Instant Recap: Michigan Wolverines Football 20, Northwestern 17
Michigan defeated Northwestern in Evanston today, 20-17, but it wasn't pretty.
Here's how things unfolded:
First Half
Michigan got off to a disastrous start, going three-and-out on its first offensive possession.
Northwestern then began its initial drive at its own 44-yard line, and advanced 56 yards in six plays, capping things off with a quarterback sneak by fifth-year senior Clayton Thorson.
A second straight three-and-out ensued for the Maize and Blue, and the Wildcats capitalized by converting a 45-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 with 3:58 to go in the first quarter.
Northwestern redshirt junior running back John Moten found the end zone from three yards out at the 12:56 mark of the second quarter, extending the Wildcat advantage to 17-0.
Michigan's offense answered, though, capping off a 79-yard scoring drive with a four-yard touchdown run from senior running back Karan Higdon at the 12:49 mark.
That trimmed Northwestern's lead to 17-7, but that's where the scoring stopped in the half.
Four straight punts ensued from both teams, and Northwestern was content just to run out the clock on its final drive and go into halftime.
The Maize and Blue actually outgained the Wildcats, 154-146, in the first half, despite facing a 10-point deficit.
Second Half
The scoring slowed down mightily in the second half.
The Wildcats punted on their opening possession, and Michigan trimmed Northwestern's lead to 17-10 with a 23-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Quinn Nordin at the 7:43 mark of the third quarter.
A similar sequence ensued when Northwestern punted yet again, and Nordin split the uprights for a second straight drive — this time from 24 yards out — to make it 17-13 as time expired in the third.
Three straight punts opened the fourth quarter — two by Northwestern and one by Michigan.
The Wolverines finally grabbed their first lead of the day (20-17) at the 4:06 mark, when they capped off an 11-play, 67-yard scoring drive with a five-yard touchdown run by Higdon.
Looking to answer, the Wildcat offense immediately went three-and-out, and Michigan began its ensuing possession at its own 34-yard line with three minutes left.
They wound up punting, and Northwestern started its final drive at its own 15-yard line with just 34 seconds left, looking for the game-winning score. A sack by junior linebacker Josh Uche ended the game, and U-M escaped with a 20-17 win.
The Maize and Blue won the yardage battle in a big way, 376-202, with 196 coming through the air and 180 on the ground.
Higdon compiled 115 rushing yards and two scores, while Patterson connected on 15 of his 24 throws.
Michigan will take on Maryland next Saturday at noon.
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