Photos by: Aaron J. Thornton
On an unseasonably warm 85 degree October Saturday in Michigan, the Michigan Wolverines hosted the Wisconsin Badgers for their homecoming game. 110,000+ fans packed into Michigan Stadium for a “Maize Out” including former Wolverine football greats Brian Griese, Charles Woodson, Braylon Edwards, Black Corum and a slew of others.
In the 71st meeting between the two schools, Michigan, ranked No. 20 in the nation, looked to get their fourth win of the season after a bye week. Despite being the underdog in the game by as many as 17 points, the Badgers came into “The Big House” with the goal of spoiling the Wolverines’ homecoming and pick up their fourth win.
After winning the coin toss, Michigan elected to defer and kickoff to the visitors. Wisconsin took advantage, silencing the maize and blue fans, going 65 yards in 12 plays on the opening drive to score the games for points. Unfortunately, that would end up being Wisconsin’s best drive of the day as they would not find the end zone again.
Michigan wouldn’t be down long as they would answer on their first drive as well. Starting at their own 25 yard line, the Wolverines went downfield and scored in just six plays, getting a total of 54 yards by Justice Haynes including a 43 yard run before he ran the ball in for a one yard touchdown to tie the game.
It certainly appeared we were headed for a high scoring action packed game. However, the defenses for both teams settled in and both offenses struggled to move the ball the rest of the first half. Michigan managed to get a 40 yard field goal in the second quarter by Dominic Zvada to break the tie but it was a defensive battle for both the Wolverines and Badgers leading into the break. At the half, the score was 10-7 in favor of the home team.
Coming out of the locker room after halftime, Michigan started with the ball and looked to be heading to put more points on the scoreboard. With an eleven play first drive taking almost six minutes off the game clock, the Wolverines were inside the red zone and threatening to score at the Wisconsin nine yard line. The Badger defense however came together for a key stop on third and nine to force the Wolverines into a field goal attempt. Although a 27 yard field goal usually comes as automatic for Zvada, the kick would be off and the score remained 10-7.
On Michigan’s third possession of the second half, Quarterback Bryce Underwood and Receiver Donavan McCulley found some chemistry. Underwood would find McCulley who made a spectacular catch falling out of bounds on the sideline. The play was ruled as an incomplete catch out of bounds initially but after official review, it was overturned as a 33 yard completion at the Wisconsin 34 yard line. A couple plays later, Underwood and McCulley connected again and behind some tough yards gained after the transfer receiver’s catch, McCulley made it into the end zone for another Michigan touchdown to increase the Wolverine lead to ten points. That made the score 17-7 with about four minutes left in the third quarter.
The Badgers received the ball back and looked to answer however they wouldn’t have possession very long. On the third play of Wisconsin’s drive, Michigan’s Rod Moore, back from being out for over a year with an injury, would come up with his first pick of the season. Ironically, he had a pick in the last game he played before being injured as well. The Wolverines then took off another almost five minutes of clock time before Underwood recovered his own fumble on a fourth and two resulting in a turnover on downs at the Wisconsin 31 yard line.
Once again, Michigan’s “D” stood tall and forced Wisconsin into their fifth three and out on the day, getting the ball back in the hands of the Wolverines offense. The result, another successful drive that started in their own territory in which they moved the ball downfield on plays that included a leaping 25 yard reception to McCulley from Underwood. And for the second time on the day, it was capped off by Haynes scoring his second touchdown in the game with a one yard run in. It was now a 17 point Michigan lead, 24-7, with just under ten minutes left in the final quarter and Wisconsin surely feeling the game slipping away from them.
Wisconsin’s next possession resulted in a successful field goal with just under three minutes left in the game but the Badgers really needed to reach the end zone to have any chance of a miraculous comeback. Wolverines Sophomore Jordan Marshall picked up some late rushing yardage within the last couple minutes to run the clock out and it was Michigan coming away with their fourth victory of the season.
Underwood finished the game completing 19 of 28 passes for an impressive 270 yards with zero interceptions for Michigan. McCulley led the receiver group with 112 of those yards, while true freshman Andrew Marsh, who got his first start of his career, caught four passes for a career best of 80 yards. The legs of Haynes continued to do work, keeping him in the top five of all rushers in the nation with 117 yards in the game.
On the defense, Jimmy Rolder led the Wolverines in tackles with seven with Derrick Moore coming up with five including one sack. Rod Moore had the lone interception in the game.
Next up for Michigan (4-1) will be a trip out West to Los Angeles where they will take on USC (4-1) Saturday at 7:30p ET. Wisconsin (2-3) will return home to host Iowa (3-2) in Madison.
Final Score: Michigan 24 – Wisconsin 10
