Darboh saved by tackling the cornerback, knocking the pass loose.

Then, with Devin Funchess wide open down the field, Gardner under-threw him for an interception.

But on this day, with the first decisive win since Sept. 13, it was just about reveling, and keeping that bowl hope alive.

Mark Snyder covers the Wolverines for the Detroit Free Press