Michigan
1-0 , 0-0
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Western Michigan
0-1 , 0-0
Corum, QBs Shine in Decisive Season-Opening Win over Western Michigan
9/4/2021 4:29:00 PM | Football
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 47, Western Michigan 14
Records: U-M (1-0), WMU (0-1)
Attendance: 109,295
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 11 -- vs. Washington (Michigan Stadium), 8 p.m. (TV: ABC)
• Postgame Press Conferences: Jim Harbaugh | Players
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team displayed a balanced attack and accumulated 550 yards of total offense en route a 47-14 win against in-state foe Western Michigan in its 2021 season opener on Saturday (Sept. 4) at Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines racked up 334 yards on the ground and had three running backs with at least 70 yards rushing and a touchdown apiece, headlined by sophomore Blake Corum, who recorded career highs with 14 carries and 111 rushing yards, and scored a pair of touchdowns -- one rushing and one receiving.
Michigan also threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback Cade McNamara completed nine of 11 passes for 136 yards and two scores, while freshman J.J. McCarthy made his collegiate debut midway through the third quarter and went 4-for-6 passing for 80 yards and a touchdown. Senior Ronnie Bell led the receiving corps with 76 yards and a touchdown before exiting with injury in the second quarter.
The Wolverines scored on all but three of their possessions in the game, including six of their first seven, with three scoring plays of 69 yards or more. It was the program's largest scoring margin since its 44-10 win against Michigan State on Nov. 16, 2019.
Graduate student linebacker Josh Ross and junior defensive back Daxton Hill led the defense with six tackles apiece, while senior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson registered a sack and a blocked field goal on the same WMU drive in the third quarter.
Michigan set the tone early with its 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive on its first possession. The Wolverines converted on a fourth-and-one in the red zone before McNamara swung a 14-yard pass to Corum, who received a pair of big blocks on the left sideline to get into the end zone for the third time in his career -- his first collegiate receiving touchdown -- and for U-M's first points of the 2021 campaign and a 7-0 lead.
Western Michigan responded in kind with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its first possession. The Broncos benefited from a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after back-to-back plays of no gain to start the drive, but picked up a big gain on a 29-yard completion deep into Michigan territory before La'Darius Jefferson's two-yard scoring run put WMU on the board and tied the game at 7.
Bell registered his 76-yard touchdown reception -- the longest career play for both him and McNamara -- in the second quarter, after having a spectacular one-handed catch wiped out by an offensive pass interference during the previous Michigan drive. He caught the ball at the WMU 42-yard line, broke free and went untouched into the end zone.
Bell also set up U-M's third touchdown with a 31-yard punt return to the WMU 31-yard line. Senior running back Hassan Haskins ran 22 yards up the middle, using a hand on the turf to steady himself as he broke a tackle, to finish the scoring drive. Senior kicker Jake Moody tacked on a 20-yard field goal -- after hitting an earlier 37-yarder -- to close out first-half scoring, and the Wolverines led 27-7 at halftime.
The Wolverines added three more touchdowns in the second half -- all of which covered 30 yards or more. Sophomore wide receiver A.J. Henning went 74 yards on the second play from scrimmage, getting the ball on a reverse, hurdling a Bronco player, then going down the left sideline into the end zone to give U-M a 33-7 lead, after its two-point conversion attempt failed.
Corum scored his second touchdown of the game on a 30-yard run early in the fourth quarter before McCarthy hurled a 69-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Daylen Baldwin on a third-and-25 midway through the quarter -- the first Michigan touchdown for both players -- to close out the Wolverines' scoring. McCarthy rolled out right to extend the play and found Baldwin across the field on the left sideline.
U-M will continue its home schedule with a matchup against Washington next Saturday (Sept. 11). Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ABC.
Team Stats
WMU 0, U-M 7
U-M - Corum,Blake 14 yd pass from McNamara,Cade (Moody,Jacob kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:51
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WMU 7, U-M 7
WMU - Jefferson,La'Darius 2 yd run (Sampson,Parker kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:17
WMU 7, U-M 10
U-M - Moody,Jacob 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 01:26
WMU 7, U-M 17
U-M - Bell,Ronnie 76 yd pass from McNamara,Cade (Moody,Jacob kick) 3 plays, 83 yards, TOP 01:36
WMU 7, U-M 24
U-M - Haskins,Hassan 22 yd run (Moody,Jacob kick), 3 plays, 31 yards, TOP 01:21
WMU 7, U-M 27
U-M - Moody,Jacob 20 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:39
WMU 7, U-M 33
U-M - Henning,A.J. 74 yd run (), 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:41
WMU 7, U-M 40
U-M - Corum,Blake 30 yd run (Moody,Jacob kick), 4 plays, 87 yards, TOP 01:46
WMU 7, U-M 47
U-M - Baldwin,Daylen 69 yd pass from McCarthy,J.J. (Moody,Jacob kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:20
WMU 14, U-M 47
WMU - Crooms,Corey 27 yd pass from Eleby,Kaleb (Sampson,Parker kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:27
