Michigan Football Classics - 1971 vs. OSU
Ufer Calls Taylor's Late TD
Running Billy Taylor gets downhill on an off-tackle play that resulted in a 21-yard, go-ahead score with 2:07 remaining. This touchdown proved to the winning play for the Wolverines, capping an 11-play, 72-yard drive. Behind strong blocking, Taylor later said he knew he would reach the end zone when he turned the corner. Blocking for Taylor is fullback Fritz Seyferth (32) and backup quarterback Larry Cipa (13), who relieved starter Tom Slade after he was sidelined with a first-quarter hip injury.
It was a down-the-line option and, believe it or not, it came against an over-shifted Ohio defense. Cipa came down and forced two Ohio defenders to commit and then he pitched to Taylor. That was the key to the play.Bo Schembechler, on the game-winning touchdown run
Michigan's defense was the engine behind its 12-0 regular season and the driving force behind its 1971 victory over OSU. The Buckeyes took an early 7-3 lead off an explosive punt return, but were denied in every offensive pursuit going forward. In this photo, defensive linemen David Gallagher (71), Fred Grambau (92) and Michael Keller (90) are aided by linebackers Thomas Kee (37) and Michael Taylor (33) in a swarming gang tackle. As Bo Schembechler told reporters after the game, "Our defense was super. It completely stifled their offense, and we got the touchdown when we needed it."
Fullback Fritz Seyferth plunges across the line of scrimmage for a gain. Seyferth was a force for the Maize and Blue, rising from a walk-on to a star. He finished third in the Big Ten in scoring in 1970, and paved the way for Billy Taylor to rush for 1,297 yards in 1971. That kickstarted Taylor's career on his way to becoming Michigan's all-time rushing leader upon graduation (3,072 yards). Seyferth's years at Michigan (1968-71) dovetailed with the beginning of Bo Schembechler's career, and he even joined Schembechler's staff in 1979, beginning a 21-year career in the U-M Athletic Department.
Senior defensive back Thomas Darden's interception with 1:32 remaining sealed victory for Michigan. Darden's pick gave U-M the ball at the 32-yard line. After the game, Bo Schembechler praised the defense and Darden. He told the press, "That catch by Darden was one of the greatest I've ever seen. I don't need to look at the films to know that." Famously, Ohio State's coach Woody Hayes was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after his reaction to the Darden interception, which he thought should have been pass interference. Darden finished his career as one of four players in U-M history with multiple interceptions returned for touchdowns, the others being Lance Dottin (1991), Brandon Watson (2018), and Lavert Hill (2017-19).
Michigan broadcaster Jim Brandstatter looks for a man to block in the open field. Brandstatter was a right tackle for the 1971 team, which was Michigan's first undefeated regular-season campaign since 1948. The Wolverines were 12-0 before losing by one point to Stanford in the Rose Bowl, but the satisfying win over the Buckeyes made the season one to remember. It avenged the team's 20-9 loss the year earlier and proved to be OSU's third straight Big Ten loss in '71 -- the first time the team had dropped three straight league contests in legendary coach Woody Hayes' 21 years leading the program. "It has been a great season for us," said Bo Schembechler after the game. "People start to take shots at you and sometimes they get you, but they didn't get us in the first 11 games. I'll tell you, 11-0 ain't bad."
Michigan Football Classics
Each Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET, from Sept. 12-Oct. 17, Learfield IMG College will rebroadcast classic Michigan football games on Detroit's 97.1 FM The Ticket. From "The Catch" against Notre Dame in 1991 to the Wolverines' 10-7 victory over rival Ohio State in 1971, Michigan Football Classics will let fans relive some of the memorable moments in the history of Michigan football. Audio broadcast replays will also be available at MGoBlue.com/watch.
