Michigan junior running back Karan Higdon had a career day on the ground to lead U-M to its fifth win of the season.
The Wolverines called his number 25 times on Saturday against Indiana, and the junior turned that into 200 yards rushing and three touchdowns — including the game winner for 25 yards on the first play of overtime.
No. 17 Michigan (5-1) avoided its second straight loss by escaping Indiana in overtime at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.
After the game both Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and fifth-year senior quarterback John O’Korn said the game plan was to go more run heavy.
Six different players carried the ball for a total of 271 yards on 44 attempts, but it was Higdon that stole the show — highlighted by several long runs.
“He was phenomenal,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know how many yards he got after contact, but they were tough yards. Plays that looked like they were going to be tackles for loss, one yard gain or no gain, found a way to get four or five out of it. More than a few.”
Higdon set new career highs in carries, yards and touchdowns and nearly doubled his season total in yards. Entering Saturday, he had 45 carries for 201 yards and two scores on the year. He’s now second on the team in rushing — just two yards behind fifth-year senior running back Ty Isaac, who has two yards more than Higdon with 403 yards on two fewer carries.
“We went with the run game a little more today which is fantastic for all of us [running backs],” Higdon said. “We all played together as always, and we just trusted it. We had a salty taste in our mouth from last week.”
Isaac and sophomore running back Chris Evans were both held in check by the Hoosier defense. Isaac had 35 yards on seven carries, while Evans rushed eight times for five yards in his return to his home-state.
Freshman running back Kareem Walker also had one carry for eight yards in the first half. Harbaugh said Walker will start to receive more carries as the season goes on. This season, he has four carries for 15 yards.
Higdon’s 59-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter was Michigan’s longest rush of the season and is the longest run Indiana has given up this season. U-M's previous long was a 53-yarder by Isaac against Cincinnati. It's also a career high for Higdon. Indiana had only allowed one rush longer than 30 yards entering the game.
He’s also the first Michigan player to run for 200 yards since Denard Robinson had 235 in 2012 against Purdue. He’s the first Michigan running back to reach 200 yards since Mike Hart, who’s now Indiana’s running back’s coach, did so against Eastern Michigan with 215 in 2007.
“It’s amazing what can happen when all the guys do their job,” Higdon said. “It’s amazing even more when a running back can trust his fullback and line. I trust them 110 percent no matter if it’s a good game or bad game.”
Indiana had allowed an average of 152.4 rushing yards per game prior to Saturday, which was good for No. 54 in the country. Ohio State ran for 292 yards and Penn State rushed for 39 yards against the Hoosiers.
Passing Attack Records Five Yards In Second Half
Michigan made it clear it had an emphasis on the run in the game plan, and O’Korn completed just 10-of-20 passes for 58 total yards — the fewest number of passing yards Michigan has had this season and lowest since last year’s Indiana game.
In the second half, O’Korn was 3-of-9 for five yards.
After the game, O’Korn said he didn’t think anything was wrong with the passing game and that the team simply stuck with the run game because it was working so well. Eight of Michigan's nine punts came in the second half.
Harbaugh said he didn’t want to make any comments on the specifics of O’Korn’s game until he had a chance to watch the film.
Last year against Indiana, O’Korn completed 7-of-16 passes for 59 yards in his first start with the Wolverines.
Miscellaneous Notes:
· Isaac has now run for more than 1,000 yards as a Wolverine, reaching the mark on a second quarter carry. He has 1,223 yards in his career.
· Both of Harbaugh’s games against Indiana in Bloomington have gone to overtime. U-M is 2-0.
· O’Korn’s 5.8 yards per completion is the third-lowest in Michigan history (minimum five attempts).
· Michigan is now 6-for-18 on converting red zone trips into touchdowns this season. It was 1-for-3 in that area Saturday, kicking field goals the first two times it reached the red zone.
· Michigan has won 22 straight over Indiana, and 37 of the last 38.
· Michigan had 16 penalties for 141 against Indiana, which is a new single-game school record. The previous high was 15 against UCLA in 1981. There are at least two other games where Michigan has been penalized for more yards. The 1981 UCLA game and the 1985 game against South Carolina.
· Michigan did not turn the ball over in a game for the first time all season.
· 271 yards rushing is a season high for the Wolverines.
· Michigan went 2-for-13 on third down, the worst percentage of the season. Its previous low was 5-for-17 against Michigan State.
· No Michigan player has caught a pass in all six games.
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