Game recap: Michigan handles Wisconsin in homecoming victory

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines moved to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play with Saturday’s 24-10 win over the Wisconsin Badgers, who fell to 2-3 and 0-2 in the Big Ten with the loss.

The game was head coach Sherrone Moore’s first since the loss at Oklahoma on Sept. 6 after serving a school-imposed two-game suspension. While it was a bit of a slog throughout, Michigan was able to separate late and hold off a Badger team looking for answers.

Here is a blow-by-blow recap of Saturday’s happenings in Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Michigan won the opening coin toss and deferred its choice to the second half, electing to start the game on defense. Wisconsin, one of the worst statistical offenses in America, marched right down the field on its opening drive, going 75 yards on 12 plays and scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run from tailback Dilin Jones. Wisconsin would take a 7-0 lead with 8:10 to go in the first quarter.

Michigan wasted no time responding, drawing a pass interference on a flea flicker on its first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, running back Justice Haynes broke free for a 43-yard run, the longest allowed by the Wisconsin defense so far this season, which set up the Wolverines in scoring territory. Haynes closed it out with a 1-yard touchdown, his 7th of the season, to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:02 remaining in the quarter after the extra point from Dominic Zvada.

Wisconsin was able to generate 22 yards on 6 plays on its following drive before Michigan got off the field and forced a punt. The Badgers were able to down the kick at the U-M 2-yard line, where the Wolverines would take over with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Michigan went 21 yards in 4 plays on its next drive and appeared to pick up a first down on 3rd and 1, but Haynes was ruled down short of the line to gain, leading to a Michigan punt. Wisconsin would take over at its 29-yard line with 54 seconds remaining. The quarter would run out with the Badgers facing a 3rd and 4 on their 35-yard line.

Michigan 7, Wisconsin 7

Second quarter

Michigan was able to get off the field on the next play, forcing its first 3-and-out of the afternoon. After the punt, the Wolverines would take over at their 19-yard line and answer with a 3-and-out of their own, punting the ball back to Wisconsin down to the Badgers’ 15-yard line with 12:43 to go in the half. After 19 yards gained on 5 plays, Wisconsin punted it back to Michigan to its 34-yard line with 9:10 to go.

Michigan put together a scoring drive on its next possession, going 44 yards in 8 plays – headlined by a 32-yard connection between freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and classmate Andrew Marsh – but stalling and settling for a 40-yard field goal from Zvada. After the kick, the Wolverines took their first lead of the day at 10-7 with 5:43 to go.

The teams would trade punts in four possessions to end the half, with Michigan sitting on the ball on its final possession backed up against its own endzone with the clock winding down.

Michigan 10, Wisconsin 7

Third quarter

Michigan started the second half on offense after it decided to defer the opening kickoff. The Wolverines went 66 yards in 11 plays, but sputtered in the red zone again and settled for a field goal attempt. Zvada missed from 28 yards out, his third of the season, giving the Badgers the ball on the 20-yard line with 9:26 to play in the quarter.

Michigan’s defense stood tall and forced a punt on a 3-and-out that netted a single yard, taking back over at their 37-yard line with 8:21 left on the clock. The Wolverines matched with a 3-and-out of their own, punting to Wisconsin back to their 10-yard line with 6:50 to go. The defense came up with another 3-and-out stop and Michigan got the ball back at its 33-yard line with 5:14 to go. The Wolverines found a quick-strike offense on the next drive, picking up plays of 33 and 29 yards from graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley, one that was received along the sideline and the second that went for a touchdown. After Zvada’s extra point, U-M led 17-7 after its 3-play, 67-yard drive with 4:11 remaining.

The Badgers gained a quick 31 yards on their following possession, but the drive ended on the third play on a deep ball down the field that was intercepted by Rod Moore, his first of the season and first since returning from a knee injury last spring. Michigan would take over at its 14-yard line with 2:29 to go before the clock ran out, with them facing 3rd and 6 from their 49-yard line.

Michigan 17, Wisconsin 7

Fourth quarter

The Wolverines were unable to pay off their drive, going 52 yards in 10 plays but botching a fourth-down snap with two yards to go. Wisconsin took back over with 13:08 remaining on the 31-yard line. Michigan forced them into their fifth 3-and-out of the day, leading to a punt down to the 26-yard line of U-M, which was returned 13 yards by junior wideout Semaj Morgan. The Wolverines would start their next possession at their 39-yard line with 12:11 to play.

Michigan answered with its second touchdown drive in its last three possessions, going 61 yards in 6 plays and getting a 1-yard touchdown from Haynes, his second of the day and 8th of the season, to take a 24-7 lead with 9:24 to go. The Badgers responded with a 13-play, 53-yard drive that took 6:41 off the clock and resulted in three points on a 39-yard field goal. After an onside kick attempt, Michigan recovered at the Wisconsin 43-yard line with 2:42 remaining.

The Wolverines would run the ball out and secure their fourth victory of the season.

Final Michigan vs. Wisconsin box score, game stats