Big Time
§§§ Notre Dame 17, Michigan 10 §§§
Offensive lineman Bob Morton salutes the ND fans who made the trip to Ann Arbor following the win. (South Bend Tribune/Jim Rider)
Notre Dame's offensive showcase last week against Pittsburgh and Michigan's relative defensive ineptitude last week against Northern Illinois set up what was figured to be a high-octane shootout in Ann Arbor.
It didn't quite turn out that way.
Strict defense and somewhat sloppy offense — from both sides — were the norm, but the Irish played just a little bit better and hung on for the 17-10 upset of #3 Michigan.
ND won the coin toss and came out swinging, not missing a beat from their blowout of Pittsburgh. In a no-huddle offense frequently featuring empty-backfield shotgun formations, the Irish methodically marched down the field, striking for six on a 5-yard pass play to Rhema McKnight. The 12-play drive was so effective that ND never even faced a third down.
But the Michigan defense adapted well, eventually bringing pressure on Irish quarterback Brady Quinn. After not allowing a sack to Pittsburgh, the Wolverines reached Quinn three times and harassed him even more. After rolling up more than 500 yards against Pitt, ND couldn't even muster half of that in the Big House.
The Irish were especially sloppy in the second half, managing just 56 yards and suffering their only turnover.
Quinn finished the game 19-30 for just 140 yards. Darius Walker still rushed for 104 yards, on 26 carries. Jeff Samardzija was the go-to receiver after McKnight left the game with an apparently serious knee injury; he finished with four catches for 52 yards.
However, the story of the day was the Notre Dame defense. After Michigan running back Mike Hart left the game with a hamstring injury in the first half, ND shut down the Wolverine ground attack for most of the game. And while Michigan did make some big passing plays, including a 25-yard effort for their only touchdown, the Irish secondary mostly contained the Michigan pass offense.
But it's easy to defend someone who keeps shooting themselves in the foot.
Michigan entered the redzone on offense three times — all in the second half — and came away with zero points. Just after halftime, a Michigan drive was halted by a goal-line interception by Irish safety Tom Zbikowski. The drive following the disastrous ND fumble went for naught when the Wolverines failed a 4th-and-goal conversion instead of settling for the field goal. And finally, a quarterback sneak from within the ND 1-yard line ended in a crucial fumble in the game's most important play.
That play was originally ruled a Michigan recovery, but a booth-mandated instant replay discovered that Wolverine quarterback Chad Henne lost the ball before going down and that ND safety Chinedum Ndukwe had recovered it in the endzone for a touchback.
The Irish caught another break later in the game when a field ruling that Quinn had fumbled was also overturned by replay. Michigan fans showed their appreciation by showering the field with debris. And the Samardzija touchdown reception in the second quarter was initially tipped by Michigan linebacker Chris Graham.
According to the cliché, it's better to be lucky than good. On Saturday, the Irish were a bit of both.
The suddenly-rising Irish will look to avoid a letdown next week in their home opener against Michigan State.
posted by Marsh @ 4:26 PM
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