BLOOMINGTON – Indiana’s biggest questions entering this season centered on its retooled defense.

The unit gave up a couple of big plays, but made a few more early to help the Hoosiers to a 51-17 victory over Towson in the season opener Thursday in front of 35,242 fans at Memorial Stadium.

Interceptions by Tyler Replogle and Mitchell Evans led to first-quarter touchdowns, and Matt Ernest added a 56-yard interception return for a score in the third quarter. IU never trailed against the Football Championship Subdivision school on its way to winning the season opener for the seventh straight season.

The Hoosiers (1-0) scored their most points in an opener since defeating Indiana State 55-7 in 2007. IU won its home opener for the ninth consecutive year and for the 26th time in the last 29 seasons.

Running back Darius Willis rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Ben Chappell passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns. North Side graduate Darmarlo Belcher caught a 41-yard touchdown pass and finished with 92 yards as the Hoosiers got along just fine without top receiver Tandon Doss, who missed the game with a groin injury.

IU’s defense, featuring just four returning starters from last year, provided a pair of highlights early.

Replogle wrestled the ball away from Alex Blake for an interception, ending Towson’s first drive.

The Hoosiers capitalized five plays later when Chappell found tight end Ted Bolser wide open in the right corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown.

Towson’s (0-1) next possession lasted only two plays. Evans, a former wide receiver who also was Indiana’s quarterback in the wildcat formation last season, intercepted a pass and returned it to the 50. Two plays later, Willis found a hole on the left side and raced 49 yards for a score.

It wasn’t a perfect performance for the defense.

Tigers quarterback Chris Hart broke away from a couple of tacklers on the way to a 42-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play. That set up a Tigers touchdown to cut the lead to 17-7. Towson tried but couldn’t recover an onside kick. IU came right back with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Chappell to Belcher.

Towson answered quickly with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Hart to Hakeem Moore.

IU added two late touchdown runs to pull away.

Trea Burgess scored on a 12-yard run to give IU a 31-14 lead with 1:45 left in the first half.

Indiana forced Towson to punt, but the snap got away from punter D.J. Soven. He tracked the ball down, and tried to get off a punt, which was blocked by Homestead graduate Kevin Bush.

That set up a Willis’ second touchdown, a 2-yard run, eliminating what little doubt remained.

lpope@jg.net