Michigan Overcomes Early Deficits, Turnovers to Edge Army in Double OT

Saturday, September 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

2-0

Army

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

ARMY

Michigan

Zach Charbonnet

Michigan Overcomes Early Deficits, Turnovers to Edge Army in Double OT

9/7/2019 4:21:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore In the Trenches Podcast: Army Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #7 Michigan 24, Army 21 (2OT)
Records: Michigan (2-0), Army (1-1)
Attendance: 111,474
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 21 -- at Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.), 11 a.m. CDT

• Kornacki: Details of Michigan's Defensive Efforts with Game on the Line Against Army
• Postgame Press Conferences: Coach Harbaugh | Players

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sophomore Jake Moody's 43-yard field goal proved to be the difference as the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan football team overcame early deficits and three first-half fumbles lost to defeat Army, 24-21, in double overtime Saturday (Sept. 7) at Michigan Stadium.

In the first meeting between the two teams since 1962, freshman Zach Charbonnet rushed for career highs of 33 carries, 100 yards and three touchdowns, and the Michigan defense came up big in the second overtime, ending the game with a quarterback sack and fumble recovery by junior Kwity Paye. U-M trailed 7-0 early and 14-7 at the half, and the Maize and Blue dodged Army's 50-yard field goal attempt that fell short on the last play of regulation.

The Wolverines had the ball first in the second overtime period, and three incomplete passes led to a 43-yard field goal attempt from Moody, who snuck the ball inside the left upright for a 24-21 Michigan lead.

Michigan's defense then barged into Army's backfield on the game's final two plays to seal the victory. On second-and-8, sophomore Aidan Hutchinson tackled quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. for a three-yard loss -- the Black Knights' first negative-yardage play of the game. Then on third-and-11, Paye streaked in from Hopkins' left to pressure the quarterback, who lost control of the ball with senior Carlo Kemp and Hutchinson in his face. Paye recovered the fumble to cap the thrilling ending.

After regulation ended in a 14-14 tie, Army had possession first in OT and needed only five plays -- and a key Michigan offsides penalty on third-and-4 from the 19-yard line -- to reach the south end zone. Hopkins danced in from six yards out, and the Black Knights led, 21-14.

On its first OT possession, Michigan faced third-and-6 from the 21 when senior Shea Patterson slinged a pass across the middle to sophomore Ronnie Bell for nine yards. After a pass interference call moved the ball to the 3-yard line, Charbonnet went up the middle for three yards and his third TD of the game. Moody's PAT forced the second extra period.

Bell also had a career day for Michigan, catching seven passes for 81 yards as the favorite target of Patterson, who finished 19-of-29 passing for 207 yards.

On defense, senior co-captain Khaleke Hudson and fifth-year senior co-captain Jordan Glasgow led the way with 12 and 11 tackles, respectively, against Army's run-oriented option offense. Hutchinson (four solo tackles) and junior Brad Hawkins (five solos) also reached double digits with 10 stops each, while senior Lavert Hill added a momentum-shifting interception early in the third quarter.

Michigan accumulated 340 total yards, with 232 through the air and 108 on the ground, while Army netted 200 yards rushing and 243 total yards with all but five of its 66 plays coming via the run.

Trailing 14-7 after the opening half, Michigan went three-and-out to start the third quarter, and Army marched down the field using a 34-yard completion on its first pass and a steady ground attack. The Black Knights got to the Michigan 1 before an illegal procedure penalty. Then, on third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Hill intercepted Hopkins' second pass attempt of the game and returned it 20 yards to get the Wolverines out of trouble.

U-M took advantage of the turnover and went 78 yards in 12 plays to tie the game at 14. Patterson found junior Nico Collins for 18 yards to the Army 30 and then connected with Bell on a 25-yard pass play to the Army 2-yard line. Charbonnet's 1-yard run and Moody's PAT drew the Wolverines even with 2:24 left in the third quarter.

Michigan had an opportunity to take the lead on its next drive, moving the ball from its own 32-yard line to the Army 19. However, the Black Knights stopped Charbonnet for a loss of four on fourth-and-2 and gained possession with 9:58 left in the game.

On their next possession, the Wolverines moved from their own 16-yard line to Army's 43. U-M again went for it on fourth down, and again the Black Knights stopped Charbonnet a yard short. Army took over with 2:23 to play and gained two first downs, moving to the Michigan 33. With 0:02 on the clock, Cole Talley's field goal attempt from 50 yards missed short and right, sending the game to overtime.

Michigan was bitten by turnovers in the first half, with three of its five drives ended by fumbles. For the second straight week, a turnover on its opening drive led to the opponent getting on the scoreboard first. Four double-digit-yardage plays by four different players helped the Wolverines move 45 yards to the Army 15-yard line before Patterson fumbled while being pressured trying to pass on first down. The Black Knights recovered at their 40-yard line and then moved 60 yards on 10 plays -- all rushes -- with Sandon McCoy capping the drive with a one-yard plunge at the 5:01 mark for a 7-0 Army lead. Kell Walker's 31-yard rush on an option pitch was the biggest play of the drive and came after Army converted on fourth-and 1.

Back-to-back big plays helped the Wolverines knot the score on their next drive. Facing fourth-and-10 from its own 42, Michigan gained 25 yards on a fake punt as sophomore upback Michael Barrett, an option quarterback in high school, found uncovered freshman Daxton Hill down the right sideline. On the next play, Patterson hit senior tight end Nick Eubanks for 24 yards to the 9-yard line. An Army pass interference penalty on third down extended the drive, and on the next play Charbonnet scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run. Senior Quinn Nordin converted the PAT to tie the game at 7 with 0:24 left in the first quarter.

It looked like Michigan had taken the lead late in the quarter when Army fumbled a pitch and senior Josh Metellus picked up the loose ball and raced 21 yards to the end zone, but he was ruled down. Even though replays showed that his knee was off the ground when he gained possession, the play stood because it was not reviewable. Michigan took over on the Army 21 with 16 second left in the quarter but immediately coughed up the ball again as Patterson was stripped from behind by blitzing cornerback Elijah Riley, who also recovered the fumble.

Two possessions later, another Michigan fumble set up Army at the Michigan 40-yard line, and the Black Knights, aided by a U-M defensive holding penalty on fourth-and-5, used 11 rushes to go 40 yards while chewing up 6:46 of clock time. Hopkins went over from one yard out, and the extra point made it 14-7 Army with 2:51 on the clock.

The Wolverines moved from their own 23-yard line to the Army 27, with a big chunk coming on Patterson's connections with tight end senior Sean McKeon for pickups of 13 and 22 yards. However, an intentional grounding penalty backed up the ball to the 37, and Nordin's 55-yard field-goal attempt was well to the right as time expired.

Army took a 14-7 lead into the halftime break after holding possession for 17:20 (57.8 percent) of the first half. The Black Knights rushed 31 times for their 109 yards and did not attempt a pass, while Michigan logged 142 yards passing and 42 rushing for 189 total yards but turned over the ball three times.

Following an off week, Michigan (2-0) will open Big Ten Conference play at West Division foe Wisconsin (No. 17 AP, No. 16 Coaches) on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Madison, Wisconsin. Fox will broadcast the game starting at 11 a.m. CDT from Camp Randall Stadium.