Details of Michigan's Wild Defensive Efforts With Game on the Line Against Army
9/7/2019 8:51:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Two plays changed everything for the University of Michigan in Saturday afternoon's (Sept. 7) 24-21 double-overtime win over Army.
The first one was Lavert Hill's interception to set up the game-tying touchdown drive in the third quarter. That turnover forced by a strong rush from viper Khaleke Hudson with added pressure from defensive end Kwity Paye kept the Black Knights from taking a 14-point lead and possibly putting the game away.
The second one ended the game.
Paye came free and got to Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr., a millisecond before defensive end Aidan Hutchinson fought off two blockers and made it a QB sandwich. The ball popped loose as defensive tackle Carlo Kemp also arrived to make impact.
"That last play, we were in our base defense," said Hutchinson. "I don't recall anything. I just remember hitting the quarterback. Whatever I did, hopefully it was good. We hit the quarterback, the ball came free, and that moment I knew it was game. So, I just started running to celebrate."
Josh Uche nearly recovered the fumble for Michigan, but it was Paye who secured the bouncing ball and ran triumphantly with it held high in his right hand.
"I tried to rip off the tackle and once I saw (the quarterback) I dove through and I had it," said Paye, "Somehow, the ball came out, and I just jumped on it. I held it until they blew that whistle."
Hutchinson
That third-and-11 play was completely smothered.
"Don Brown did a great job preparing," Wolverine head coach Jim Harbaugh said of his defensive coordinator. "Called a great game and called a great play on the last play of the game. We got home, got the turnover, got the win."
The Wolverines had failed to score a second overtime touchdown on their final offensive possession, but the 43-yard Jake Moody field goal they settled for ended up being the difference.
"We've just got to thank the defense for stopping them when we had those turnovers and giving us a chance to come back," said freshman tailback Zach Charbonnet, who carried 33 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns, but wasn't involved in the three fumbles Michigan lost in the first half.
Paye said, "Going into that (final) drive, our offense came up with a field goal, and we came together as a defense and said, 'The game's on us now. We have to go out and make this play.'"
When it was over, Michigan players ran in unison from the north side of the field to the south end zone to celebrate with the student section.
"I hugged Coach (Shaun) Nua," Paye said of the D-line coach. "I hugged the D-linemen. I hugged (middle linebacker) Jordan Anthony. It was just a real happy moment for us."
It was all smiles for the Wolverines after a hard-fought game against an opponent with a 10-game win streak -- the nation's second longest -- who still came in as a big underdog.
"That's why you fight," said Harbaugh. "That's why you scratch and claw. Both teams did that. I was very impressed with both squads, but our team really hung in there and had their courage, their resilience, their sharpness of mind. That seems to be at a little higher level this year, and I'm happy about that. Sometimes, you've got to fight like that -- football fight.
"That was a gem of a defensive performance. There's no doubt about it. You talk about the last play, the last series, the entire football game. We made mistakes offensively with penalties and turnovers, and turnovers on downs. The defense was not in the best positions, but played great. The interception on the goal line was huge. A big play in the game."
Hutchinson, Josh Metellus and Kemp
The outcome was out there, hanging by a thread for the Wolverines at their own five-yard line early in the third quarter. They would be down by two touchdowns if they couldn't stop Army from gaining five yards.
It was third down, and that meant two-down territory for Army, which regularly goes for it on fourth down out of its triple-option attack. But instead of electing to get as close to the goal line, and possibly crossing it, with a run, the Cadets opted to pass.
Hopkins ran to his right under heavy pressure. Hudson fought off his man and came very close to sacking Hopkins. But instead of throwing it away or taking the sack and maintaining the field position for a short field goal attempt, Hopkins threw while going down.
Michigan cornerback Hill appeared to be the intended receiver on the pass and grabbed it, returning it 20 yards to the Wolverine 22-yard line.
The crowd of 111,747 -- on a sunny afternoon during which they had been uncommonly quiet -- roared and gave thanks. The day had been saved, for now.
The defense provided quarterback Shea Patterson and his offense a chance for redemption.
Bell
Charbonnet immediately picked up a first down on two runs.
Then the Wolverines faced a third-and-eight. Patterson threw deep and beyond intended receiver Nico Collins down the left sideline, but cornerback Elijah Riley was called for interference, and the 15-yard penalty kept the drive alive.
Michigan then quickly found itself in a third-and-nine spot. However, Patterson hit a wide open Collins for 18 yards on a slant route.
Two plays later, it was third-and-seven and more pressure. Patterson had missed a wide open tight end Nick Eubanks for a possible first down on the previous play, but he hooked up with slot receiver Ronnie Bell for a 25-yard connection with no room for error.
That put the ball two yards from the goal line, and two plays later, Charbonnet pounded it in for a one-yard touchdown.
For all its faults, the offense was golden on that scoring drive to tie it at 14-all.
"You line up and see the sticks," said Bell. "You've got to get the first down, and Shea did a good job of scanning the field and finding me on the (plays) that he did."
That was it for the scoring until Army opened overtine with a six-yard TD run by Hopkins and Michigan countered with Charbonnet going in from three yards out. Bell's nine-yard reception on third-and-six was a game-saver on that Wolverine possession, too.
Then Michigan had a three-and-out and three plays later it was lights out for the Black Knights. Hopkins was sacked at the Michigan 36-yard line, the ball came loose and Paye had it and was running off the field.
"I was carrying it and then I lost it," said Paye. "I was jumping around with it and we were all just happy."
Hutchinson picked it up and took it to the locker room and then the postgame press conference.
"He just kept it from the last play of the game," said Harbaugh, when asked if it was the coach-presented game ball.
Afterward, Hutchinson was still cradling the ball as he met with his joyous family and friends.
"It's not the official game ball," he said, "but I'm keeping it."
Bell, walking outside after the Crisler Center press conference, smiled and said, "I don't think Aidan's going to give that ball up, ever."
