Michigan gets back on track with 24-7 win over Washington

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon with a 24-7 victory over the Washington Huskies, improving their record to 5-2 and 3-1 in Big Ten play.
The Wolverines were without junior tailback Justice Haynes (midsection) in the game, but leaned on sophomore Jordan Marshall (25 carries, 133 yards, TD) and a stout defense that was tremendous after a 31-13 setback at USC last weekend.
Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood starred in the seventh start of his career, finishing 21-of-27 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The defensive effort was headlined by keeping Washington star quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who had 536 total yards of offense last week against Rutgers, in check. He finished the day with 209 yards passing and 3 interceptions, along with 5 carries for -19 yards.
Michigan is back in action next weekend at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing to take on MSU. Kickoff time will be announced Saturday night, with the Big Ten opting for the six-day window for television designations.
Here is the blow-by-blow recap from Saturday’s game at Michigan Stadium.
First quarter
Washington won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, putting the Michigan offense on the field first at its own 25-yard line following the opening kickoff. The Wolverines went three-and-out, gaining only 6 yards. After the Hudson Hollenbeck punt, Washington took over at the 36-yard line with 13:26 to go. The Huskies were not able to generate much on their first drive, going 23 yards in eight plays — including a potential pick six by U-M corner Jyaire Hill — and punting to Michigan through the end zone, setting up the Wolverines at their 20-yard line with 10:13 remaining. On the following drive, Michigan would march 47 yards in nine plays, but turn the ball over on downs due to a Semaj Morgan drop on fourth-and-1 at the Washington 33-yard line. The play prior, starting left tackle Evan Link was carted off the field with a leg injury, replaced in the lineup by sophomore Blake Frazier.
The Huskies would take a shot down the field on their first play of the next drive, a 48-yard completion to wideout Denzel Boston from quarterback Demond Williams Jr. However, the Michigan defense would hold and force a 36-yard field goal attempt, which was no good. The Wolverines took over at their 20-yard line with 4:20 remaining in the quarter. The offense responded with its first scoring drive of the day, going 80 yards in seven plays and finishing it off with a 22-yard screen to Andrew Marsh off the fingertips of Underwood. After the extra point, the Wolverines led 7-0 with 33 seconds left in the quarter.
The quarter would run out with Washington facing a second-and-5 from its own 30-yard line.
Michigan 7, Washington 0
Second quarter
The Huskies’ drive would stall out at the U-M 45-yard line after eight plays and 30 yards, but the punt was downed at the 7-yard line, where the Wolverines would take over with 10:31 to go in the half. The Wolverines went 63 yards in 11 plays, taking more than 5 minutes off the clock, but Dominic Zvada pulled a 48-yard field goal attempt wide left. After the miss, the Huskies would take over at their 30-yard line with 5:11 to go.
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Washington then put together its best drive of the half, marching 70 yards on 13 plays and putting its first points of the game on the board with a 1-yard Jonah Coleman touchdown run. After the extra point, the game was tied at 7-7 with 40 seconds left in the second quarter. Michigan ran three plays for 9 yards before the clock ran out on the first half.
Michigan 7, Washington 7
Third quarter
Washington began the third quarter from the 25-yard line. Michigan’s defense held firm, forcing a three-and-out, and U-M took over at its own 40-yard line with 14:09 on the clock. The Wolverines went down the field 55 yards in 10 plays, getting down to the Washington 5-yard line. Michigan turned the ball over on downs, though, after a nearly 6-minute long drive, handing it back to the Huskies with 8:22 left in the third quarter.
Washington went 27 yards in 10 plays on its next possession, stalling at the UW 32-yard line and punting down to Semaj Morgan, who returned it to the U-M 18-yard line with 3:39 left in the quarter. The Wolverines ran three plays for 9 yards before punting it to the Huskies down to the UW 18-yard line with 1:30 remaining. On the first play of the drive, Williams was intercepted at the 14-yard line by sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan, his third pick of the season. Michigan’s next offensive snap was a 14-yard Jordan Marshall touchdown run, putting the Wolverines back ahead 14-7 after the extra point with 1:20 remaining.
The Huskies went 33 yards on their next few plays, but linebacker Jimmy Rolder made it two interceptions in two drives for the Michigan defense, who handed the baton back to the offense at the Washington 38-yard line with 30 seconds left in the quarter. The third quarter would expire with the Wolverines possessing the football.
Michigan 14, Washington 7
Fourth quarter
Michigan closed out its possession that crossed quarters by cashing in on another turnover, this time paying off a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Underwood to tight end Zack Marshall. After the extra point, Michigan led 21-7 with 10:05 to go in the contest. Washington’s next possession went -8 yards on four plays, with the Huskies turning the ball over on downs with 8:34 remaining. The Wolverines iced the game on their next possession, taking 4:24 off the clock by running seven plays for 9 yards and settling for a 26-yard Zvada field goal, which pushed the lead to 24-7 with 4:10 to go.
Washington’s next drive lasted only 10 seconds, with Williams throwing his third interception of the day, this time to sophomore defensive back Jacob Oden, who literally had it fall in his lap at the U-M 30-yard line. Michigan took over with 4 minutes to go from that spot. The Wolverines ran out the clock and finished the game in victory formation.
FINAL: Michigan 24, Washington 7
Michigan vs. Washington final box score
