Great Butt!
Northwestern 19 - Michigan 27 in 3OT
(I wasn't able to watch the game, as it was on BTN, but I caught a lot of the online broadcast of the second half and beyond.)
The miserable weather matched this miserable game. Michigan has certainly proved that it really has no offensive line against the moderately good defense of Northwestern. But, Northwestern doesn't have that much of an offense, either. Field goals were the only scores in regulation as neither team could quite punch through to the end zone.
The wind (20+ mph) and rain were constant throughout the game, which probably did much to keep the score down, too. The first half ended with Northwestern up 6-3 with fairly unimpressive drives on both sides. Garnder was notable only because he had, at that point three sacks. The last drive of regulation play was pretty hopeful. Garnder was connecting with lots of people and marching down the field in the last few minutes of the game. We got into field goal range, so at least we could tie.
Then Gardner gets sacked for thirteen yards. Again. How many times have we seen that this season. (Oh, yeah, there were a few bad snaps, too. We've seen that lots of time this season.)
Gardner couldn't connect with anyone to get into field goal range again and, with the seconds counting down to the end and no time outs, the field goal team does one of those plays they practice for: run like hell onto the field and kick the ball. It went almost flawlessly. The ground was so slick that Dielo, the holder, slid into position but managed to hold the ball. It was snapped with one second left and Gibbons kicked it through the uprights. That was a pretty impressive play to listen to--and I hope it makes the replays. Just as time ended in regulation, Michigan tied the game 9-9.
So, here we are in overtime again. The first overtime, Michigan and Northwestern traded touchdowns; the second, they traded field goals. (The touchdown in the first overtime was caught by freshman tight end Jake Butt, leading Wolverines everywhere to cry "Great Butt!")
Now, note that more points have now been scored in overtime, than during regulation. Dileo was also the holder, taking a bad snap, and putting it down for the field goal in the second overtime. Dileo was the MVP--he kept Michigan going.
So, we go to the third overtime and the radio says the rain is coming down in sheets at this point. And the 20mph wind has never let up. Talk about miserable. You can still hear the fans out there in the stands, though. (This was at Northwestern and they were hoping to break a three-game losing streak, too.)
Fortunately, Gardner did good things this time and he even ran the touchdown and extra point in making the game 27-19, Wolverines. He found something inside himselfthat said "don't fuck this up" and delivered. So, Michigan ahead and Northwestern needs to come back. They try a few passes and their quarterback (Trevor Siemian) gets sacked! They try to get position back but their fourth down pass attempt was intercepted (by Wolverine safety Thomas Gordon) and that was the game.
As citabria said, "At least we didn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory this time." This is one of those games that, despite the bad weather and mediocre play throughout the main part of the game ended really excitingly. This was really frustrating for most of the game but the end was worth it. (I'm sure my Dad will be kicking himself, he gave up halfway through the fourth quarter in disgust.)
(I wasn't able to watch the game, as it was on BTN, but I caught a lot of the online broadcast of the second half and beyond.)
The miserable weather matched this miserable game. Michigan has certainly proved that it really has no offensive line against the moderately good defense of Northwestern. But, Northwestern doesn't have that much of an offense, either. Field goals were the only scores in regulation as neither team could quite punch through to the end zone.
The wind (20+ mph) and rain were constant throughout the game, which probably did much to keep the score down, too. The first half ended with Northwestern up 6-3 with fairly unimpressive drives on both sides. Garnder was notable only because he had, at that point three sacks. The last drive of regulation play was pretty hopeful. Garnder was connecting with lots of people and marching down the field in the last few minutes of the game. We got into field goal range, so at least we could tie.
Then Gardner gets sacked for thirteen yards. Again. How many times have we seen that this season. (Oh, yeah, there were a few bad snaps, too. We've seen that lots of time this season.)
Gardner couldn't connect with anyone to get into field goal range again and, with the seconds counting down to the end and no time outs, the field goal team does one of those plays they practice for: run like hell onto the field and kick the ball. It went almost flawlessly. The ground was so slick that Dielo, the holder, slid into position but managed to hold the ball. It was snapped with one second left and Gibbons kicked it through the uprights. That was a pretty impressive play to listen to--and I hope it makes the replays. Just as time ended in regulation, Michigan tied the game 9-9.
So, here we are in overtime again. The first overtime, Michigan and Northwestern traded touchdowns; the second, they traded field goals. (The touchdown in the first overtime was caught by freshman tight end Jake Butt, leading Wolverines everywhere to cry "Great Butt!")
Now, note that more points have now been scored in overtime, than during regulation. Dileo was also the holder, taking a bad snap, and putting it down for the field goal in the second overtime. Dileo was the MVP--he kept Michigan going.
So, we go to the third overtime and the radio says the rain is coming down in sheets at this point. And the 20mph wind has never let up. Talk about miserable. You can still hear the fans out there in the stands, though. (This was at Northwestern and they were hoping to break a three-game losing streak, too.)
Fortunately, Gardner did good things this time and he even ran the touchdown and extra point in making the game 27-19, Wolverines. He found something inside himselfthat said "don't fuck this up" and delivered. So, Michigan ahead and Northwestern needs to come back. They try a few passes and their quarterback (Trevor Siemian) gets sacked! They try to get position back but their fourth down pass attempt was intercepted (by Wolverine safety Thomas Gordon) and that was the game.
As citabria said, "At least we didn't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory this time." This is one of those games that, despite the bad weather and mediocre play throughout the main part of the game ended really excitingly. This was really frustrating for most of the game but the end was worth it. (I'm sure my Dad will be kicking himself, he gave up halfway through the fourth quarter in disgust.)