Nov 19, 20234 min read

Dawg Review: # 4 Michigan Wolverines at Maryland Game Recap

'“The Big House,” University of Michigan' Photo Credit: Dennis Sparks via Flickr

What many believed to be a trap game to start the season almost turned out to be exactly that. Michigan and Maryland would trade blows with the Terps coming up inches short of getting the ball back for a chance to win the game. The Michigan Wolverines would win the game 31-24 for the 1000 win in program history, but more importantly, the win kept Michigan's season alive for a chance to get to another Big 10 championship game.

Game Summary:

1st Quarter

Michigan started the game off slow going 3 and out on their first drive. Maryland would take the lead on their first drive with a field goal after having some succusses moving the ball. The rest of the first quarter would go the way of the Wolverines with the offense, defense, and special teams all putting points on the board. First, it was Blake Corum finding the endzone on a short run. Then on a Taulia Tagovailoa scramble, Michigan would force the fumble, and Derrick Moore would 'Scoop ‘n Score' to go up 14-3. With 32 seconds left, Michigan would block the Terps punt into the endzone and Maryland’s kicker would kick it out of the back of the endzone for a safety putting Michigan up 16-3.

2nd Quarter

In the second quarter, Blake would find the endzone again, putting the Wolverine up 23-3. Maryland would then move the ball all the way down to the Michigan 1-yard line. On 4th and Goal Maryland would use the tush push to punch it in making it a 23-10 game. Under 2 minutes left in the 1st half and Michigan looking to put more points on the board. J.J. would make a terrible play and throw an interception to give the ball back to Maryland. The Terps would take a knee and go into the half down 23-10, and Maryland would have the ball to start the 3rd quarter.

3rd Quarter

On the first drive of the 3rd quarter Maryland would march right down the field on the Michigan defense. Maryland would use the tush push for a second time on a 4th and goal to punch the ball into the endzone making the game 23-17. This would be the first points the Michigan defense would allow in the 3rd quarter all season. Michigan would go 3 and out on their first drive giving the ball back to Maryland with a chance to take the lead for the 2nd time in the game.

Michigan's defense would make a play, Mike Sainristil would intercept a Tagovailoa pass giving the momentum back to the Wolverines. On the drive after the interception Michigan would get into the endzone on a Semaj Morgan run. Michigan would miss the two-point conversion and would be up 29-17. On their very next drive, Maryland would move the ball right down the field to make it 29-24 Michigan with only 16 seconds left in the quarter.

4th quarter

Maryland would force Michigan to punt the ball on the first drive of the 4th quarter and everything is starting to go the way of the Terps. Michigan and Maryland would change possessions with both defenses making plays. Then on a 2nd and 8 ball on their own 3-yard line Maryland’s Tagovailoa would get called for a questionable intentional grounding in his own endzone. The two points would make the lead 7 in the game for the Wolverines. Maryland's defense would need to come up big and get the ball back for their offense. Maryland would get Michigan into a 4th and 1 with less than 2 minutes left. Michigan’s interim head Sherrone Moore would go for it, and Corum would get the ball and run into the line of scrimmage seemingly. After bringing out the chains to measure Michigan would have the first down by inches ending the game and keeping the Wolverines perfect with all eyes now turning to the matchup with the Buckeyes of Ohio State.

Turning point/play of the game

In the 4th quarter and down by 5 Maryland's defense will get Michigan into a 4th down and 1 to go with under 2 minutes to go. Michigan would go for it knowing that a first down would end the game. Michigan would hand the ball off the Blake Corum who would get the first down by inches, ending any chance of Maryland getting the ball back.

Michigan Wolverine - Game Ball

Michigan game ball must go to the defense in this game, they would come up big in the win over the Terps. The Wolverine's defense when they needed them the most made the plays to preserve the win. In the game, the defense would record two safeties and 2 interceptions. Maryland was able to move the ball at different times in the game but the defense in the key moments would make the play necessary to win.

Maryland Terps - Game Ball

Maryland's defense gets the game ball for making it possible for the Terps to get back in it. Michigan was up 23-3 and the game looked like it was over the Terp's defense would put together stop after stop to help Maryland get back into the game. In what ended up being the biggest play of the game, the Terp's defense almost got the stop they needed to give the ball back to their offense with a chance to tie or win the game.