Field Level Media
Nov 14, 2020
Sophomore quarterback Michael Penix Jr. passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns as Indiana put forth a dominant defensive effort in a 24-0 win at Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., on Saturday.
The No. 10 Hoosiers (4-0, 4-0 Big Ten) forced four turnovers and held Michigan State to just 191 yards of offense. Indiana scored all 24 points in the first half.
Senior wide receiver Ty Fryfogle had another huge day for Indiana with 11 catches for 200 yards and two TDs. Fryfogle has posted 342 yards receiving over his past two games.
Michigan State (1-3, 1-3) benched starting quarterback Rocky Lombardi in the second quarter after he started the game 3-of-7 for 21 yards and two interceptions. His replacement, freshman Payton Thorne, fared not much better, completing 10 of 20 passes for 110 yards and an interception.
Indiana cashed in 17 points off three Michigan State turnovers in the first half to build a 24-0 lead.
After Hoosiers sophomore cornerback Tiawan Mullen intercepted a Lombardi pass at midfield, Indiana drove for 50 yards in seven plays, capped by an 8-yard TD run by running back Stevie Scott III to put Indiana up 7-0.
On Michigan State's next offensive series, Indiana defensive lineman James Head recovered a Michigan State fumble at their own 16-yard line. Penix found Fryfogle, who eluded two tacklers on a 16-yard TD catch and run to extend the Indiana lead to 14-0.
Mullen's second interception of the game set up a 22-yard field goal from Charles Campbell, putting Indiana up 17-0 in the second quarter. Then, with 5:06 left in the half, Penix hooked up with Fryfogle again on a 65-yard TD catch to put Indiana ahead 24-0.
Hoosiers junior linebacker Thomas Allen, the son of Indiana coach Tom Allen, was carted off the field in the third quarter with a reported upper-body injury. Teammates surrounded him and then his father put his hand on his back, kissed him on the head and hugged him in a touching moment.
The win over Michigan State puts Indiana alone in first place in the Big Ten East and sets up a high-stakes matchup next Saturday for the Hoosiers at No. 3 Ohio State. The Buckeyes were idle on Saturday when their game with Michigan was canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak for the Terrapins.
--Field Level Media