Michigan
1-2
Notre Dame
2-0
Michigan Stumbles at Notre Dame
9/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Score: Notre Dame 35, Michigan 17
Records: U-M (1-2), Notre Dame (2-0)
Attendance: 80,795
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Wisconsin (Michigan Stadium), TBA
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan football team spotted Notre Dame a 21-0 lead four minutes into the game and had a pivotal fumble returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter on a day when the Wolverines turned the ball over six times, fumbling seven times in a rain-soaked 35-17 loss Saturday (Sept. 13) at Notre Dame Stadium.
Michigan fought to within 11, trailing 28-17 midway through the third quarter, but a fumble on the Notre Dame four-yard line snuffed out a promising drive. With great field position in the next offensive possession at the Michigan 47-yard line, Notre Dame recovered another Wolverine fumble, this time returning it for a touchdown to give the Irish a 35-17 lead and all the room they needed.
Obscured by the Wolverine miscues were career days for freshman running back Sam McGuffie (Cypress, Texas/Cy-Fair) and sophomore/freshman quarterback Steven Threet (Adrian, Mich./Adrian/Georgia Tech). The freshman running back finished the day with a career-best 138 rushing yards, surpassing his career high in the second quarter. McGuffie rolled up 100 yards of offense in the first quarter alone, notching his first receiving touchdown -- a 40-yard catch and run -- and finished with 47 yards through the air. Threet passed for a career-best 175 yards, connecting on a collegiate-best 16-of-23 attempts for a touchdown.
Leading the defense was fifth/senior cornerback Morgan Trent (San Diego, Calif./Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Mich.), who recorded the first multi-interception game of his career, picking off passes in the second and fourth quarters while finishing with a collegiate-best nine tackles. Michigan's defense failed to record a sack for the first time all season after tallying nine through the first two contests.
The teams combined for 45 points and 432 yards of offense in the first half, with the quarterbacks passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Notre Dame took advantage of two Michigan fumbles inside the U-M 15-yard line to reach the end zone in each of their first three drives, taking a 21-0 lead. McGuffie helped the Wolverines get back in the game, taking a pass and running 40 yards for Michigan's opening score and then setting up a Wolverine field goal to make it 21-10. Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Threet passed their squads into position to trade touchdowns midway through the second quarter and the teams went into the locker room with Notre Dame up, 28-17.
The skies opened up in the second half with driving rain soaking the field, contributing to slippery Michigan fingers and four second-half Wolverine fumbles. U-M marched to the Notre Dame four-yard line before fumbling the ball back to the Irish. Threet then fumbled the exchange in the next series, which led to a 35-yard return for Notre Dame touchdown to open the fourth quarter, extending Notre Dame's lead, 35-17. Two late interceptions of replacement junior/sophomore quarterback Nick Sheridan (Saline, Mich./Saline) ended U-M's hopes for a comeback in Notre Dame's 300th win at Notre Dame Stadium.
Michigan takes a week off before opening the Big Ten season at Michigan Stadium against Wisconsin on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Team Stats
MICH 0, ND 7
ND - HUGHES 2 yd run (WALKER, B. kick), 3 plays, 11 yards, TOP 0:50
MICH 0, ND 14
ND - KAMARA 10 yd pass from CLAUSEN (WALKER, B. kick) 3 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:52
MICH 0, ND 21
ND - TATE 48 yd pass from CLAUSEN (WALKER, B. kick) 1 plays, 63 yards, TOP 0:15
MICH 7, ND 21
MICH - McGuffie, Sam 40 yd pass from Threet, Steven (Lopata, K.C. kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:55
MICH 10, ND 21
MICH - Lopata, K.C. 23 yd field goal 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:21
MICH 10, ND 28
ND - HUGHES 1 yd run (WALKER, B. kick), 6 plays, 87 yards, TOP 3:06
MICH 17, ND 28
MICH - Grady, Kevin 7 yd run (Lopata, K.C. kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:06
MICH 17, ND 35
ND - SMITH, B. 35 yd fumble recovery (WALKER, B. kick)
