Michigan
1-1
Oregon State
1-1
Smith, Stout Defense Smother Beavers for Harbaugh's First U-M Win
9/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
» U-M held Oregon State to 138 yards of total offense, 136 of which came in the first quarter.
» De'Veon Smith set career highs in carries (23), yards (126) and touchdowns (three).
» The Wolverines scored the game's final 35 points to improve to 19-3 in their last 22 home openers.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 35, Oregon State 7
Records: U-M (1-1), OSU (1-1)
Attendance: 109,651
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 19 -- vs. UNLV (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: BTN)
• Kornacki Postgame: Smith Inspires Teammates with Running Style
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team scored 35 unanswered points to defeat Oregon State, 35-7, in home coaching debut of Jim Harbaugh on Saturday (Sept. 12) at Michigan Stadium.
Junior running back De'Veon Smith had a career day on the ground with 23 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the Michigan defense that stood out, as the unit allowed only 138 yards of total offense -- 79 of which came on the opening drive of the game. Senior defensive end Chris Wormley was in the backfield all afternoon, recording six tackles -- including three for loss -- and one sack. Senior linebacker Joe Bolden led the team in tackles (seven).
Graduate student quarterback Jake Rudock was efficient in leading the offense, completing 18-of-26 passes for 180 yards. Nine different receivers caught at least one pass, but his favorite targets were senior wide receiver Amara Darboh (four receptions, 50 yards) and junior tight end Jake Butt (four receptions, 25 yards).
Oregon State got off to a fast start, taking an early 7-0 lead on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Seth Collins to Hunter Jarmon on the opening possession of the game. The Beavers got the ball back on the ensuing possession after sacking and recovering a Rudock fumble, but the Michigan defense responded two plays later with a fumble recovery of their own courtesy of Bolden. The Wolverines turned that miscue into points, as senior kicker Kenny Allen converted a 40-yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.
Delano Hill stops Oregon State quarterback Seth Collins for a one-yard loss on third down in the second quarter.
Rudock engineered a masterful drive toward the end of the second quarter to put Michigan ahead, 10-7. After a successful third-down conversion was nullified due to a penalty, Rudock found Darboh for 15 yards to give the offense a manageable fourth-and-five. The Wolverines went for it, and Rudock converted, finding Smith wide open in the middle of the field for a 20-yard gain to put Michigan in the red zone for the first time. Two plays later, Smith ran it in from one yard out.
Momentum swung on special teams late in the first half. With a little more than a minute left, Oregon State punted, and the ball rolled out at Michigan's two-yard line, but an illegal-formation penalty forced the visitors to re-kick. On the next play, the snap went far over the punter's head, and Michigan pounced, starting its next drive on Oregon State's three-yard line. The field position switched 95 yards in a matter of seconds, and Michigan took advantage when Smith tacked on his second touchdown run of the day to put U-M up 17-7 heading into the break.
The only points in the third quarter came via a 29-yard field goal from Allen to make the score 20-7. Smith added his third touchdown run of the day in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, running over several Oregon State defenders on his way to the end zone. He also caught the ensuing two-point conversion to increase the lead to 28-7.
The Wolverines put the exclamation point on the afternoon with a clinical 14-play, 73-yard drive that ate up seven-and-a-half minutes of clock. Of the 14 plays, only one was a pass. Junior Derrick Green capped the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run to put Michigan up 35-7.
The Maize and Blue continues its stretch of three straight home weekends next Saturday (Sept. 19) when UNLV comes to town for a noon kickoff at Michigan Stadium. The matchup will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Tweet of the Game
Ball game! Michigan beats Oregon State, 35-7 for Coach Harbaugh's first win. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/pAQ30bvcHW
-- Michigan Football (@umichfootball) September 12, 2015
Team Stats
OS 7, MICH 0
OS - Jarmon, Hunter 21 yd pass from Collins, Seth (Owens, Garrett kick) 7 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:59
OS 7, MICH 3
MICH - Allen, Kenny 40 yd field goal 8 plays, 41 yards, TOP 3:54
OS 7, MICH 10
MICH - Smith, De'Veon 1 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 7:01
OS 7, MICH 17
MICH - Smith, De'Veon 1 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 3 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:00
OS 7, MICH 20
MICH - Allen, Kenny 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:35
OS 7, MICH 28
MICH - Smith, De'Veon 8 yd run (Smith, De'Veon pass), 5 plays, 39 yards, TOP 2:06
OS 7, MICH 35
MICH - Green, Derrick 2 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 14 plays, 73 yards, TOP 7:31
