Ground Attack Gashes Northwestern for Four TDs as U-M Wins First Jewett Trophy Game

Saturday, October 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

7-0 , 4-0

Northwestern

3-4 , 1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

Michigan

Blake Corum (Michigan Photography)

Ground Attack Gashes Northwestern for Four TDs as U-M Wins First Jewett Trophy Game

10/23/2021 4:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights vs. Northwestern Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore In the Trenches Podcast: Northwestern Postgame Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins each topped the 100-yard rushing mark, the second time the duo has done that this season. Corum rushed for 119 yards and two scores, with Haskins going for 110 yards and two scores of his own.
» Cornelius Johnson blocked a third-quarter Northwestern punt, the first time a Wolverine has blocked a punt since 2019.
» DJ Turner recorded the first interception of his career, marking the sixth straight contest that the Wolverine defense has forced a turnover.
» Michigan shut out Northwestern in the second half, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 26-point victory.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #6 Michigan 33, Northwestern 7
Records: U-M (7-0, 4-0 B1G), NU (3-4, 1-3 B1G)
Attendance: 109,449
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 30 -- at #7 Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), Noon

• Postgame Press Conferences: Jim Harbaugh | Players

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan football team returned to Michigan Stadium and used a decisive third quarter to record a convincing 33-7 victory over Northwestern on Saturday (Oct . 23). Michigan held NU off the scoreboard in the second half, turning a three-point halftime lead into a 26-point victory.

The Wolverines used a big third quarter to turn a three-point game at the half into a 27-7 lead through 45 minutes. U-M shut out the Wildcats in the frame, putting up 17 points of its own while holding Northwestern to just 70 yards in the decisive quarter. The trend continued into the fourth quarter as DJ Turner recorded the first interception of his career on the first play, setting up a Michigan touchdown just three plays later to put the game out of reach.

With the win, Michigan secured the George Jewett Trophy in its inaugural contest. The game marked a new trophy game between the two institutions, as Jewett was each program's first African American football player. It is the first and currently the only FBS trophy game named for an African American.

For the second time this season, running backs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins each topped the 100-yard rushing mark. Corum rushed for 119 yards and two scores, with Haskins going for 110 yards and two scores of his own as the Wolverine offense accounted for 294 yards on the ground. Cade McNamara threw for 129 yards and J.J. McCarthy passed for 34 yards as eight different receivers recorded catches.

The Wolverine defense held Northwestern scoreless in the second half and allowed just 233 total yards to the Wildcats, their lowest total of the season. Brad Hawkins and Daxton Hill led the way with six tackles each, while Aidan Hutchinson had three tackles, a half-sack, broke up a pass, had two quarterback hurries and recovered a fumble.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Michigan found the end zone first on a one-yard run from Corum to cap a 13-play, 79-yard drive with 12:49 to go in the second quarter. The Wolverines converted three third downs on the drive, highlighted by a seven-yard catch by tight end Erick All to keep the sticks moving on the conversion.

After the Wolverines extended their lead to 10-0 on a 20-yard field goal from Jake Moody at the 2:33 mark of the second quarter, Northwestern quickly answered with a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the ensuing drive. Michigan hit the half with a 10-7 lead.

Corum recorded his second touchdown on Michigan's first possession of the second half, punching it in from five yards out to stake the home team a 17-7 lead with 11:36 left on the third-quarter clock. Corum accounted for 45 yards of the 74-yard drive, with U-M also taking advantage of a pair of NU penalties to push the lead back to double digits.

Following a blocked punt by Cornelius Johnson that set the Wolverines up at the NU 24-yard line, U-M needed just three plays to score its third touchdown. Haskins ran it in from 13 yards out, pushing Michigan's lead to 24-7 with 4:50 left in the third. Moody tacked on another field goal, this one from 44 yards away, with just 40 ticks remaining in the quarter for a 27-7 Michigan advantage.

Turner began the fourth quarter with a highlight-worthy theft, tipping the ball twice to himself before securing the ball on the first play. Haskins ran it into the end zone just three plays later as Michigan's lead swelled to 33-7 just 1:40 into the final quarter.

Neither team scored the rest of the contest as Michigan picked up its seventh win of the season, and seventh consecutive over Northwestern.

U-M will next head to East Lansing for a showdown against No. 7 Michigan State next Saturday (Oct. 30) at noon, and the game will be broadcast live on Fox.