Postgame Notes: #21 Michigan 49, Western Michigan 3
9/8/2018 4:04:00 PM | Football
• Michigan improved to 7-0 in the all-time series against Western Michigan. It is the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent U-M has faced under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
• Today's announced attendance of 110,814 marks the 281st consecutive game at Michigan Stadium with a crowd in excess of 100,000.
• Michigan's 49 points are its most since scoring 59 against Maryland on Nov. 5, 2016.
• Michigan posted 21 points and 208 yards of offense in the first quarter, including 167 rushing with 140 from senior running back Karan Higdon. The last time U-M scored 21 points in the first quarter was against Illinois in 2016.
• Junior quarterback Shea Patterson completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 125 yards and three touchdowns in his first appearance at home in Michigan Stadium. His first Michigan touchdown pass was a 17-yard completion to junior tight end Sean McKeon.
• Sophomore quarterback Dylan McCaffrey also posted his first career touchdown pass on an 18-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Jacob McCurry in the fourth quarter. It was McCurry's first career reception in his Michigan Stadium debut.
• Higdon posted his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, earning 156 yards on 13 carries, including two runs of 40-plus yards. His 67-yard touchdown run in the first quarter is the second longest of his career. He owns two touchdowns this season and 19 in his career.
• Higdon's 140 rushing yards in the first quarter were the most by a Wolverine in a single quarter since Denard Robinson ran for 152 yards in the first quarter against Notre Dame in 2010.
• Junior running back Chris Evans registered his fifth career multi-touchdown game with scoring runs of 27 yards in the first quarter and two in the second. He owns 12 career rushing touchdowns.
• Sophomore wide receivers Nico Collins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and McCurry all recorded their first career touchdowns. Collins' 44-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was the first for a Michigan wide receiver since Sept. 9, 2017, vs. Cincinnati.
• McKeon recorded his fourth career touchdown -- first of the season -- on his 17-yard reception in the first quarter. McKeon has caught at least one pass in each of his last 12 games.
• Michigan held an opponent to single-digit points for the first time since similarly allowing just a field goal against Maryland on Nov. 5, 2016. U-M has allowed fewer than 10 points six times in three years under defensive coordinator Don Brown.
• Graduate student linebacker Noah Furbush posted his second career interception in the first quarter and returned it for seven yards.
• Junior defensive tackle Rashan Gary posted his first sack of the season -- for a loss of three yards -- in the third quarter. He owns 7.5 sacks in his career.
• Sophomore linebacker Jordan Anthony tallied his first collegiate sack -- for a one-yard loss -- in the fourth quarter
• Junior defensive tackle Carlo Kemp earned his first career start in today's game.
• Graduate student defensive back Casey Hughes made his first appearance as a Wolverine after transferring to U-M from Utah.
• Ten Wolverines saw their first career action in today's game: Jordan Anthony, Peter Bush, Joseph Files, Joel Honigford, James Hudson, Casey Hughes, Donovan Jeter, Jalen Mayfield, Carter Selzer and Ben VanSumeren.
• Today's honorary captains were alumnus Grant Newsome and Brenda Tracy.
