Michigan rolls Central Michigan in non-conference finale: Game recap, box score

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines moved to 2-1 on the season on Saturday afternoon with a 63-3 win over Central Michigan at the Big House. CMU fell to 1-2 on the year with its setback.

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood‘s skill set was on full display on Saturday, racking up 349 total yards of offense and 3 touchdowns after a few weeks of questions about how he might be used. He finished the game 16-for-25 with 235 yards and a touchdown and an interception through the air, along with 9 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

It was the first of a two-game self-imposed suspension for head coach Sherrone Moore, who will return to the team after the Nebraska game next weekend. In the meantime, associate head coach Biff Poggi will handle gameday operations with the coordinators handling their duties as normal.

Here is the game recap from Saturday’s tilt between in-state opponents.

First quarter

Central Michigan won the coin toss and deferred, putting the Wolverines on the field first on offense. Michigan marched down the field on its opening series, going 75 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run from tailback Justice Haynes, his fourth of the year. After the extra point, U-M led 7-0 with 10:56 to go in the quarter.

On its first defensive series, linebacker Jaishawn Barham got into the backfield for a sack to put the Chippewas behind the sticks. Two plays later, U-M was off the field and got the ball back at their 41-yard line with 9:59 to go. Semaj Morgan briefly muffed the punt before falling down on it. Michigan’s offense kept its hot start going with a six-play, 59-yard drive that ended in a 32-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Bryce Underwood to junior wideout Semaj Morgan on a slot fade. The lead was pushed to 14-0 with 7:21 to go after the extra point. Michigan’s defense forced its second three-and-out of the game, forcing a punt down to the Wolverine 37-yard line with 5:08 remaining.

Michigan’s next drive went 34 yards in 7 plays, but ended in a missed 47-yard field goal for Dominic Zvada, his second miss in as many weeks. CMU would take over at its 29-yard line with 3:08 left in the quarter before going 7 plays for 6 yards in a drive that bled over into the second.

Michigan 14, Central Michigan 0

Second quarter

Michigan took over on its next drive at its 23-yard line with 14:13 remaining. In a three-play stretch on a 4-play, 77-yard drive, Underwood completed a 30-yard pass to freshman wideout Andrew Marsh, a 26-yard completion to tight end Hogan Hansen and run 20-yard into the endzone on a QB power run. The lead was extended to 21-0 with 12:09 left in the half after the scoring drive and extra point.

CMU’s next drive went 9 yards in 4 plays and was stuffed on 4th and 1, giving U-M the ball back on the Chippewa 34-yard line with 10:11 on the clock. Two plays later, Michigan was in the endzone again thanks to a 23-yard reverse to Marsh, who stretched the lead to 28-0 after the extra point with 9:23 to go.

The Chippewas went three-and-out, giving the ball back to U-M on its 43-yard line with 7:51 to play. Underwood threw his first career interception on the first play from scrimmage, setting the Chippewas up with the ball at their 15-yard line with 7:43 on the clock. CMU went 14 plays and 81 yards down the field on a drive that ended in a Cade Graham 22-yard field goal with 1:51 remaining, trimming the deficit to 28-3 with 1:51 remaining.

Michigan responded with a near-flawless two-minute drill, going 79 yards in 11 plays and closing out the drive with Jordan Marshall’s first touchdown run of the season from a yard out. After the extra point, Michigan led 35-3 with 9 seconds to play.

CMU sat on the ball and went into the locker room down 35-3.

Michigan 35, Central Michigan 3

Third quarter

Michigan started the second half on defense after CMU deferred the opening coin toss. The Chippewas went three-and-out for the fourth time on the day, punting down to Michigan’s 30-yard line with 12:56 on the clock. The Wolverines went 70 yards and 10 plays on their next drive with Marshall scoring his second touchdown of the day, this time from four yards out. U-M led 42-3 after the extra point with 8:27 remaining.

CMU went three-and-out again on its next possession, punting back to the Wolverines, who would take over at their 37-yard line with 7:29 on the clock. Michigan swifty went down the field on its following possession, going 63 yards in 8 plays, capped off by Underwood’s second touchdown run of the day. This one game on a 4th and 1 from 18 yards out to extend the lead to 49-3 after the extra point with 3:12 remaining.

Two snaps later, Michigan had the ball right back with freshman defensive back Elijah Dotson grabbing the ball at the CMU 48-yard line. Michigan took over there with 2:26 remaining and ran 4 plays for 30 yards before the quarter expired.

Michigan 49, Central Michigan 3

Fourth quarter

U-M started the final chapter of play facing a 2nd and 4 from the CMU 18-yard line. It would be another touchdown drive for the Wolverines with Bryson Kudzal joining the scoring fun on a 1-yard run. After the extra point, Michigan pushed its lead to 56-3 with 14:01 remaining.

CMU ran one play for 20 yards, a QB rush, on its next possession before fumbling it back to the Wolverines, who took over at the CMU 45-yard line with 13:50 to go. Nine plays and 45 yards later, freshman tailback Jasper Parker found the endzone on a one-yard rush, the first score of his career. Michigan pushed its lead to 63-3 after the extra point with 9 minutes remaining.

CMU got a little bit of offense going on its next drive, going 32 yards in 10 plays, but turning the ball over on downs on the Michigan 43-yard line with 3:08 to go. The Wolverines ran out the clock and turned the ball over on downs to CMU with 26 seconds to go. The Chippewas kneeled, and the game ended.

FINAL: Michigan 63, Central Michigan 0

Michigan vs. Central Michigan: Final box score, game stats