Michigan
2-0
Cincinnati
1-1
Wolverines Use Late Surge to Soar Past Bearcats
9/9/2017 4:26:00 PM | Football
» Tyree Kinnel and Lavert Hill each had interceptions returned for touchdowns, marking the second consecutive home opener that Michigan had two pick-sixes. The defense held Cincinnati to 200 yards of total offense.
» Wilton Speight went for 17-of-29 passing for 221 yards with two touchdown passes to Kekoa Crawford (43 yards) and Grant Perry (33 yards).
» Ty Isaac went over the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game, rushing 20 times for 133 yards.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #8 Michigan 36, Cincinnati 14
Records: U-M (2-0), UC (1-1)
Attendance: 111,384
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 16 -- vs. Air Force (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: BTN)
• Kornacki Feature: Four Big Plays Allow U-M Offense to Put Away Victory
• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Quarterback Wilton Speight threw for a pair of touchdowns and the defense came up with two interceptions returned for touchdowns as the University of Michigan football team pulled away from Cincinnati to win its home opener, 36-14, on Saturday (Sept. 9) inside Michigan Stadium.
The Michigan defense was sharp once again, limiting the Bearcats to just 200 yards of total offense. It came up with two turnovers -- both pick-sixes -- one from Tyree Kinnel in the first quarter and the other from Lavert Hill to seal the game in the fourth. Kinnel led the way with nine tackles, while Devin Bush added seven.
Speight went 17-of-29 passing for 221 yards and threw touchdown passes to Kekoa Crawford and Grant Perry, who combined for 149 yards receiving. Tailback Ty Isaac had another strong game, rushing 20 times for 133 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard game to open the season.
The Wolverines got the ball to start the game and did not wait long to find the end zone. The drive was run-heavy to begin until Speight found a streaking Crawford in behind the defense for a long 43-yard touchdown.
The defense got on the scoreboard two possessions later. Under heavy pressure, Cincinnati quarterback Hayden Moore overshot his intended receiver and threw right into the arms of Kinnel, who ran it back 28 yards for the pick-six to put Michigan up 14-0.
Cincinnati soon responded, taking advantage of fumble on the punt return after the ball hit a Michigan player on the bounce. A defensive pass interference penalty gave the Bearcats an automatic first down and the ball at the two-yard line, and they eventually scored on a one-yard run from Mike Boone.
Michigan got three points tacked on via a 28-yard field goal from Quinn Nordin to make the score 17-7. The key play of the drive was a 44-yard jet sweep from Donovan Peoples-Jones that took the offense into the red zone. Nordin's field goal was the only scoring from either team in the second quarter, as the two teams combined for 104 yards of offense.
The Bearcats received the ball to start the second half and promptly scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Kahlil Lewis, cutting the lead to three at 17-14.Â
The Wolverines were held in check for most of the third quarter but finally broke through toward the end. Speight engineered an 80-yard drive in just over two minutes, finding Grant Perry for a 33-yard catch-and-run touchdown that upped the lead to 24-14.
Michigan began to pull away in the fourth quarter. Nordin added a 24-yard field goal that was set up by two big plays -- a 53-yard dash up the sideline by Isaac and a 20-yard catch on fourth-and-8 from Crawford. The defense then forced Cincinnati to punt deep in their own end, and the snap sailed through punter James Smith's hands through the back of the end zone for a safety.
With Cincinnati in passing mode, Hill took advantage, stepping in front of one of Moore's throws for the interception and returning it 24 yards for a touchdown that closed out the scoring.
The Wolverines will be back in action next Saturday (Sept. 16) when they host Air Force at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is at noon on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
CIN 0, MICH 7
MICH - Crawford, Kekoa 43 yd pass from Speight, Wilton (Nordin, Quinn kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:06
CIN 0, MICH 14
MICH - Kinnel, Tyree 28 yd interception (Nordin, Quinn kick)
CIN 7, MICH 14
CIN - BOONE, Mike 1 yd run (PASLEY, Josh kick), 9 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:06
CIN 7, MICH 17
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 28 yd field goal 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:10
CIN 14, MICH 17
CIN - LEWIS, Kahlil 10 yd pass from MOORE, Hayden (PASLEY, Josh kick) 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:45
CIN 14, MICH 24
MICH - Perry, Grant 33 yd pass from Speight, Wilton (Nordin, Quinn kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:08
CIN 14, MICH 27
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:13
CIN 14, MICH 29
MICH - TEAM 33 yd safety
CIN 14, MICH 36
MICH - Hill, Lavert 24 yd interception (Nordin, Quinn kick)
