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MICH |
FLA |
No. 11 Michigan rolls late, beats No. 17 Florida 33-17
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The message for all those young Michigan players was clear in the letter from a 13-year combat veteran that coach Jim Harbaugh read to them the night before the first game.
''Just to hear that letter and say, OK, there's 18- and 19-year-old guys going over there defending our freedom, why can't we step out onto the field ... and play a simple game of football?'' quarterback Wilton Speight said after the 11th-ranked Wolverines beat No. 17 Florida 33-17 on Saturday.
While Speight is a senior, the Wolverines had to replace 18 of 22 starters from last season and there are youngsters on the roster.
Quinn Nordin, in his first college game, became the first Michigan kicker to make two 50-yard field goals in the same game, freshman Tarik Black had a 46-yard touchdown catch and the overhauled Michigan defense didn't allow a touchdown while handing Florida its first season-opening loss in nearly three decades.
Anthony Riddle, who is from Jackson, Michigan, shared in the letter some of the experiences of training and combat that he and his fellow young Marines went through. Riddle wrote that he was responding to naysayers who believed Michigan football was going into this season too young and too inexperienced.
''The message, it's irrelevant what the age is,'' Harbaugh said. ''It's a group in a unit or on a team that come together and do their job. ... It was better than anything I could have told the team.''
Michigan trailed 17-13 at halftime before scoring three times in the first 6 minutes of the second half. The Gators had won 27 consecutive season openers, the nation's longest such streak, since a home loss to Mississippi in 1989.
''It's gonna hurt, and if it doesn't, then something is wrong,'' Florida coach Jim McElwain said. ''We have a lot more to play. I like this team, I like the guys on this team. I think we have a chance to grow and I believe we will.''
After Karan Higdon's 3-yard TD run capped a half-opening 75-yard, 10-yard drive, Ambry Thomas forced and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. That set up a 30-yard field goal by Quinn, who then made a 50-yarder after Michigan recovered another fumble.
''This win was a good start for the season for us, build our confidence, allow us to see what we're capable of,'' sophomore linebacker Devin Bush said.
Florida's only touchdowns came when Duke Dawson and CJ Henderson returned interceptions for touchdowns. Those came on consecutive throws by Michigan starting quarterback Wilton Speight in the second quarter.
''I thought Wilton did a good job getting calmed down,'' Harbaugh said. ''Showed a lot of resilience, our team today, and I'm very proud of that.''
SLEEPY TIME
Nordin made four field goals, including a 55-yarder in the first half. He missed two attempts wide right in the fourth quarter, one of those from 52 yards. The nation's No. 1 kicker in the 2016 recruiting class, Nordin had initially committed to Penn State but signed with the Wolverines after a home visit that included a sleepover by Harbaugh.
''It was the craziest thing,'' Nordin said of his debut, not the sleepover. ''I just went out there and did what I was supposed to do.''
THE TAKEAWAY:
MICHIGAN: While the defense has been greatly overhauled - remember, there were eight Michigan defenders drafted off last year's unit - the Wolverines limited Florida to 192 total yards (only 11 yards rushing). They even scored a late touchdown on a sack that resulted in a fumble recovered in the end zone. Aside from the interceptions on consecutive throws, Speight was 11-of-23 passing for 181 yards with the TD to Black.
FLORIDA: It was really hard to judge the Gators with their leading returning receiver Antonio Callaway and top returning rusher Jordan Scarlett among 10 players suspended for the opener. Redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks, in his first start for the Gators, completed 5 of 9 passes for 75 yards and lost a fumble early in the second half. Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire came on after that, and was 9 of 17 for 106 yards.
''We needed to shake up the batting order a little bit,'' McElwain said. ''I thought Malik would come in and give us a change of pace at that point when we were still in the ballgame.''
UP NEXT
MICHIGAN: The Wolverines play their home opener next Saturday in a first-ever meeting against Cincinnati.
FLORIDA: The Gators have their final tuneup before SEC play, hosting Northern Colorado for their home opener next Saturday.
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Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
W. SpeightĀ
3 QB
|
W. Speight | 11/25 | 181 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. O'KornĀ
8 QB
|
J. O'Korn | 1/1 | 37 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
T. IsaacĀ
32 RB
|
T. Isaac | 11 | 114 | 0 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. EvansĀ
12 RB
|
C. Evans | 22 | 78 | 0 | 29 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HigdonĀ
22 RB
|
K. Higdon | 7 | 28 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
80 FB
|
K. Hill | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. McDoomĀ
13 WR
|
E. McDoom | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. O'KornĀ
8 QB
|
J. O'Korn | 2 | -5 | 0 | -1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. SpeightĀ
3 QB
|
W. Speight | 4 | -9 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. BlackĀ
7 WR
|
T. Black | 0 | 2 | 83 | 1 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. EubanksĀ
82 TE
|
N. Eubanks | 0 | 2 | 61 | 0 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. PerryĀ
88 WR
|
G. Perry | 0 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. McKeonĀ
84 TE
|
S. McKeon | 0 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. CrawfordĀ
1 WR
|
K. Crawford | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Peoples-JonesĀ
9 WR
|
D. Peoples-Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. McDoomĀ
13 WR
|
E. McDoom | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
80 FB
|
K. Hill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. BushĀ
10 LB
|
D. Bush | 7-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. HurstĀ
73 DL
|
M. Hurst | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. HillĀ
24 DB
|
L. Hill | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. KinnelĀ
23 DB
|
T. Kinnel | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. MetellusĀ
14 DB
|
J. Metellus | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. WinovichĀ
15 DL
|
C. Winovich | 3-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. UcheĀ
35 LB
|
J. Uche | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HudsonĀ
7 DB
|
K. Hudson | 2-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. GaryĀ
3 DL
|
R. Gary | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McCrayĀ
9 LB
|
M. McCray | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. HudsonĀ
55 OL
|
J. Hudson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. GilĀ
36 LB
|
D. Gil | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. KempĀ
2 DL
|
C. Kemp | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. FurbushĀ
59 LB
|
N. Furbush | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Q. NordinĀ
3 K
|
Q. Nordin | 4/6 | 55 | 3/3 | 15 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
W. HartĀ
17 P
|
W. Hart | 2 | 35.0 | 2 | 35 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Peoples-JonesĀ 9 WR
|
D. Peoples-Jones | 5 | 8.0 | 18 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. ThompsonĀ
24 RB
|
M. Thompson | 5 | 13 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. DavisĀ
20 RB
|
M. Davis | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. PerineĀ
22 RB
|
L. Perine | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. FranksĀ
13 QB
|
F. Franks | 5 | 7 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. ClevelandĀ
89 WR
|
T. Cleveland | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. ZaireĀ
8 QB
|
M. Zaire | 8 | -29 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. HammondĀ
10 WR
|
J. Hammond | 0 | 3 | 71 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. ClevelandĀ
89 WR
|
T. Cleveland | 0 | 4 | 56 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ToneyĀ
17 WR
|
K. Toney | 0 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. LewisĀ
80 TE
|
C. Lewis | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. PowellĀ
4 WR
|
B. Powell | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. MasseyĀ
9 WR
|
D. Massey | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. ThompsonĀ
24 RB
|
M. Thompson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. SwainĀ
16 WR
|
F. Swain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
N. WashingtonĀ
8 DB
|
N. Washington | 8-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ReeseĀ
33 LB
|
D. Reese | 7-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PoliteĀ
99 DL
|
J. Polite | 6-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SheritĀ
17 DL
|
J. Sherit | 5-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Gardner Jr.Ā
23 DB
|
C. Gardner Jr. | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. JohnsonĀ
28 LB
|
K. Johnson | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. WilsonĀ
3 CB
|
M. Wilson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. DavisĀ
31 DB
|
S. Davis | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. DawsonĀ
7 DB
|
D. Dawson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. JeffersonĀ
96 DL
|
C. Jefferson | 3-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. MoonĀ
50 LB
|
J. Moon | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. ZunigaĀ
92 DL
|
J. Zuniga | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. SlatonĀ
56 DL
|
T. Slaton | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. HendersonĀ
5 CB
|
C. Henderson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. BryanĀ
93 DL
|
T. Bryan | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. JosephĀ
11 LB
|
V. Joseph | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. CampbellĀ
55 DT
|
K. Campbell | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
E. PineiroĀ
15 K
|
E. Pineiro | 1/2 | 46 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. TownsendĀ
19 P
|
J. Townsend | 6 | 54.7 | 1 | 59 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. ClevelandĀ
89 WR
|
T. Cleveland | 2 | 20.5 | 26 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ToneyĀ
17 WR
|
K. Toney | 1 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. MasseyĀ
9 WR
|
D. Massey | 1 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |