Special Teams Powers Michigan to Win
Redshirt freshman kicker Quinn Nordin continued his outstanding start to the season with five more field goals in Michigan’s 29-13 win against Air Force at The Big House.
With the Wolverine’s offense continuing to struggle to punch the ball into the end zone, Nordin has taken advantage of his opportunities and leads the entire country in made field goals with 11.
His five makes against Air Force tied a single-game record at Michigan with K.C. Lopata (vs. Minnesota in 2008), J.D. Carlson (vs. Illinois, Nov. 10, 1990) and Mike Gillette (vs. Minnesota, Nov. 5, 1988).
With his current season total of 11 makes in three games, Nordin needs just four more to tie for 15th in Michigan career history. The school record for most field goals in a season is held by Remy Hamilton, who had 25 in 1994; Nordin is on pace for 44 in the regular season.
It wasn’t just the field goal unit that was impressive on special teams. Jim Harbaugh said he was impressed with punt and kick coverage — U-M allowed just 45 yards on three kickoff returns — while freshman wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones made the most of his opportunity returning punts, taking one back 79 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
It was Peoples-Jones’ first career touchdown at Michigan, and marked the first punt return touchdown for the Wolverines since Jabrill Peppers took one to the house in September of last year against Colorado.
The return was tied for the 10th-longest scoring punt runback in school history, matching Derrick Alexander’s in 1993 against NC State, and stands as Michigan's longest since Steve Breaston’s 83-yarder against Indiana in 2006.
Peoples-Jones' punt return touchdown is the first by a U-M freshman since Martavious Odoms did so against Purdue in 2008.
Harbaugh chose to replace Peoples-Jones at punt returner last week against Cincinnati after he struggled with calling fair catches. Junior receiver Grant Perry took over, but it was back to Peoples-Jones against Air Force.
The touchdown was a huge momentum boost in the second half, at a time where neither team had been able to score a touchdown yet. It gave the Wolverines a 16-6 lead, and they never looked back.
Defense Shuts Down Air Force Attack
Michigan’s defense limited Air Force to 232 total yards, the fewest the school has notched since 2012, when the Falcons had 214 in a 33-14 loss to Rice. On Saturday, 168 of Air Force's yards came on the ground, while its 64 through the air all came on one play.
It was the first time Air Force had fewer than 300 yards since Oct. 3, 2015 against Navy (33-11 loss), and the first time it has been held to under 200 yards rushing since Oct. 8, 2016 in a 35-26 loss to Wyoming.
Michigan snapped the Falcons' 19-game streak of scoring at least 24 points, which was the second-longest run of its kind in the nation.
The point differential also marked Air Force’s worst loss since the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl, where it lost 55-36 to Cal, which was led by quarterback and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Jared Goff.
U-M was able to shut down the run from the very beginning and completely eliminated the pass. Air Force quarterbacks finished just 1-of-9 passing. However, that one completion went for a long touchdown in the second half. Sophomore viper Khaleke Hudson closed out the game with an interception — the first of his career.
After the game, sophomore linebacker Devin Bush Jr. said he was proud of the defense and noted that the Falcon offense “got annoying after a while.”
“Nobody can run the ball on us, nobody,” Bush Jr. said.
Michigan recorded three sacks in the contest. Bush had a big one on a third-and-goal, while redshirt junior defensive end Chase Winovich picked up 1.5, splitting one with sophomore defensive tackle Rashan Gary.
It is the 29th straight game that Michigan had gotten a sack on defense.
Bush Jr. set a career high in tackles with 11, which tied fifth-year senior Mike McCray for the team lead. He also has four sacks on the year.
Other Notes:
· Michigan snapped Air Force's six-game winning streak against non-conference opponents and broke its seven-game winning streak overall dating back to last season.
· Peoples-Jones had 104 punt return yards, more than former star Jabrill Peppers’ career high of 99 (set last year against Colorado). He just missed cracking Michigan's top five for most punt return yards for a single game; Steve Breaston stands in that spot after totaling 112 yards on punt returns in 2004 against Northwestern. Peoples-Jones' 104 is the most punt return yards by a Michigan player since Breaston had 116 yards against Wisconsin in 2006.
· Sophomore safety Josh Metellus briefly exited with an injury and was replaced by freshman J’Marick Woods. Metellus re-entered the game just a few plays later.
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