03 September 2009

Wolverines Outlast Badgers

Today Michigan faced off against the Badgers of Wisconsin in this huge Big Ten showdown. The Badgers, however, were playing without their coach Raz who was reportedly at home with a case of explosive diarrhea. The game was an up and down affair all day. Wisconsin marched the ball downfield on their first possession and seemed unstoppable until the Wolverines finally held on a crucial 3rd down and forced Wisconsin to settle for a FG. Michigan would score on a Brandon Minor TD to take the lead only to give it away when QB Nick Sheridan, who was starting for injured Tate Forcier, had a fumble returned 44 yards for a TD. This put the Badgers up 10-7 after the 1st quarter.

In the 2nd quarter, starting WR Martavious Odoms was injured which forced the Wolverines to reach deeper into their depth chart. This resulted in WR Junior Hemingway catching his first 2 TD receptions of the season. This put Michigan up 21-13 at the half. The third quarter couldn't have started off worse for the Badgers. Michigan's Terrance Robinson took the opened kickoff and scampered 99 yards (while breaking the ankles of the only Badger defender in his way) for the first kickoff return for a TD on the season for the Wolverines. On Wisconsin's next drive QB Sherer was nailed while throwing the ball and had his pass intercepted by stud DE Brandon Graham. Brandon Minor would then finish things off with a 10 yard TD run.

At this point Michigan led 35-13 and due to time constraints the game was supersimmed. During this supersimming Wisconsin would score 2 TDs and failed on a 2pt conversion cut Michigan's lead to 35-26 after 3 quarters. Then coach Briggs retook the controls for the 4th quarter. Wisconsin's offense, thanks to the momentum from the 2 supersimmed TDs was unstoppable in the 4th quarter. They would score 2 more TDs while, luckily Michigan got 1 of their own. Michigan won by a final score of 42-40 (thank goodness for the failed 2 point conversion).




Game Statistics
CategoryMichiganWisconsin

Score4240
First Downs1716
Total Offense354416
Rushes-YDS-TD41-213-324-64-0
COMP-ATT-TD11-21-225-38-4
Passing YDS141352
Sacked13
3rd Down Conv5-107-13
4th Down Conv0-10-0
2pt Conv0-00-1
Redzone-TD-FG6-4-03-3-0
Turnovers12
Fumbles-Lost1-10-0
Intercepted02
PR Yds40
KR Yds24227
Total Yards600443
Punts-Average3-34.74-38.5
Penalties-YDS1-55-45
T.O.P.16:3911:23

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