Michigan moves to 9-2 with win at Maryland, setting up another epic Ohio State showdown

The Michigan Wolverines moved to 9-2 (7-1 Big Ten) with a 45-20 win at Maryland on Saturday afternoon, grabbing a road win in the penultimate game of the regular season and setting up another classic next week.

No. 1 Ohio State comes to town with its 11-0 record, taking on a Michigan team that needs to win to make the College Football Playoff with a fifth-straight win over its storied rival. That the Wolverines did it by staying relatively healthy at Maryland is a feather in their cap.

Here is the blow-by-blow recap from Saturday’s tilt in College Park.

First quarter

Michigan won the opening coin toss and elected to defer, putting the defense on the field first. On the first play from scrimmage, Maryland ripped off a 20-yard run thanks to tailback DeJuan Williams to set things up near midfield. An offside penalty on 3rd and 8 resulted in a free play and 29-yard completion that pushed the ball down the field, and then Maryland closed out its 10-play, 75-yard drive on 4th and 1 on a touchdown pass from Malik Washington to tight end Dorian Fleming. After the extra point, the Terps would lead 7-0 with 10:28 to go in the quarter. Maryland attempted an onside kick on the ensuing drive, recovered by Michigan at the Terps’ 47-yard line to start its first possession.

U-M took advantage of the field position and ground its way down the field in 7 plays, capping things off with a 12-yard touchdown pass from freshman Bryce Underwood to classmate and wide receiver Andrew Marsh. The game was tied 7-7 with 7:09 to go in the first quarter. On the next possession, Michigan’s defense got off the field after 6 plays for 30 yards, giving the ball back to the offense with 4:42 left in the first quarter, taking over at their 17-yard line.

The quarter would expire with U-M driving to put another scoring drive together.

Michigan 7, Maryland 7

Second quarter

The Wolverines closed out a 12-play, 83-yard drive with a 2-yard score from junior Bryson Kuzdzal. Michigan took its first lead of the game after the extra point, leading 14-7 with 14:17 remaining in the half. Three plays later, the offense had the ball back after sophomore defensive back Mason Curtis picked off Washington, setting U-M up at the Maryland 23-yard line with 13:37 remaining. The Wolverines paid it off three plays later on a 22-yard screen pass from Underwood to graduate wideout Donaven McCulley. U-M extended its advantage to 21-7 after the extra point with 12:28 remaining.

Maryland showed signs of life on its next possession, driving down the field 59 yards in 12 plays and settling for a 34-yard field goal with 7:03 to go, which cut Michigan’s lead to 21-10. The Wolverines marched down the field 60 yards in 12 plays, but Dominic Zvada missed a 38-yard field goal attempt that kept the score at 21-10 with 1:53 left in the half. Maryland got the ball back, but punted after 7 plays for 28 yards to give U-M the ball back on its 26-yard line with 48 seconds to go. Michigan gained 21 yards on 5 plays, but the clock ran out on the half with a timeout in hand to leave the score as an 11-point deficit.

Michigan 21, Maryland 10

Third quarter

Michigan started the second half on offense after deferring its opening coin flip choice. Maryland kicked the ball out of bounds to start, which gave the Wolverines the ball at its 35-yard line. The Wolverines obliged after getting the special teams gift, going 65 yards in 8 plays and putting the ball in the endzone on Kuzdzal’s second touchdown of the day, this time from 19 yards out. After the extra point, U-M led 28-10 with 11:35 to go in the third quarter.

Maryland’s first possession of the second half saw it string together a 12-play, 65-yard drive that was halted by a 3rd and goal sack by graduate defensive tackle Tre Williams. That forced a 29-yard field goal attempt that was good, trimming the U-M lead to 28-13 with 7:35 remaining. U-M kept its foot on the gas on its next possession, kicked off by a return to the Maryland 47-yard line from Andrew Marsh. Seven snaps later, U-M was celebrating a touchdown after Kuzdzal found the endzone for the third time from a yard out. After the review and extra point, Michigan pushed its lead to 35-13 with 4:09 to go.

Maryland took over on its 25-yard line after the kickoff, and went only 12 yards in 9 plays, turning the ball over on downs to the Michigan offense. U-M started from the Maryland 37-yard line and started to move the ball before the quarter expired.

Michigan 35, Maryland 13

Fourth quarter

The Wolverines paid off the drive that spanned quarters, thanks to a 6-yard touchdown run from freshman running back Jasper Parker. After the extra point, Michigan’s lead would be pushed out to 42-13 with 13:19 to go. Maryland gained 17 yards on 7 plays on its next possession, but turned the ball over on downs on its 42-yard line with 11:41 remaining. Michigan began to empty its bench, settling for a 46-yard field goal that stretched the lead to 45-13 with 7:20 to play. Maryland started its next drive on its 25-yard line, and its quick-strike backup offense put a touchdown on a board after 4 plays for 75 yards. Quarterback Khristian Martin found Jalil Farooq for a 29-yard throw-and-catch, narrowing the U-M lead to 45-20 with 5:55 to go.

The Wolverines ran out the clock to secure the victory, and onto The Game.

FINAL: Michigan 45, Maryland 20

Michigan at Maryland final box score, statistics