Michigan
5-5 , 3-3
Northwestern
3-6 , 2-4
Wolverines Ward Off Late Wildcat Two-Point Attempt for Road Victory
11/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Ryan Field)
Score: Michigan 10, Northwestern 9
Records: U-M (5-5, 3-3 Big Ten), NW (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 22 -- vs. Maryland (Michigan Stadium), Time TBA
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Clark Caps Big Day with Stop on U-M's Final Stand
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan football team denied a Northwestern two-point conversion attempt with three seconds left in the game to hold on to the 10-9 victory on Saturday (Nov. 8) at Ryan Field. Sophomore running back De'Veon Smith scored the Wolverines' lone touchdown, a three-yard rush midway through the third quarter.
Up 10-3 with 3:10 left in the game, Michigan kicked off to the Wildcats, who drove 74 yards down the field and scored their only touchdown of the day. Trevor Siemian found Tony Jones in the end zone for the score with three ticks left, and Northwestern kept its offense on the field to try for a two-point conversion for the lead. The Wolverine defense held strong, though, as Frank Clark sacked Siemian to seal the victory for the Maize and Blue.
Smith led Michigan's offense with 121 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries, while graduate student quarterback Devin Gardner completed 11-of-25 passes for 105 yards and two interceptions. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan led the game with 11 tackles and had an interception, and junior defensive end Mario Ojemudia posted a career-high two sacks in the game, two of six by the Michigan defense in the game.
The first quarter ended scoreless but was highlighted by Michigan's strong defensive play. The Wolverines forced a turnover on downs when the Wildcats gambled on a fourth-and-two, and Ryan intercepted a pass on Northwestern's next drive.
A perfect punt by fifth-year senior Will Hagerup pinned the Wildcats on their own one-yard line with a little more than four minutes left in the second quarter, and they were forced to punt after going three and out. Junior/sophomore wide receiver Amara Darboh returned the punt to NU's 31-yard line, but Gardner threw an interception to give the ball back to the home team. Northwestern was driving down the field with less than a minute left in the half, before junior/sophomore defensive tackle Matthew Godin intercepted a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage, giving the Wolverines possession on NU's 35-yard line. Senior Matt Wile attempted a 41-yard field goal, but it was blocked, keeping the game scoreless at halftime.
Michigan turned the ball over on its first possession of the second half. This gave the Wildcats the ball on the U-M 27, but they missed a 36-yard field goal attempt to keep the game tied at zero.
The Wolverines punted midway through the third quarter, and the Northwestern returner muffed the catch. Junior/sophomore wide receiver Jehu Chesson pounced on the loose ball to give Michigan the ball on the NU 21. An 18-yard reception by Funchess set up Smith's three-yard touchdown that put U-M up, 7-0, with 6:49 to go in the quarter.
Gardner threw an interception on the next drive, and Ibraheim Campbell returned it 79 yards to the Michigan 16. The Wolverines responded with a tackle-for-loss by Clark and a sack by senior defensive end Brennen Beyer, and then the Wildcats were flagged for intentional grounding, pushing them out of field goal range and forcing them to punt late in the third quarter.
Another great punt by Hagerup pinned Northwestern on its own one-yard line, but the team responded with a 19-play, 95-yard drive that ended in a 21-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 with 7:26 remaining in the game.
Wile nailed a 37-yard field goal with 3:10 left to give Michigan a 10-3 lead, which gave the Wildcats the ball for their final possession.
Northwestern finished with -9 yards rushing, while the Wolverines had 151 yards on the ground. Michigan also committed five penalties in the game for a total of 50 yards.
The Maize and Blue returns home in two weeks (Saturday, Nov. 22) to play Maryland for the first time as a Big Ten opponent inside the Big House. Kickoff and broadcast information are to be announced.
Team Stats
MICH 7, NU 0
MICH - Smith, De'Veon 3 yd run (Wile, Matt kick), 2 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:34
MICH 7, NU 3
NU - Mitchell, Jack 21 yd field goal 19 plays, 95 yards, TOP 6:39
MICH 10, NU 3
MICH - Wile, Matt 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 4:10
MICH 10, NU 9
NU - Jones, Tony 3 yd pass from Siemian, Trevor (Siemian, Trevor passfailed) 14 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:00
