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Week 10 - Game Report
Illinois Fighting Illini (3-5) (1-4) at Michigan Wolverines (6-2) (2-2)
"The Most Ridiculous, Emotionally Draining, Heartbreaking Loss Of My Life"...With A Twist
True Freshman QB Devin Gardner Wow'd The Country With His Near-Comeback
Illinois Fighting Illini (3-5) (1-4) at Michigan Wolverines (6-2) (2-2)
"The Most Ridiculous, Emotionally Draining, Heartbreaking Loss Of My Life"...With A Twist
True Freshman QB Devin Gardner Wow'd The Country With His Near-Comeback
Ann Arbor, MI (AP) - The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-5) (1-4) headed up north to face Big Ten foe, the Michigan Wolverines (6-2) (2-2) who are returning back to a very wet Big House after losing a nailbiter last week in Happy Valley to the #7 Penn State Nittany Lions 30-28. Looking to perhaps take their anger out on a struggling Fighting Illini team.
Illinois won the toss and elected to receive in hopes of striking early to perhaps knock the Wolverines off balance. After picking up a quick 1st down on the first play of the drive, Michigan's defense held the Fighting Illini to a 4th and 2 forcing them to punt the ball giving the Wolverines offense their first shots of the game from their 16 yard line. Michigan's offense also picked up a first down before Sophomore QB Tate Forcier made his first mistakes of the day throwing it under pressure right to the big fella, Junior DT Corey Liuget who was playing a zone over the middle, catching it and getting tackled at the Wolverines 21 yard line. First play of the next drive, a 15 yard power run by Junior HB Mikel LeShoure as he broke 3 tackles on the play before getting dragged down at the 6. The following play, a HB screen for a touchdown was the result as Michigan went down early 6-0 (missed extra point).
Both teams went back and forth for a little longer before Forcier threw his second intereception of the game under pressure again. This time it was to Junior CB Tavon Wilson who was immediately tackled, but still giving his offense excellent field position once more at Michigan's 26. 2 Plays later and redshirt Freshman QB Nathan Scheelhaase tossed his 2nd touchdown of the game, this time to redshirt Sophomore TE London Davis on a 16 yard corner route. 12-0 Illinois at the end of the 1st quarter (the kicker missed ANOTHER extra point). Forcier started to get things together on the next drive, although his offense stalled out around midfield before punting it. A beautiful punt by Freshman P Will Hagerup as the ball bounced and stopped at the 3 yard line. Michigan sent the house on the first play of the drive taking down Scheelhaase in the endzone for a safety finally putting the Wolverines on the board. 12-2 Illinois. The offense wouldn't be able to do much though as receivers were open, but everything was going wrong. Tipped passes at the line, receiver drops, all of it as another punt was the result. Luckily for the Wolverines, their defense started to step it up and make some stops. This gave their offense some life on their next drive as they drove all the way down into the redzone before Forcier threw his 3rd pick of the game in the endzone. Coach Kleinbauer was seen on the sidelines with his hands on his head shaking it slowly not saying a word to his struggling QB as he came to the sideline. The defense bailed him out again though as they got the ball back at midfield after a punt. This time it would be the Sophomore HB Vincent Smith who fumbled the ball away as Illinois capitalized off of this turnover with another touchdown (and another missed XP...how pathetic) as Michigan was now down 18-2 with a little over a minute remaining in the half. Tate moved his offense down the field as the Wolverines kicked a 40 yard field goal to head into halftime down 18-5.
Michigan received the ball to start the 2nd half off as interesting note that it appears Coach Kleinbauer is going to give Sophomore QB Denard Robinson a chance on this first drive at the least with Tate Forcier on the bench with his helmet off. And well...let's just say that first drive didn't last long as after a run for no gain, Robinson dropped back to pass and threw it right into Wilson's hands again, his second pick of the day as Illinois offense comes out on Michigan's 16. What a horrible game so far for the Maize n' Blue as Coach Kleinbauer is expressionless on the sidelines. 2 plays later, another touchdown pass for Scheelhaase as the kicker actually made the extra point this time! 25-5 Fighting Illini. Would we see Denard Robinson once more? Yes, we would in fact as he trotted back onto the field as it appears his coach is giving him the benefit of the doubt at least for another drive. From their 30, Denard would fake it to the halfback before rolling out to the right and deciding to scramble for 15 yards. He followed that with a 10 yard toss to redshirt Junior WR Kelvin Grady. Michigan's offense got down to Illinois' 35 yard line before facing a 4th and 5 as Coach Kleinbauer signaled for his offense to stay on the field for what was perhaps the last grasp for Michigan to do something to get back into this ballgame. Illinois brought the pressure, but Denard stepped up into the pocket, waited for the redshirt Sophomore WR Roy Roundtree to make his break and fired the pass towards the sidelines to him as he picked up 20 yards on the play to keep the drive alive and put the offense in the redzone. Several plays later, Shoelaces Denard Robinson ran the ball into the endzone for 5 yards giving his offense their first touchdown of the game. Interesting note that Robinson was perfect on that drive, 5/5. 25-12 Illinois now late in the 3rd quarter.
Michigan's defense fed off the offense's momentum as a 1st down incompletion followed by a 6 yard sack let to a long 3rd down that resulted in a batted ball forcing Illinois to punt. Starting from the Fighting Illini's 44 yard line, Denard Robinson headed onto the field once more. Moving down the field with ease until Robinson made a crucial mistake pitching it on a speed option right to the Sophomore CB Terry Hawthorne who took it right down the field the other way 81 yards for the touchdown! What a disastrous play as it looked like Michigan was shifiting into another gear before being stopped cold and being down by 20 once more. 32-12 Illinois at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Starting from their 20 now, Robinson remained in the game. After a quick first down, Robinson would get crushed as he was throwing on a 3rd and 19 as it fell right into the defenders hands for Illinois 5th interception of the game. The Big House wasn't silent as they were actually boo'ing rather loudly at a pitiful performance by their Wolverines. Michigan's defense held up as the kicker missed the field goal (shocking) giving the ball back to Michigan on their 22. Interestingly enough Coach Kleinbauer had seen enough out of Denard Robinson as the true Freshman QB Devin Gardner stepped onto the field for the first time in his collegiate career to show what he could do. He would receive a rude awakening as well as get got sacked on his very first play. His first pass that he actually got off missed a wide open Stonum deep over the middle. However, on the very next play on 3rd and 24, Illinois sent the house as Gardner read it and this time hit a wide open redshirt Junior WR Darryl Stonum over the middle on a short slant that turned into a 93 yard touchdown! A record 93 yard touchdown in fact! How's that for your first collegiate completion?! 32-19 as even Coach Kleinbauer had a rie smile on his face on the sidelines. Don't get too excited Michigan, as Scheelhaase said anything you can do I can do better, throwing a 79 yard touchdown pass to the Junior WR A.J. Jenkins who beat his man. Unbelievable. These games can be so ridiculous at times. 39-19 Illinois.
The freshman drove his team right down the field capping it off with a 7 yard HB Draw play out of the Shotgun to HB Vincent Smith for a touchdown. Fighting Illini's next drive, Michigan's defense made the game even more interesting as they forced a fumble and recovered it giving their offense the ball back on Illinois' 32 yard line with a little under 5 minutes remaining in the game and the score at 39-26. Although the offense struggled a bit this time facing a 4th and 10 situation as the offense stayed on the field. Gardner dropped back out of the shotgun and found a wide open Stonum for a 20 yard gain and first down! Several plays later, Michigan found themselves in a 4th and goal situation on the 1 yard line as Gardner kept it on the sneak and dove into the endzone for the touchdown! Can you believe this?! It's 39-33 Illinois now with 3:21 remaining in the game!
A holding on the kickoff would force the Fighting Illini offense to start from their 11 as Michigan's defense desperately needs another stop and fast. Illinois ran the ball 2 straight plays picking up the first down and milking the clock in the process. The clock at 1:55 now as Michigan's defense has all 3 timeouts remaining. 3rd and 7 as Michigan takes it's 1st timeout. Illinois would throw on 3rd and 7 and catch the ball short of the first down AND get pushed out of bounds to stop the clock! After a decent punt return, the Wolverines offense stepped out onto the field with pretty good field position at their 49 as Devin Gardner had a chance to be a hero forever in his first college appearence. Could he drive his team 51 yards to score the game winning touchdown? He hasd 1:35 to do so and 2 timeouts remaining. 1st down as Gardner rolled out right from the shotgun as he found a crossing Darryl Stonum like he has all day for 18 yards as Stonum went out of bounds. Stonum also just broke the school record for most receiving yards in a game as well! On the next play Gardner was sacked for a 10 yard loss as Michigan used it's 2nd timeout. 2nd and 20, Devin found an open Roundtree for 15 yard pickup over the middle as the offense hurried to the LOS with the clock going under a minute facing a 3rd and 5. Gardner found his big Senior TE Martell Webb for a 13 yard gain and a first down as the offense quickly rushed back up to the line and spiked the ball. 48 seconds left as Michigan was in Illinois redzone now on their 15 with 1 timeout left. Out of the shotgun, Gardner motioned Darryl Stonum, snapped the ball and tried for Stonum deep in the corner of the endzone 1 on 1....batted down! 3rd and 10 now, out of the shotgun once more. The blitz was coming quickly as Gardner dumped it out to Smith for a 5 yard gain as Michigan had to burn their last timeout with 35 seconds remaining on a 4th and 5 now...DRAMA! For all the marbles now, Gardner stepped out of the shotgun perhaps for the last time this game, takes the snap, scans the field, see's nothing, starts rolling out to the right, has to throw it now as he fires a rocket into the endzone to an open Kelvin Graaaady....DROPPED! UNBELIEVABLE! Grady just dropped the game winning touchdown pass as it bounced right out of his hands! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Gardner throws his hands up for a touchdown signal, but puts them on his helmet just staring at Grady in the back of the endzone as the fans are going nuts! Coach Kleinbauer threw down his headset just glaring at Kelvin, oh my word! The comeback of a lifetime for this young kid and it's literally all in the hands of Grady as he drops it...unbelievable!
Illinois trotted back onto the field as they knew they just caught a HUGE break to win this football game kneeling the ball to make it official. Michigan falls for the 2nd straight week in a row as their New Year's Bowl hopes took a big blow after this loss. The final score is 39-33 Illinois.
Also, redshirt Junior Darryl Stonum finished with 212 receiving yards as the new Michigan receiving yards in a game record.
Box Score
- 12 - 6 - 14 - 7 - 39
- 0 - 5 - 7 - 21 - 33Players Of The Game
- QB #1Nathan Scheelhaase - 13/18, 182 Yds, 4 TD, 4 ATT, 12 Yds, 3.0 AVG
- WR #22Darryl Stonum - 9 REC, 212 Yds, 1 TD, 23.5 AVG, 111 YAC
Player Stats
QB#1 Nathan Scheelhaase - 13/18, 182 Yds, 4 TD, 4 ATT, 12 Yds, 3.0 AVG
HB#5 Mikel LeShoure - 14 ATT, 85 Yds, 1 TD, 6.0 AVG, 3 REC, 15 Yds, 5.0 AVG, 28 YAC
HB#21 Jason Ford - 1 ATT, 4 Yds, 1 REC, 6 Yds, 1 TD, 9 YAC
WR#8 A.J. Jenkins - 3 REC, 84 Yds, 1 TD, 28.0 AVG, 45 YAC
WR#82 Fred Sykes - 2 REC, 11 Yds, 1 TD, 1 YAC
TE#40 London Davis - 2 REC, 26 Yds, 1 TD, 6 YAC
MLB#18 Nate Bussey - 7 TAK, 1 INT, 1 FF
CB#3 Tavon Wilson - 5 TAK, 2 INT, 1 DEF
FS#15 Walter Aikens - 5 TAK, 1 INT, 2 DEF
DT#93 Corey Liuget - 2 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 INT, 1 DEF
DE#47 Glenn Foster - 4 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
OLB#2 Martez Wilson - 4 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 DEF
DE#99 Michael Buchanan - 6 TAK, 2 TFL, 1 Sack
DE#85 Whitney Mercilus - 1 TAK, 1 FR
CB#12 Terry Hawthorne - 4 TAK, 1 FR, 1 TD
K#13 Derek Dimke - 0/1 FG, 3/6 XP
QB#5 Tate Forcier - 12/26, 122 Yds, 3 INT
QB#16 Denard Robinson - 8/12, 91 Yds, 2 INT, 6 ATT, 11 Yds, 1 TD, 1.8 AVG, 1 FUM
QB#7 Devin Gardner - 9/17, 197 Yds, 1 TD, 7 ATT, 10 Yds, 1 TD
HB#2 Vincent Smith - 14 ATT, 44 Yds, 1 TD, 3.1 AVG, 1 FUM, 2 REC, 10 Yds, 5 YAC
WR#22 Darryl Stonum - 9 REC, 212 Yds, 1 TD, 23.5 AVG, 111 YAC
DE#88 Craig Roh - 5 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
MLB#25 Kenny Demens - 3 TAK, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Safety
MLB#42 J.B. Fitzgerald - 3 TAK, 1 FF
CB#12 J.T. Floyd - 4 TAK, 1 FR
K#34 Brendan Gibbons - 1/1 FG, 4/4 XP, 40 Long
- QB#16 Scott Tolzien (rSr.) - 29/39, 383 Yds, 3 TD
- QB#15 Taylor Potts (rSr.) - 38/55, 586 Yds, 5 TD
- MLB#34 Daniel White (So.) - 9 TAK, 8 TFL, 4 ATK, 4 Sacks
- 0 - 7 - 0 - 0 - 7
- QB#8 Adam Weber (rSr.) - 17/34, 330 Yds, 4 TD
- QB#1 Jerrod Johnson (rSr.) - 33/47, 473 Yds, 4 TD, 10 ATT, 12 Yds
- MLB#32 Scott Lutrus (rSr.) - 5 TAK, 5 TFL, 4 ATK, 1 INT, 2 Sacks, 1 FF
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