Penix, Fryfogle lead Indiana
No. 10 Hoosiers shut out Spartans to set up OSU tilt
For Ty Fryfogle and
No. 10 Indiana, each game brings something new to be excited about.
Fryfogle had 11 catches for 200 yards — surpassing career highs he’d set just a week earlier — and the Hoosiers handled Michigan State 24-0 on Saturday. Indiana remained unbeaten, turning what looked like a potential trap game into an easy win.
Now, the Hoosiers can look ahead to a showdown next weekend at No. 3 Ohio State.
“It doesn’t matter what everybody says about us,” said Fryfogle, who had seven catches for 142 yards against Michigan last weekend. “We’re going to keep doing us and keep executing each and every week, getting better every week. That’s what’s exciting about this team. We’re getting better each and every week.”
Michael Penix Jr. threw for 320 yards and hit Fryfogle for two touchdown passes.
Penix also threw two interceptions in the first half, but that didn’t matter much. The Spartans (1-3, 1-3 Big Ten) were just as sloppy — to the point where quarterback Rocky Lombardi was pulled in the second quarter.
Fryfogle did most of his damage in the first two quarters, when all the game’s scoring occurred. Michigan State was shut out at home for the first time since a 31-0 loss to Michigan in 1985.
Indiana has won its first four Big Ten games for the first time since 1987, and the Hoosiers beat Michigan State for the Old Brass Spittoon for only the second time in the past 12 meetings.
Since beating rival Michigan on Oct. 31, the Spartans have lost their past two games by a combined 73-7.
Michigan State and Indiana combined for five turnovers in the first 18:15, but only the Hoosiers showed any ability to take advantage. They went 50 yards in seven plays after Lombardi’s first interception, taking a 7-0 lead on an 8-yard run by Stevie Scott.
A penalty on the kickoff forced Michigan State to start on its own 14, and on the second play of the drive, Anthony Williams fumbled, giving Indiana the ball at the 16. Penix threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Fryfogle.
Lombardi was picked off again, setting up an Indiana field goal.