Michigan Wolverines: Week 9 Recap

1st Quarter:

Michigan has forced the Fighting Irish to punt and get called for a roughing the kicker penalty. With the new set of downs, Notre Dame could do nothing and punt again.

Michigan has the same miscues due to the weather, are forced to punt. They get bailed out not only by a roughing the kicker, but Notre Dame touched the ball, and Michigan recovered for a new set of downs. Michigan catches a huge break here early in the game.

After a huge run by true freshman Zach Charbonnet, Michigan is knocking on the door of a touchdown. However, stalling out on the goal line Michigan will settle for a field goal; to take the lead 3-0.

After multiple failed attempts their next drive. The Wolverines have to realize running up the middle is not a strategy.

2nd Quarter:

After forcing Notre Dame to punt, Michigan is running downfield four yards at a time and mixing it up more on their playcalling. Charbonnet runs it in for the touchdown from seven yards out. Michigan expands its lead to 10-0.

Notre Dame can do nothing on offense and go three and out. Michigan continues to run the ball, 18 consecutive times to be exact. They do not want to chance an interception or just a wet ball fumble.

After a Shea Patterson option runs for a first down near the goal line, Charbonnet will pound it up the middle for the touchdown and the 17-0 lead for the Wolverines.

Notre Dame being desperate goes for it on 4th down and fails to convert, giving the Wolverines position to start their drive.

After a few running the clock plays, this game went to half time with the score 17-0 Wolverines.

3rd Quarter:

After only allowing 52 yards on defense for the first half, the Wolverines have shut down the Fighting Irish offense.

The Wolverines have an interception stolen from them by a phantom defensive pass interference. There was no contact at all, and the most significant part of the contact was the Fighting Irish receiver pushing off of the defender.

With new life after the free 15 yards and lack of turnover, Notre Dame gets aggressive and throws on back to back plays both completions. The first was for a huge gain. The second was for a touchdown to their top Tight End. This touchdown brings the score to 17-7 Michigan.

On the ensuing drive, RB Haskins broke a run up the middle for 49 yards. Paterson then throws to Peoples-Jones for a touchdown, a tremendous sliding catch to bring the score to 24-7.

4th Quarter:

Both teams trade a handful of drives that led to punts for both sides. Michigan gets a drive going in the air. After a handful of chunk plays. Patterson throws a touchdown pass to WR Nico Collins. This brings the score to 31-7.

After a QB change for the Fighting Irish, they went backward 18 yards on his first drive. After the punt, Michigan scores in only two plays on a 23 yard Tru Wilson run. The Wolverines are showing they are clearly the better team without question. Wilsons score brings the game to 38-7.

The Wolverine defense comes up big again, forcing a QB fumble and recovery. That brings out the Michigan offense led by back up QB Dylan McCaffrey who will be seeing some playing time. McCaffrey then throws a touchdown pass to WR Mike Sainristal, who has made a few plays in this game. Michigan goes up 45-7. 

Michigan puts in their second-string defense with only four minutes to go in the game and it showed. Notre Dame was able to go downfield with not much struggle and score a touchdown. 45-14 now for the Wolverines.

Michigan will now put in their third-string QB Joe Milton for the remainder of the game. They ran a run-heavy drive and killed the rest of the clock. Final score from Ann Arbor 45-14.

Player of the Game:

Hassan Haskins, he ran for 149 yards on only 20 carries.

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