Week 7 - Game Report
#11 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1) (0-1) at Michigan Wolverines (5-1) (0-1)
A Big Ten 14-6 Barnburner In The Pouring Rain...Just Like The Good Ol' Days
Junior SS Tyler Sash just barely misses a 4th down pass to redshirt Junior WR Junior Hemingway that could have changed the outcome in this game
#11 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1) (0-1) at Michigan Wolverines (5-1) (0-1)
A Big Ten 14-6 Barnburner In The Pouring Rain...Just Like The Good Ol' Days
Junior SS Tyler Sash just barely misses a 4th down pass to redshirt Junior WR Junior Hemingway that could have changed the outcome in this game
Ann Arbor, MI (AP) - A week after losing a tough battle against the Michigan State Spartans, the Michigan Wolverines (5-1) (0-1) return to the Big House to defend their home turf to the #11 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1) (0-1) in a downpour of rain that could play a factor in this game.
Iowa won the coin toss and decided to kick to start the game off giving them the ball to start the second half. Sophomore QB Tate Forcier steps onto the field with his offense for the first time since the heartbreaking loss last weekend starting from their 33 after a decent return. They couldn't get much going though as a quick 3 and out resulted in a punt to give the Hawkeyes offense the ball for the first time this game from their 26. Iowa's offense suffered the same fate as the Wolverines as they punted the ball right back to Michigan. Same results occurred again as finally Iowa's offense would get things going before stalling out within Michigan's goal line, but they still tacked on 3 points to take the early lead 3-0.
Michigan's offense got something going their following drive before Forcier took a big hit on an option keeper which caused a fumble that the Hawkeyes fell on top of giving their offense the ball back around midfield. The Hawkeyes gained a couple first downs before attempting a 36 yard field goal in which redshirt Senior K Daniel Murray missed wide right, perhaps the weather played a factor but it was a horribly kicked ball. Iowa found themselves in another long field goal opportunity as Murray barely squeezed in the 47 yarder this time. 6-0 Iowa with a little over 2 minutes remaining in the half.
Trying to get something going Tate Forcier picked up a first down with his legs before throwing a pass he never should have rolling out to his right firing a deep bomb in double coverage getting picked off and giving the Hawkeyes the ball back once again at midfield. Luckily enough for Michigan, their defense stepped up forcing a 3 and out giving their offense one last opportunity to put some points on the board before halftime with 51 seconds remaining on their own 23 yard line. After an incompletion, Forcier would by some time in the pocket with his feet and fire a laser to a wide open Junior TE Kevin Koger towards the sidelines as he caught it, managed to stay in and head upfield before being pushed out after a 30 yard gain putting the Wolverines on Iowa's 48 with 37 seconds remaining. After throwing 2 deep incompletions, Forcier found redshirt Junior WR Junior Hemingway for a gain of 14 as the Wolverines called a timeout with 5 seconds remaining as the kick team trotted on to the field. Redshirt Freshman K Brendan Gibbons lined up to attempt a 50 yard field goal in nasty weather with 6 mph winds blowing against him...not only did he miss horribly to the right, it wouldn't have been long enough as the teams head into halftime with the score 6-0 Iowa.
The Hawkeyes received the ball to start the second half as on the very first play redshirt Junior DE Ryan Van Bergen sacked the redshirt Senior QB Ricky Stanzi for a loss of 5 yards. 2 plays later and the Hawkeyes were forced to punt giving the Wolverines good field position at their 45. The first play would be a 14 yard rush up the gut for Sophomore HB Vincent Smith. Michigan's offense looked impressive for the next several plays finally getting to the Hawkeyes 6 yard line before Smith made a costly mistake by fumbling and giving the ball right back to Iowa as Michigan fans began to boo. Michigan's defense continued to play well however forcing some losses before Iowa had to punt the ball right back giving Smith and Co a chance to redeem themselves already in Hawkeyes territory. Facing a 3rd and 6 Forcier dumped a screen pass off to Smith who broke two tackles but still was caught from behind for only a gain of 2 yards. Facing a 4th and 4 with a 51 yard field goal looming, Coach Kleinbauer decided to keep his offense on the field to see if they could come through with a big conversion. Coming out in a 4-wide shotgun set with the pressure coming, Forcier rolled to the left a bit and waited til the last second to throw a bullet to redshirt Junior WR Kelvin Grady who was wide open over the middle for a pickup of 23 yards putting the offense on the Hawkeyes 11! Although on the very next play a holding penalty was called moving them back to the 19. Not a problem for Forcier though as after a first down incompletion, he would throw another slant to an open Hemingway who fought for extra yards falling into the endzone for the touchdown! 7-6 Michigan now with under a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Michigan's defense came up with another stellar stop as the Hawkeyes were forced to punt at the start of the 4th quarter as the Wolverines offense took the field once more at their 37. After taking a crushing sack on a playaction, Forcier faced pressure one more time and threw it right to the stud redshirt Junior SS Tyler Sash's hands giving the Hawkeyes excellent field position on the Wolverines 22 yard line. What a costly mistake as Coach Kleinbauer is livid on the sidelines. Michigan's defense did an exceptional job once more as on 3rd and inches on their 2 yard line, they came up with a huge stopped that forced the Hawkeyes to attempt a 20 yard field goal from the left hash mark. Murray would boot the ball as it was up and...NO GOOD! He missed it just to the right! Unbelievable! Missing an extra point essentially that would have gave his team the lead once again in the 4th quarter as the Wolverines come away with a HUGE break. Michigan's offense worked the clock hard this entire drive and with good results picking up multiple first downs getting all the way to Iowa's 45 yard line with 2:16 remaining. Iowa began using their timeouts as the Wolverines faced a 3rd and 12 situation. Coach Kleinbauer decided to go with a pass as the Hawkeyes blitzed, Forcier dropped back, felt the pressure, stepped back up into the pocket a zipped a past deep over the middle to Junior WR Darryl Stonum who came up with the grab just over the defenders hands and dragged the defender to the 1 yard line! What a play all around there as the Hawkeyes used their last timeout with 2:05 remaining. Iowa's defense stopped Smith for a loss of 2 on the next play as the clock continued to tick. Another handoff to the right side this time as Smith got small and found just a big enough hole getting tackled into the endzone for a touchdown as the Wolverines booted through the extra point putting them up by 8 with just a 1:24 remaining as the fans felt an upset emerging in Ann Arbor!
Starting from his 23 yard line, Stanzi would come out of the shotgun taking a huge 10 yard sack by Van Bergen, his 2nd sack of the day as the clock ticks away with Stanzi slowly getting back up after the big hit but going into a no huddle mode spiking the ball. 3rd and 20 now with 1:03 remaining, Iowa needs a huge play here in obvious 4 down territory. Stanzi drops back and throws deep as the ball is batted down! 1 more play now, a 4th and 20 for all the marbles, can Michigan's defense hold on for one more play. Stanzi drops back with his receivers going deep, needs to get the football out of his hand with pressure coming, he throws it up and it's PICKED OFF by the redshirt Sophomore CB J.T. Floyd who falls down as his teammates dogpile on him knowing they just upset the #11 Iowa Hawkeyes! Coach Kleinbauer was still yelling at his players to get off the field so his offense could come out and make it official. 2 victory formation snaps and official it was, a great bounce back performance by the Wolverines this week after that heartbreaking loss the previous weekend.
The final score in this one, the Michigan Wolverines 14, the Iowa Hawkeyes 6.
Box Score
- 3 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 6
- 0 - 0 - 7 - 7 - 14
Players Of The Game
- SS #9
Tyler Sash - 6 TAK, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 DEF
- WR #21
Junior Hemingway - 4 REC, 48 Yds, 1 TD, 12.0 AVG, 7 YAC
Player Stats
QB#12 Ricky Stanzi - 9/19, 103 Yds, 1 INT, 4 ATT, -18 Yds
HB#32 Adam Robinson - 17 ATT, 61 Yds, 3.5 AVG, 2 REC, 7 Yds, 4 YAC
DT#93 Mike Daniels - 2 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
SS#9 Tyler Sash - 6 TAK, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 DEF
CB#28 Shaun Prater - 4 TAK, 1 INT
DE#94 Adrian Clayborn - 3 TAK, 1 FF
CB#4 Jordan Bernstine - 4 TAK, 1 FR
MLB#57 Bruce Davis - 3 TAK, 1 FR, 1 DEF
K#1 Daniel Murray - 2/4 FG, 47 Long
QB#5 Tate Forcier - 16/26, 217 Yds, 1 TD, 2 INT, 5 ATT, -10 Yds, -2.0 AVG, 1 FUM
HB#2 Vincent Smith - 19 ATT, 49 Yds, 1 TD, 2.5 AVG, 1 FUM, 2 REC, 5 Yds, 10 YAC
WR#21 Junior Hemingway - 4 REC, 48 Yds, 1 TD, 12.0 AVG, 7 YAC
DE#53 Ryan Van Bergen - 4 TAK, 2 TFL, 2 Sacks
DT#95 Renaldo Sagesse - 1 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
MLB#42 J.B. Fitzgerald - 7 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
CB#12 J.T. Floyd - 2 TAK, 1 INT
K#34 Brendan Gibbons - 0/1 FG, 2/2 XP
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