Notre Dame Hangs On Against Michigan
After dominating for virtually the entire night, Notre Dame needed one more play to clinch a season-opening victory over Michigan on Saturday night in South Bend.
Jerry Tiller, Khalid Kareem and Te’von Coney provided it.
Trailing by a touchdown in the final minute with the ball around midfield, Wolverine quarterback Shea Patterson was collapsed upon by Tillery and Kareem, forcing a game-clinching fumble that Coney scooped up, allowing the Irish to come away with the 24-17 victory.
Despite being outscored 7-3 in the second half, a quick burst of offense in the first half and amazing defense throughout anchored by their front seven, Notre Dame escaped with the win.
Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush went 12-for-22 for 170 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 19 times for 59 yards. Recently-converted receiver Jafar Armstrong got the start at running back and scored twice on the ground while Chris Finke caught three passes for 55 yards including a 43-yard touchdown.
Coney led the defense with 10 tackles and the fumble recovery. Kareem recorded nine tackles, two sacks and the forced fumble.
Patterson threw for 227 yards on 20-for-30 passing. Michigan running back Karan Higdon finished with 72 yards on 21 carries and scored the Wolverines only offensive touchdown.
Michigan started the second half strong with a 52-yard catch by Nico Collins from Patterson and a 12-yard timing route by Donovan Peoples-Jones on the sideline, but the Notre Dame defense didn’t break. The Irish forced a field goal and when the snap was bobbled by the holder, the Wolverines left with no points.
Wimbush was picked off by Michigan’s Brandon Watson on the ensuing drive, but Michigan was again unable to capitalize.
Notre Dame Rover Asmar Bilal hit Higdon in the backfield for a loss of four followed by a stuff for no gain on the next play by Kareem. On 3rd and 14 Patterson hit Nick Eubanks in the flats for 10 yards, but captain Drue Tranquill made a great open field tackle to force a fourth down. The Wolverines elected to go for it and turned the ball over on an incompletion by Patterson intended for Zach Gentry.
But after rolling in the first half, the Irish offense again stumbled, going three and out as Michigan turned up its pass rush behind Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary.
The Irish defense continued its own dominating through, forcing a three-and-out.
Wimbush did it all on their next drive, which resulted in a 48-yard field goal by Justin Yoon. Wimbush converted a 3rd and 18 with a 22-yard quarterback draw to extend the drive. He also avoided a sack on a 1st and 10 later in the drive, hitting Chase Claypool for a 19-yard gain. A formation penalty wiped out a 28-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin, forcing the Irish to settle for Yoon’s kick.
Julian Okwara came up with an interception to give the Irish possession at their 45-yard line on the ensuing drive.
The Irish couldn’t do anything on the next drive. Tyler Newsome punts it 57-yards and pinned Michigan inside the five-yard line.
Michigan again turned the ball over on downs after failing to convert a 4th and 7 at the Notre Dame 44-yard line. The Wolverines were driving down the field despite losing Patterson to cramps. Dylan McCaffrey completed two third-down throws one to Grant Perry on a 3rd and five and one to Peoples-Jones on 3rd and five a few plays later. Despite the methodical drive, Notre Dame’s defense came up big once again.
The Irish offense continued its own second-half struggles though and had to put.
Michigan finally punched it into the end zone sparked by Chris Evans who had two receptions for 13 and 24 yards. Patterson also was able to hit Oliver Martin for 21 yards after stepping up in the pocket to avoid pressure. Higdon capped the solid drive with a three-yard touchdown to make it 24-17 with 2:18 left in the game.
After Michigan’s touchdown drive, Notre Dame ran the ball three times and was forced to punt, giving Michigan the ball at its own 25-yard line with no timeouts, setting up the game’s final moment.
In the first half, it looked like the Irish could run away with the game.
Despite starting the game without gaining a yard on its first two plays, the Irish started fast. Wimbush delivered back-to-back passes to pick up 44 yards, hitting Chase Claypool for a 16-yard gain on 3rd down and a 28-yard fade route to Miles Boykin. After picking up five yards on a run, Wimbush took a shot to the eye on a facemask which forced Ian Book to come in at quarterback. The next play the Irish scored on an 8-yard inside zone run by Jafar Armstrong.
On Michigan’s opening drive they picked up a quick first down on three rushes for 14 by Higdon. The Notre Dame defense made a stop regrouping on the next drive forcing a punt three plays later. Gilman made a few nice tackles on the drive in the run game from his safety spot. Tiillery made the stop for the Irish on 3rd and 3.
Notre Dame on their second drive started slow again which forced another long third down attempt. Wimbush stood in the pocket and delivered a nice ball down the sideline to Alize Mack for a first down and a 26-yard game. Josh Metellus the safety for Michigan ejected for his hit on Mack. 3rd and 6 Wimbush used his feet to get a first down and extend the drive. On a play action play followed by the scramble, Wimbush launched a ball to the end zone towards Finke, which resulted in a brilliant 43-yard touchdown catch to go up 14-0 with 7:09 to play in the first.
Michigan drove the ball on their second drive of the game with Patterson hitting some rhythm passes to Peoples-Jones, his tight end Gentry and Oliver Perry. The drive halted when Notre Dame started to send pressure. On 2nd and 6 Daelin Hayes got the pressure and then on 3rd and 6 and forcing the Wolverines to punt Khalid Kareem recorded the sack.
After a short punt by Newsome, Michigan had prime field position at the Notre Dame 41 yards line. Mixing it up with Higdon on the ground and Patterson hitting his timing passes the Wolverines got the ball down to the Notre Dame 2-yard line. On 2nd and goal at the 2, Jerry Tillery came up with a huge sack which forced a long 3rd and goal from the 10. On the third down, Patterson bulleted a pass towards the end zone intended for Gentry, where Gilman yet again made a great play to bat the ball to the ground. This forced Michigan to a field goal to make it 14-3 with 11:32 to go in the second quarter.
After letting up a field goal to Michigan, Notre Dame responded with a 15 play, 75-yard drive capped by a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Armstrong for his second of the game to make it 21-3 with 3:55 left in the first half. The touchdown run was ultimately sprung by a roughing the passer call on Winovich. The penalty extended the drive, but the drive was a mix of Jones Jr, Armstrong and Wimbush using his legs.
After their scoring drive Notre Dame kicked out to Michigan’s Ambry Thomas who returned the kick out for a 98-yard touchdown to make it 21-10 with 3:41 left in the first half.
Notre Dame couldn’t counter after the kick return after getting the ball near mid-field after two first downs. Highlighting the drive was a 12-yard strike by Wimbush to Claypool on a 3rd and 4 while under pressure.
Wimbush ended the first half 10-for-15, 148 yards through the air and 12 rush attempts for 39 yards and a touchdown. Finke caught two passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. Armstrong scored twice and contributed 30 yards on the ground on eight attempts. The Irish ran for 85 first-half yards on a stout Michigan front. The Notre Dame defense recorded 2 sacks (Kareem and Tillery)
For Michigan, Higdon ran for 46 yards on 12 attempts. Patterson was contained on the ground but was 9-for-12 62 yards. Thomas for Michigan scored a 99-yard kick return touchdown.