Postgame Notes: Michigan 63, Delaware State 6
10/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
• Today's announced crowd of 106,304 is the 220th consecutive game welcoming more than 100,000 fans at Michigan Stadium.
• Today's contest marked the first meeting between Michigan and Delaware State. With the win, the Wolverines have compiled an impressive 112-24-4 record in first-time matchups with a school.
• The Wolverines completed the non-conference portion of their schedule with a perfect 4-0 record for the first time since 2006. U-M is also 5-0 at home for the first time since 2006.
• Michigan's game captains for the Delaware State game were senior defensive end Brandon Graham, fifth-year senior kicker Jason Olesnavage, fifth-year senior linebacker Ohene Opong-Owusu and fifth-year senior offensive tackle Mark Ortmann.
• Today's honorary captains were members of the 1959 Michigan team, celebrating its 50th anniversary.
• Eighty-four Michigan players -- out of 115 dressed -- saw time in today's contest against Delaware State.
• Nine Wolverines made their first collegiate appearance: senior wide receiver Zac Baker, senior/junior wide receiver Nick Koenigsknecht, sophomore/freshman quarterback Jack Kennedy, junior/sophomore defensive tackle Dominique Ware, junior/sophomore linebacker Karl Tech, sophomore/freshman linebacker Paul Gyarmati, junior/sophomore placekicker Scott Schrimscher, junior/sophomore linebacker Rusheed Furrha, and fifth-year senior offensive lineman Ohene Opong-Owusu.
• Michigan's 63 points matched its most since defeating Minnesota, 63-13, on Oct. 24, 1992. The Wolverines' 57-point margin of victory was their largest in nine seasons, dating back to a 58-0 decision against Indiana on Oct. 14, 2000.
• The Wolverines established a new school record with 727 yards of total offense. The previous record was 715 yards, recorded against Mississippi in the 1991 Gator Bowl.
• Michigan rushed for 461 yards vs. Delaware State -- the most since recording 480 rushing yards against Iowa on Oct. 3, 1992.
• Five different Wolverine players boasted at least 50 rushing yards in the game, while four went over 70 yards rushing. Michigan combined for 8.5 yards per carry in the contest.
• Freshman running back Vincent Smith secured his first career 100-yard rushing game, running for 166 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries. He finished with a 9.8-yard average.
• Smith earned his first collegiate touchdown on a six-yard run in the first quarter. His career-long rush came on a 37-yard scamper on the second play of the second quarter.
• Sophomore running back Michael Shaw recorded a career-high 73 rushing yards on nine carries. His previous high was 71 yards, which he registered last season at Minnesota (Nov. 8, 2008).
• Freshman quarterback Denard Robinson completed 3-of-4 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 54 yards -- on six carries -- and a four-yard rushing touchdown in second quarter.
• Fifth-year senior running back Kevin Grady posted a season-high 73 rushing yards on eight carries.
• Eleven different U-M receivers recorded at least one catch.
• Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier gained 14 yards on his first pass of the contest -- to senior receiver Greg Mathews -- to eclipse 1,000 passing yards for the season. He completed 2-of-2 passes for 39 yards on U-M's opening drive.
• Senior defensive end Brandon Graham scored his first collegiate touchdown in the first quarter, returning a blocked punt for two yards. It was Michigan's first punt block for a touchdown in eight games, dating back to fifth-year senior receiver Ricky Reyes' three-yard return for a touchdown last season vs. Northwestern (Nov. 15, 2008). Sophomore/freshman linebacker Brandon Smith blocked the punt.
• Graham's touchdown was the Wolverines' second on special teams this season, adding to sophomore receiver Darryl Stonum's 94-yard kick return against Notre Dame (Sept. 12).
• Graham registered two sacks, bringing his career total to 24. He moved into a five-way tie for third place among Michigan's all-time career sack leaders. He only needs one more sack to reach the second spot, currently held by James Hall (1996-99). Mark Messner (1985-88) owns the U-M school record with 36.
• Denard Robinson's 38-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter was both his first collegiate touchdown pass and a career-long throw. On the receiving side of the play, it was the first career touchdown for junior/sophomore wide receiver Kelvin Grady.
• Denard Robinson added his second passing touchdown in the second quarter, throwing 28 yards to junior tight end Martell Webb. It was Webb's first career touchdown and a career-long reception.
• Freshman receiver Je'Ron Stokes picked up his first collegiate reception on a nine-yard grab in the second quarter.
• Kevin Grady scored his first touchdown of the season -- the 10th of his career -- on a seven-yard run at the end of the second quarter.
• The Wolverines matched a school record with 28 first-quarter points; they previously tallied 28 against Rice on Sept. 9, 2000. Michigan's 49 first-half points were the second most in program history, just six shy of the record 55, registered at Chicago on Oct. 21, 1939. The last time Michigan scored 40 points in a half was Oct. 14, 2000, when U-M tallied 45 first-half points en route a 58-0 win over vs. Indiana.
• Michigan also matched a school record for total yards of offense in a half with 442 yards in the opening half vs. Delaware State. U-M previously registered 442 yards vs. Mississippi in 1991 in the second half of the Gator Bowl. It was the most ever in a first half, surpassing the previous-high of 412, recorded vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 1, 1988.
• Sophomore/freshman slot receiver Terrence Robinson and sophomore/freshman tight end Brandon Moore earned their first collegiate receptions on back-to-back plays early in the third quarter. Robinson's catch was for 13 yards, while Moore's grab was for 19.
• Sophomore/freshman running back Michael Cox recorded his first collegiate reception -- an 11-yard catch on third down -- late in the third quarter.
• Michigan played five quarterbacks -- Forcier, Robinson, Sheridan, senior/junior David Cone and sophomore/freshman Jack Kennedy -- against Delaware State. U-M previously played four quarterbacks in the season opener vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 4).
• Cone's 21-yard pass to fifth-year senior receiver LaTerryal Savoy in the fourth quarter was his second career completion and matched his previous career long. On his next attempt, he established a new career long with a 29-yard toss to Reyes.
• Cox rushed a career-long 57 yards en route to his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter. He scored again, rushing for three yards, on Michigan's next possession. Cox wrapped the game with a career-best 82 yards on 11 carries.
• Five different Wolverine players tallied their first collegiate touchdown vs. Delaware State -- Smith, Graham, Kelvin Grady, Webb and Cox.
• Nine Michigan players have scored rushing touchdowns this season -- senior running back Brandon Minor, senior running back Carlos Brown, Forcier, Robinson, Odoms, Shaw, Smith, Kevin Grady and Cox.
