Wolverines Win Fourth Quarter, Stay Perfect

Saturday, October 1

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

5-0 , 2-0

Wisconsin

4-1 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Wisconsin

Michigan

Channing Stribling

10/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore Visual Story Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» It is Michigan's first win over a top-10 opponent since September 2008 (27-25 over Wisconsin).
» Amara Darboh caught the go-ahead touchdown with 7:56 left, and Jourdan Lewis made an acrobatic, one-handed interception with 2:23 left to seal the game.
» The Wolverines led Wisconsin in total yards (349-159), first downs (21-8) and time of possession (35:41-24:19).

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #4 Michigan 14, #8 Wisconsin 7
Records: U-M (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), WIS (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 111,846
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 8 -- at Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.), 7 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)

• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh | Players

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Lewis, Stribling Help Lock Down Wisconsin

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Amara Darboh caught a 46-yard go-ahead touchdown with 7:56 left, and senior Jourdan Lewis made a one-handed interception to seal the game in the closing minutes as the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan football team (No. 4 AP, No. 5 Coaches) stonewalled Wisconsin (No. 8 AP, Coaches), 14-7, on Saturday (Oct. 1) inside Michigan Stadium. It is the program's first victory over a top-10 opponent since Sept. 27, 2008 (Wisconsin).

Michigan held the statistical advantage over Wisconsin in several categories, more than doubling up the Badgers in total yards (349-159) and first downs (21-8), as well as winning the time-of-possession battle (35:41 to 24:19). The defense forced Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook into three interceptions -- the aforementioned Lewis pick as well as a pair from senior Channing Stribling. Senior Ben Gedeon led the way with six tackles.

Junior quarterback Wilton Speight completed 20-of-32 passes for 219 yards, connecting with Darboh for his lone touchdown pass of the afternoon. Darboh led the team in receiving, hauling in six catches for 87 yards. Senior De'Veon Smith was the workhorse on the ground, rushing 17 times for 66 yards.

The two teams exchanged possessions in a scoreless opening quarter, but that changed on the first play of the second when senior Khalid Hill capped off an 11-play drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge to give U-M a 7-0 lead. That was all the scoring in a game dominated by defense.

The action picked up in the third quarter. Senior Kenny Allen put Wisconsin on its own seven-yard line via punt, but it was cancelled out due to an illegal-formation penalty. The second attempt would've given the Badgers the ball at the 28-yard line, but they were called for a roughing the snapper penalty, giving the ball back to Michigan with an automatic first down. The drive ended with an interception from Speight, which Wisconsin returned to the Michigan 31-yard line. Five plays after the turnover, the Badgers got on the board courtesy of a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook to Dare Ogunbowale, tying the game.

The two teams continued to exchange possessions well into the second half. With less than 10 minutes to play and facing a third-and-seven, Speight found Darboh on a slant for a 15-yard gain into Wisconsin territory. The two re-connected for the touchdown on the team's next play.

Wisconsin got two more chances to tie the game, but both ended in interceptions. With 3:24 left, Hornibrook overthrew his intended receiver right to Stribling, who returned it to Wisconsin's 45-yard line. The Badgers called all three of their timeouts to stop the Michigan offense and got the ball back again, but backed up against their own goal-line facing a 4th-and-10 with 2:23 left, Hornibrook was robbed by Lewis, who made an incredible one-handed snag to seal the game.

Michigan heads on the road for the first time this season next Saturday (Oct. 8) at Rutgers. The game against the Scarlet Knights will kick off at 7 p.m. from High Points Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.