#12 Michigan 42 Northwestern 24 - October 8, 2011 - Evanston, Ill. (18-8) - Video Highlights
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Denard Robinson threw three interceptions in the first half, each more ugly than the one before it.
In the second half, the Michigan quarterback was nearly flawless, and he kept No. 12 Michigan's record perfect, too, leading the Wolverines a 42-24 win over Northwestern on Saturday night.
Robinson threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, helping Michigan come back from a 10-point halftime deficit.
"My teammates kept pushing me and telling me to calm down and just do what you can do," Robinson said. "Some throws I could have easily put it on the guy. And I overthrew it. There's some things I've learned from it."
Robinson threw for 337 yards and ran for 113 as Michigan (6-0, 2-0) scored on its first three possessions of the second half. The Wolverines trailed 24-14 after a first half in which Robinson threw three interceptions.
Michigan's Junior Hemingway caught five passes for 123 yards and Roy Roundtree added five grabs for 83 yards. Both receivers set up touchdowns with big gains by outleaping the Northwestern secondary on what Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald called "fifty-fifty balls."
Dan Persa threw for 315 yards for Northwestern (2-3, 0-2) which blew a double-digit lead for the second straight week. Jeremy Ebert caught 11 passes for 87 yards for the Wildcats.
But Northwestern was outscored 28-0 in the second half. So what happened?
"Young man named Denard Robinson," Fitzgerald said. "He's pretty good. Probably better than we've seen in a while."
After shutting out Northwestern in the second half, Michigan has allowed just 21 second-half points in six games and has forced nine second-half turnovers.
Michigan has won nine of the last 11 meetings between the schools, though they hadn't met since Northwestern's win at Michigan Stadium in 2008.
With Michigan trailing by 10 points, Robinson came out firing in the second half. He connected with Roundtree on a 57-yard bomb to set up Robinson's two-yard touchdown scamper. After a stop, Robinson led an 80-yard drive, accounting for 68 yards himself, and Devin Gardner scored on a one-yard run to put Michigan up 28-24.
Michigan's Brandin Hawthorne then picked off Persa's tipped pass, setting up Michael Shaw's three-yard touchdown run. Northwestern had the ball for just 2 minutes, 32 seconds during the third quarter.
"We possessed the ball better, so our defense was off the field," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said. "We play good defense when we're off the field."
Ebert fumbled after a short reception from Persa, giving Northwestern two straight turnovers after turning the ball over just two times total in their first four games. After shutting out Northwestern in the second half, Michigan has allowed just 21 second-half points in six games and has forced nine second-half turnovers.
After winning their first five games at home, the Wolverines were playing their first road game of the season, though the Northwestern purple in the crowd at Ryan Field had a liberal sprinkling of Michigan maize that gave the game a Big House-like feel.
The Wolverines started fast. Robinson hit Hemingway on a key third-down pass for 48 yards. The senior outleapt safety Ibraheim Campbell to make a tumbling catch, and Robinson found Steve Watson from nine yards out for the game's first score.
Persa led three long Northwestern scoring drives in the first half. Northwestern's 14 first-quarter points were more than Michigan allowed in its three previous games combined. The Wolverines entered the game allowing just 10.2 points per game, second in the nation and down from 35.2 last season.
"It's frustrating," Persa said. "But we have no one else to blame but ourselves. We have to look inside ourselves to see what we need to do to pull it out."
Meanwhile, Robinson's erratic throws kept Michigan off the scoreboard. Robinson entered the game with a Big Ten-high six interceptions and he threw three more -- all on overthrows -- in the first half.
"We had three picks, probably should have had five," Fitzgerald said.
Campbell had two of the interceptions, his second coming on the first play of the second quarter after Michigan reached Northwestern's 16-yard line. It was the second time all season that Michigan didn't score inside the 20 -- the first was a kneel-down to end last week's 58-0 win over Minnesota.
But after halftime, it was all Robinson and Michigan, which converted 14 for 17 on third-down conversions in the game.
"The players and coaches all looked at each other and we know we hold each other accountable," Robinson said. "I thought I did alright in the second half. I stepped into my throws like I was supposed to."
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Michigan............ 7 7 14 14 - 42 Record: (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Northwestern........ 14 10 0 0 - 24 Record: (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 47,330
Scoring Summary:
1st 10:55 MICH - Watson, Steve 9 yd pass from Robinson, Denard (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:34, MICH 7 - NU 0
08:50 NU - Colter, Kain 15 yd run (Budzien, Jeff kick)
6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:05, MICH 7 - NU 7
04:10 NU - Green, Treyvon 7 yd run (Budzien, Jeff kick)
8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:13, MICH 7 - NU 14
2nd 04:13 MICH - Gallon, Jeremy 25 yd pass from Robinson, Denard (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:11, MICH 14 - NU 14
02:21 NU - Smith, Adonis 2 yd run (Budzien, Jeff kick)
7 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:52, MICH 14 - NU 21
00:00 NU - Budzien, Jeff 20 yd field goal
7 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:05, MICH 14 - NU 24
3rd 10:52 MICH - Robinson, Denard 2 yd run (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:08, MICH 21 - NU 24
02:58 MICH - Gardner, Devin 1 yd run (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:29, MICH 28 - NU 24
4th 14:55 MICH - Shaw, Michael 2 yd run (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
6 plays, 47 yards, TOP 1:56, MICH 35 - NU 24
02:19 MICH - Robinson, Denard 5 yd run (Gibbons, Brendan kick)
9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 4:43, MICH 42 - NU 24
Kickoff time: 6:01 pm End of Game: 9:17 pm Total elapsed time: 3:16
Officials: Referee: Scott McElwee; Umpire: Jim Krogstad; Linesman: Bob Bassett;
Line judge: Jeff Szink; Back judge: Dennis Morris; Field judge: Jerry Hocker;
Side judge: Darrel Leftwich; Scorer: Marc Grossman;
Temperature: 72 Wind: E- 3 mph Weather: Clear
Sellout
Team Statistics
MICH NU
FIRST DOWNS................... 23 26
Rushing..................... 8 6
Passing..................... 14 17
Penalty..................... 1 3
NET YARDS RUSHING............. 179 107
Rushing Attempts............ 50 25
Average Per Rush............ 3.6 4.3
Rushing Touchdowns.......... 4 3
Yards Gained Rushing........ 196 134
Yards Lost Rushing.......... 17 27
NET YARDS PASSING............. 362 331
Completions-Attempts-Int.... 19-28-3 32-45-1
Average Per Attempt......... 12.9 7.4
Average Per Completion...... 19.1 10.3
Passing Touchdowns.......... 2 0
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS........... 541 438
Total offense plays......... 78 70
Average Gain Per Play....... 6.9 6.3
Fumbles: Number-Lost.......... 0-0 1-1
Penalties: Number-Yards....... 5-65 5-51
PUNTS-YARDS................... 1-38 3-140
Average Yards Per Punt...... 38.0 46.7
Net Yards Per Punt.......... 18.0 46.7
Inside 20................... 0 0
50+ Yards................... 0 0
Touchbacks.................. 0 0
Fair catch.................. 0 0
KICKOFFS-YARDS................ 7-454 4-248
Average Yards Per Kickoff... 64.9 62.0
Net Yards Per Kickoff....... 49.4 43.0
Touchbacks.................. 3 1
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD. 0-0-0 1-20-0
Average Per Return.......... 0.0 20.0
Kickoff returns: Number-Yds-TD 3-56-0 3-48-0
Average Per Return.......... 18.7 16.0
Interceptions: Number-Yds-TD.. 1-0-0 3-67-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yds-TD. 0-0-0 0-0-0
Miscellaneous Yards........... 0 1
Possession Time............... 37:57 22:03
1st Quarter................. 9:11 5:49
2nd Quarter................. 7:47 7:13
3rd Quarter................. 12:28 2:32
4th Quarter................. 8:31 6:29
Third-Down Conversions........ 14 of 17 4 of 11
Fourth-Down Conversions....... 1 of 1 0 of 2
Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 5-6 4-5
Touchdowns.................. 5-6 3-5
Field goals................. 0-6 1-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 4-26 0-0
PAT Kicks..................... 6-6 3-3
Field Goals................... 0-1 1-1
Michigan Individual Statistics
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
-------------------------------------------------
Robinson, Denard 25 129 12 117 2 25 4.7
Shaw, Michael 6 25 0 25 1 9 4.2
Toussaint Fitzgerald 14 30 5 25 0 7 1.8
Smith, Vincent 3 8 0 8 0 6 2.7
Gardner, Devin 2 4 0 4 1 3 2.0
Totals... 50 196 17 179 4 25 3.6
Passing Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
-------------------------------------------------
Robinson, Denard 17-26-3 337 2 57 0
Gardner, Devin 2-2-0 25 0 19 0
Totals... 19-28-3 362 2 57 0
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
----------------------------------------
Hemingway, Junior 5 124 0 48
Gallon, Jeremy 5 73 1 25
Roundtree, Roy 3 83 0 57
Koger, Kevin 2 36 0 19
Jackson, Jeremy 1 19 0 19
Shaw, Michael 1 12 0 12
Watson, Steve 1 9 1 9
Smith, Vincent 1 6 0 6
Totals... 19 362 2 57
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
---------------------------------------------------
Hagerup, Will 1 38 38.0 38 0 0
Totals... 1 38 38.0 38 0 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
All Returns No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg
--------------------------------------------------
Gallon, Jeremy 0 0 0 1 13 13 0 0 0
Hawthorne, Brandin 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Odoms, Martavious 0 0 0 2 43 25 0 0 0
Totals... 0 0 0 3 56 25 1 0 0
Field goal attempts
----------------------------------------
Gibbons, Brendan 4th 09:13 37 yds - Blocked
Kickoffs No. Yds TB OB Avg
---------------------------------------
Wile, Matt 7 454 3 1 64.9
FUMBLES: None.
Northwestern Individual Statistics
Rushing No Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
-------------------------------------------------
Schmidt, Jacob 5 31 0 31 0 11 6.2
Colter, Kain 2 28 0 28 1 15 14.0
Smith, Adonis 6 29 1 28 1 23 4.7
Mark, Venric 2 18 0 18 0 12 9.0
Green, Treyvon 1 7 0 7 1 7 7.0
Persa, Dan 9 21 26 -5 0 7 -0.6
Totals... 25 134 27 107 3 23 4.3
Passing Cmp-Att-Int Yds TD Long Sack
-------------------------------------------------
Persa, Dan 32-44-1 331 0 39 4
TEAM 0-1-0 0 0 0 0
Totals... 32-45-1 331 0 39 4
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
----------------------------------------
Ebert, Jeremy 11 86 0 15
Dunsmore, Drake 7 73 0 26
Schmidt, Jacob 5 51 0 18
Jones, C. 3 68 0 39
Colter, Kain 3 37 0 16
Smith, Adonis 1 8 0 8
Mark, Venric 1 4 0 4
Green, Treyvon 1 4 0 4
Totals... 32 331 0 39
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
---------------------------------------------------
Williams, B. 3 140 46.7 47 0 0
Totals... 3 140 46.7 47 0 0
Punts Kickoffs Intercept
All Returns No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg No.Yds.Lg
--------------------------------------------------
Schmidt, Jacob 0 0 0 1 20 20 0 0 0
Mark, Venric 1 20 20 2 28 15 0 0 0
Campbell, I. 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 43 33
Peters, Brian 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 24
Totals... 1 20 20 3 48 20 3 67 33
Field goal attempts
----------------------------------------
Budzien, Jeff 2nd 00:00 20 yds - Good
Kickoffs No. Yds TB OB Avg
---------------------------------------
Flaherty, Steve 4 248 1 0 62.0
FUMBLES: Ebert, Jeremy 1-1.
Michigan Defensive Statistics
## Player Solo Ast Tot TFL/Yds FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 Demens, Kenny 5 5 10 1.0/3 . . . . . 1.0/3 1
7A Hawthorne, Brandin 4 5 9 . . . 1-0 . . . .
32 Kovacs, Jordan 5 2 7 2.0/11 . . . . . 1.0/10 .
68 Martin, Mike 2 5 7 0.5/3 . . . . . 0.5/3 1
30 Gordon, Thomas 5 1 6 . 1 1-0 . . . . .
13 Johnson, Carvin 5 . 5 . . . . . . . .
18 Countess, Blake 4 1 5 . . . . 1 . . .
44 Morgan, Desmond 3 2 5 . . . . . . . .
8 Floyd, J.T. 3 2 5 . . . . . . . .
53 Van Bergen, Ryan 2 1 3 . . . . 1 . . 1
2 Smith, Vincent 2 . 2 . . . . . . . .
88 Roh, Craig . 2 2 0.5/3 . . . . . 0.5/3 .
5 Avery, Courtney 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
86 Koger, Kevin 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
90 Ryan, Jake 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
55 Black, Jibreel 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
73 Campbell, William 1 . 1 1.0/7 . . . . . 1.0/7 .
39 Heininger, Will . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
14 Furman, Josh . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
91 Pomarico, Tom . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
84 Watson, Steve . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
29 Woolfolk, Troy . . . . . . . 1 . . .
Northwestern Defensive Statistics
## Player Solo Ast Tot TFL/Yds FF FR-Yd Intc BrUp Blkd Sack/Yds QH
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 Mabin, Jordan 8 4 12 . . . . . . . .
33 Nwabuisi, David 5 6 11 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
51 McNaul, Bryce 6 4 10 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
24 Campbell, I. 3 6 9 . . . 2-43 . . . .
97 Scott, Tyler 6 1 7 . . . . . . . .
10 Peters, Brian 2 5 7 0.5/0 . . 1-24 . . . .
45 Ellis, Collin 2 2 4 1.0/1 . . . . . . .
94 Browne, Vince 2 1 3 . . . . . . . .
46 Proby, Damien 2 . 2 1.0/2 . . . . . . .
27 Carpenter, J. 2 . 2 1.0/1 . . . . . . .
6 Brown, Charles 1 1 2 . . . . . . . .
3 Matthews, J. 1 1 2 . . . . . . . .
93 Mafuli, Niko 1 1 2 1.5/8 . . . . . . .
44 Ariguzo, C. . 2 2 . . . . . . . .
22 Dugar, D. 1 . 1 . . . . . . . .
88 Williams, Q. 1 . 1 1.0/1 . . . . . . .
90 DiNardo, Jack . 1 1 . . . . . 1 . .
42 Watt, Kevin . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
7A Bates, Hunter . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
5 Mark, Venric . 1 1 . . . . . . . .
Drive Chart
Drive Started Drive Ended Consumed
Team Qtr Spot Time Obtained Spot Time How Lost Pl-Yds TOP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MICH 1st M26 14:29 Punt N00 10:55 *TOUCHDOWN 8-74 3:34
MICH 1st M31 08:50 Kickoff N40 07:23 Interception 3-29 1:27
MICH 1st M35 04:10 Kickoff N16 14:46 Interception 9-49 4:24
MICH 2nd M28 12:04 Punt M23 09:58 Punt 3--5 2:06
MICH 2nd M33 08:24 Downs N00 04:13 *TOUCHDOWN 8-67 4:11
MICH 2nd M22 02:21 Kickoff N44 01:05 Interception 6-34 1:16
MICH 3rd M20 15:00 Kickoff N00 10:52 *TOUCHDOWN 8-80 4:08
MICH 3rd M20 09:27 Punt N00 02:58 *TOUCHDOWN 12-80 6:29
MICH 3rd N47 01:51 Interception N00 14:55 *TOUCHDOWN 6-47 1:56
MICH 4th M42 12:56 Fumble N30 09:13 Missed FG 7-28 3:43
MICH 4th M47 07:02 Downs N00 02:19 *TOUCHDOWN 9-53 4:43
NU 1st N20 15:00 Kickoff N27 14:29 Punt 3-7 0:31
NU 1st N20 10:55 Kickoff M00 08:50 *TOUCHDOWN 6-80 2:05
NU 1st N37 07:23 Interception M00 04:10 *TOUCHDOWN 8-63 3:13
NU 2nd N07 14:46 Interception N25 12:04 Punt 6-18 2:42
NU 2nd M41 09:58 Punt M33 08:24 Downs 4-8 1:34
NU 2nd N18 04:13 Kickoff M00 02:21 *TOUCHDOWN 7-82 1:52
NU 2nd N48 01:05 Interception M03 15:00 *FIELD GOAL 7-49 1:05
NU 3rd N40 10:52 Kickoff N34 09:27 Punt 3--6 1:25
NU 3rd N18 02:58 Kickoff N41 01:51 Interception 4-23 1:07
NU 4th N19 14:55 Kickoff M42 12:56 Fumble 5-39 1:59
NU 4th N31 09:13 Missed FG M47 07:02 Downs 8-22 2:11
NU 4th N20 02:19 Kickoff M01 00:00 End of half 10-79 2:19
MICH 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time of possession 09:11 07:47 12:28 08:31 16:58 20:59 37:57
3rd Down Conversions 4/4 1/3 5/5 4/5 5/7 9/10 14/17
Avg Field Position M30 M27 M31 M44 M29 M36 M32
4th Down Conversions 0/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/0 1/1
NU 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd
Qtr Qtr Qtr Qtr Half Half Total
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time of possession 05:49 07:13 02:32 06:29 13:02 09:01 22:03
3rd Down Conversions 1/2 2/5 0/1 1/3 3/7 1/4 4/11
Avg Field Position N25 N33 N29 N23 N29 N25 N28
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/1 0/1 0/1 0/2
