Mullings Finds End Zone Three Times in Rout of Northwestern

Saturday, November 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

6-5 , 4-4

Northwestern

4-7 , 2-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

Michigan

Kalel Mullings (Michigan Photography)

Mullings Finds End Zone Three Times in Rout of Northwestern

11/23/2024 7:50:00 PM | Football

Box Score Notes Press Conference: Players Press Conference: Moore In the Trenches: Northwestern Recap Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 50, Northwestern 6
Records: U-M (6-5, 4-4 B1G), Northwestern (4-7, 2-6 B1G)
Attendance: 109,830
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 30 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), Noon (TV: Fox)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team secured a dominating 50-6 victory in its final home game of the season Saturday (Nov. 23) at Michigan Stadium. In the second contest for the George Jewett Trophy, Kalel Mullings led a potent ground attack, finding the end zone three times.

After rushing the ball three times for six yards and one touchdown in the first half, Mullings marched off 86 yards over nine rushes and two scores in the third quarter alone. Donovan Edwards added to Michigan's 201-yard day on the ground with 10 rushes for 65 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The Wolverines' passing attack was efficient, as Davis Warren completed 26-of-35 passes for 195 yards and one passing touchdown. Tyler Morris had a career-best seven catches and 64 receiving yards to lead the way for U-M through the air.

Defensively, the Maize and Blue bottled up the Wildcats, allowing 127 total yards (10 rushing, 117 passing), including just 43 total in the second half. As a unit, Michigan totaled six sacks, eight tackles for loss and two interceptions with strong performances coming from Josaiah Stewart (two sacks, two TFL), Ernest Hausmann (four tackles, sack, TFL), Aamir Hall (interception, TFL, pass breakup) and Mason Curtis (interception).

On the opening drive of the game, a diving Hall hauled in an interception at the U-M 46-yard line along the away sideline. A balanced 11-play drive ensued and concluded with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Mullings for an early 7-0 Michigan lead.

Following a short Northwestern punt, the Michigan offense was set up with strong field position for its second possession. The drive quickly stalled but set up a 56-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada -- his sixth make from 50 yards or more this season.

The Wildcats went on a run of two straight field goals to close the game's score to 10-6 late in the first half. With 1:57 remaining, the Wolverines put together an 11-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. Following a 20-yard third-down connection between Warren and Fredrick Moore, the U-M signal-caller found a wide-open Colston Loveland for a three-yard score to close the first half with a 17-6 Michigan advantage.

The second half opened with a steady dose of Mullings. The U-M ball carrier marched off gains of 13 and 47 yards before closing the drive with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to move the Wolverines ahead by 18 points.

Mullings' productive second half continued on Michigan's next drive when he touched the ball six times, including three first-down rushes and a one-yard rushing touchdown -- his third score of the evening.

The Maize and Blue defense forced another turnover, an interception by Curtis over the middle of the field on a fourth-down play. Edwards marched off runs of 24 and 20 yards on the ensuing offensive drive, the latter of which found the end zone to move the Wolverines ahead 38-6 in the fourth quarter.

U-M added another 12 points -- a Zvada 28-yard field goal, a safety, and a 20-yard Tavierre Dunlap rushing touchdown, the first of his career -- in the remaining 13:40 to reach the half-century mark on the day.

Michigan will conclude the regular season on the road in Columbus, Ohio, when it takes on Ohio State next Saturday (Nov. 30) at Ohio Stadium. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff and will be broadcast live on Fox.