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After months of waiting, Michigan football returned tonight! The Wolverines were looking to take down Minnesota on the road, and it didn’t start the way they were hoping for. After a screen pass from quarterback Joe Milton to freshman running back Blake Corum for 24 yards, things went downhill quickly. Fullback Ben Mason received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, making it second and long. An incomplete pass followed by a sack made it fourth and long for the Wolverines.
That’s not where it stops, though.
In just two plays after the blocked punt, Minnesota scored a touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner Morgan to tight end Ko Kieft to take the early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. That lead wouldn’t hold on for long, though. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Zach Charbonnet would run up the middle through a wide-open hole for a 70-yard touchdown run to tie the game up 7-7.
After the Wolverine defense forces a three and out for Minnesota, Michigan drives down the field and was held to a 38-yard field goal attempt. A question that wasn’t answered this off-season was who won the starting kicker job between Jake Moody and Quinn Nordin. Moody would kick the extra point and the field goal, but he would miss the field goal, and the game would stay tied 7-7.
On the first play of the third drive, Michigan’s defense showed its teeth as viper Michael Barrett sacked Morgan and forced a fumble. The ball popped out of the air, and defensive tackle Donovan Jeter caught it as he ran it back for a touchdown, and Michigan took the lead for the first time, 14-7.
Minnesota would keep fighting as Morgan found wide receiver Chris Auman-Bell for a 45-yard pass to give them a boost after struggling in back to back drives. Michigan’s defense would bend but not break and hold the Golden Gophers to a field goal, making it 14-10 Michigan.
The Wolverines would take advantage of the Minnesota special teams missing three of its starters as Barrett would return a kick 66 yards to put Michigan at the eight-yard line. Milton would find Mason as he would flip into the endzone for a touchdown, making it 21-10 Wolverines.
Minnesota was not giving up as wide receiver Rashod Bateman contributed with two catches for 23 yards. A Michigan facemask penalty moved the Golden Gophers down the field for a free 15 yards. It would end with running back Mohamed Ibrahim running for a 16-yard touchdown run to make it 21-17.
The Wolverines kept pounding it on the ground, but more so with Milton as he had three carries for 38 yards on the drive. The drive would end with a wildcat formation four-yard touchdown run by running back Hassan Haskins. Michigan would make it 28-17 just under five minutes to play in the half.
Minnesota went bold on their next drive. After getting a three and out, Minnesota would try a fake punt that would net them two yards when it was fourth and four. Michigan took advantage of the short field position, and Haskins would run it in once again for an eight-yard touchdown to make it 35-17.
Michigan would hold off Minnesota once again, and while the Wolverines were able to push down the field, Moody would miss another field goal, this one from 48 yards out. Michigan goes into halftime up 35-17.
Positives:
- The viper position is in good hands with Barrett. Not only is he helping out on defense, but he’s also helping out big on special teams with that 66-yard return. Barrett doesn’t want to get off the field; he wants to help the team as much as he can. With former viper Khaleke Hudson now gone, it was unknown how much Barrett would impact the team, and his presence was felt quickly.
- In his first half of play, Milton did well, going 9/14 for 100 yards and a touchdown, along with six carries for 41 yards. He never looked rattled or uncertain when he was on the field. He was sacked in the first series, but that didn’t make him scared to line back up in the next series. There was an overthrow, but for the most part, Milton did well with his accuracy, a concern many had about him. He was more mobile than many expected, but it certainly helped move the chains.
- The offensive line is impressing early on so far in this game. While Milton was sacked in the opening drive, they have created big holes for Charbonnet and Milton. They have been giving Milton time to throw with a clean pocket for a majority of the passes. With two new starters and two players with limited starting experience, this offensive line has eliminated many doubts about them coming into the season.
Negatives
- While we’ve only seen it appear once, the special team punting group needs to improve. The blocked punt gave Minnesota great field position, and they would use that momentum to score in just two plays to take the early lead. It was only one play, but that blocked punt could give them the confidence to do it again.
- The secondary is struggling, but not as bad as you would think with two new starters. Cornerback German Green let up while in man coverage on Autman-Bell, which allowed the 45-yard catch to happen. Morgan is 12/15 for 84 yards and a touchdown in the first half, so while Michigan has held him to under 100 yards, the completion percentage is too high as multiple wide receivers are open and getting easy catches. It could be a lot worse though, so while it needs to get better, it’s doing better than expected.
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