Sept. 26, 2009

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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #23 Michigan 36, Indiana 33
Records: U-M (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), Indiana (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 108,118
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 3 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After freshman quarterback Tate Forcier (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) found sophomore slot receiver Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee) for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:29 remaining, junior cornerback Donovan Warren (Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic) picked off an Indiana pass at the Hoosiers' 30-yard line with 2:14 left to seal a 36-33 homecoming victory for the University of Michigan football team (No. 23 AP, No. 22 USA Today) on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Michigan Stadium. Forcier pushed the Wolverines 52 yards down the field during the winning drive, rushing five yards for a first down and later completing a 26-yard pass to Odoms for the go-ahead score.

The two teams traded touchdowns through the first quarter of the game with the score tied at 14-14 heading into the second quarter. The Hoosiers led 23-21 at intermission thanks to three field goals, controlling the clock during the first half with 18:01 minutes of possession compared to Michigan's 11:59. The Maize and Blue added two touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter to win its Big Ten Conference opener for the 40th time in the last 42 tries.

Forcier took a majority of the snaps, completing 11-for-21 passes for 184 yards. The Wolverines also used freshman quarterback Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach), who went 2-for-3 in the air, including a 36-yard toss in the second quarter, and rushed for 24 yards. Senior running back Carlos Brown (Franklin, Ga./Heard County) had another strong outing, accumulating 144 yards from scrimmage. He caught a screen pass and dashed 61 yards for his first of two touchdowns in the first quarter. Brown's 83 rushing yards were highlighted by a 41-yard run for a touchdown later in the first quarter.

Senior/junior linebacker Jonas Mouton (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice) led the Michigan defense with 11 tackles, while senior/junior linebacker Obi Ezeh (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) recorded 10 tackles, one for loss, and one pass break-up.

Indiana began the game by methodically marching 80 yards to take a 7-0 lead. The Hoosiers converted on fourth-and-two from the U-M 30-yard line to keep the drive alive. On the next play, sophomore wide receiver Tandon Doss took an option pitch on the left side and scampered 25 yards for the touchdown.

The Wolverines quickly responded with a touchdown of their own in two plays. Sophomore wide receiver Darryl Stonum (Stafford, Texas/Dulles) dashed 34 yards to the Michigan 39 on the kickoff return. After an incomplete pass, Forcier threw into the flat to Brown, who sprinted around the left end and down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown play.

Michigan gained a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Once again, Michigan rode Brown into the end zone. The senior running back carried three times for 49 yards on the drive, highlighted by his 41-yard dash down the left sideline.

The Hoosiers scored the equalizer three series later, capping a 67-yard drive in 39 seconds with an 11-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14-14.

To begin the second quarter, Indiana scored back-to-back field goals, taking a 20-14 lead. The second field goal came on the heels of an interception thrown by Forcier.

The Wolverines took a narrow 21-20 lead with under three minutes remaining in the first half. Robinson put together the 70-yard drive, rushing for 14 yards and completing a 36-yard pass on third down to sophomore tight end Kevin Koger (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer). Senior running back Brandon Minor (Richmond, Va./Varina) broke free and stumbled into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown run.

IU grabbed the lead heading into halftime by capitalizing on a Robinson fumble at the U-M 21-yard line. Hoosier kicker sophomore/freshman Nick Freeland converted his third field goal of the quarter to put his team up 23-21 at the intermission.

The only scoring in the third quarter came on Freeland's fourth field goal of the contest with just over five minutes left in the quarter, extending the IU lead to 26-21.

Michigan's offense sputtered in the third quarter, punting after each of its three possessions. The Wolverines came back in the fourth quarter, capturing a 29-26 lead on their first series. Forcier sparked the 4:58 drive with a 19-yard completion to junior/sophomore slot receiver Kelvin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids). Runs by Forcier, Brown and Minor eventually got U-M into the red zone. Forcier ran seven yards and leapt over IU defenders to get in for the touchdown. Michigan opted to go for the extra two points with Forcier snaking through the defense and propelling himself into the end zone. The play came after a false start pushed U-M back to the eight-yard line.

The Hoosiers then regained the lead, 33-29, on their first play of the subsequent drive thanks to a career-best 85-yard run by sophomore/freshman tailback Darius Willis, who finished the contest with 152 yards on 16 carries and the score.

Junior/sophomore defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen (Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall) registered Michigan's first sack of the game with nearly seven minutes to go, resulting in a loss of 12 yards for IU and a punt two plays later. The Wolverines took advantage of the field position, starting their series at their own 48-yard line with 5:32 remaining in the contest. Forcier connected with Odoms on a 26-yard reception for the go-ahead touchdown and the final score of 36-33.

Warren intercepted a Chappell pass to ensure the Wolverine victory with 2:14 remaining on the clock.

The Wolverines will next head to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State next Saturday (Oct. 3) at Spartan Stadium. The game is slated for a noon start and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423