D’Angelo Ponds intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, as No. 13 Indiana remained undefeated with a 31-17 victory against Washington in a Big Ten Conference game Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind.
Justice Ellison rushed for a game-high 123 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries for the Hoosiers (8-0 overall, 5-0 Big Ten). The Hoosiers have opened a season 8-0 for the first time since 1967.
Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson, making his first start of the season for the injured Kurtis Rourke, completed 11 of 19 passes for 124 yards, with one touchdown and one interception, and rushed for a score.
Jonah Coleman gained 104 yards on the ground for the Huskies (4-4, 2-3). Will Rogers III was 19-of-26 passing for 202 yards with the two first-half interceptions.
The Hoosiers put the game away on Jackson’s 2-yard keeper with 8:55 remaining. The four-play, 14-yard drive was set up by Myles Price’s 65-yard punt return.
After trailing 17-7 at the half, the Huskies got a boost when Jackson’s pass on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter was deflected and intercepted by defensive lineman Jacob Bandes at Indiana’s 24-yard line. Four plays later, Demond Williams Jr. rushed for an 8-yard touchdown to pull Washington within 17-14.
The Hoosiers then marched 75 yards in 14 plays, with Ellison powering his way up the middle on a 5-yard TD run to make it 24-14.
Indiana opened the scoring on Ponds’ 67-yard interception return in the first quarter after teammate Tyrique Tucker hit Rogers’ throwing arm as he attempted a screen pass.
Following Ponds’ second interception, Jackson threw a 42-yard scoring strike to Omar Cooper Jr., making it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
The Huskies responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive capped by wide receiver Giles Jackson’s 6-yard touchdown run.
Indiana had first-and-goal from the UW 1 in the final minute of the half but the Hoosiers were stopped on three straight running plays and had to settle for Nicolas Radicic’s 19-yard field goal on the last play before the intermission.
