Explosive Ground Attack Boosts Wolverines Past Eagles

Saturday, September 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

3-0

Eastern Michigan

0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Eastern Michigan

Michigan

Carlos Brown

Explosive Ground Attack Boosts Wolverines Past Eagles

9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football

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By: David Ablauf

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #25 Michigan 45, Eastern Michigan 17
Records: U-M (3-0), Eastern Michigan (0-3)
Attendance: 107,903
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 26 -- vs. Indiana (Michigan Stadium), Noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a closely contested first half, the No. 25-ranked University of Michigan football team posted a 21-0 second-half scoring advantage to defeat Eastern Michigan, 45-17, on Saturday (Sept. 19) at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's strong running game paved the way in the victory, U-M's 875th all-time, with a total of 380 yards on the ground.

In the first half alone, senior running back Carlos Brown (Franklin, Ga.Heard County HS) posted 163 yards on eight carries in addition to his two rushing touchdowns. He finished the game, which was highlighted with a 90-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, with 187 yards and was named the Big Ten Network Player of the Game. Freshman quarterback Denard Robinson (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS) ran for two touchdowns in the second half, racking up 60 yards on three attempts. Sophomore running back Michael Shaw (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison HS) also added a rushing touchdown and registered 53 yards on nine carries.

In the air, freshman quarterback Tate Forcier (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch HS) completed 7-of-13 attempts for 68 yards, including a 26-yard reception early in the second quarter to sophomore slot receiver Martavious Odoms (Pahokee, Fla./Pahokee HS). Odoms topped Michigan's receivers with 33 yards on two receptions. He also added a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

Junior/sophomore linebacker Kevin Leach (Kentwood, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) led the defense with 10 tackles, which were closely followed by senior/junior linebacker Obi Ezeh's (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) nine. Freshman outside linebacker Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral HS) added seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, assisted on a sack and recorded an interception late in the third.

Michigan started its opening drive on its own 49-yard line thanks to a partially-blocked 23-yard punt by EMU. On the first snap, Brown broke for 30 yards to bring the Wolverines into the Eastern Michigan red zone. The Maize and Blue took advantage of the field position, getting on the scoreboard first with a 37-yard field goal kick by fifth-year senior Jason Olesnavage (Ferndale, Mich./Ferndale HS) to make it 3-0.

The Eagles evened the game up at three points apiece on the ensuing 49-yard drive, ending the series with a 47-yard field goal. The Maize and Blue defense limited EMU to a field-goal attempt with the help of two tackles each from junior defensive tackle Renaldo Sagesse (Montreal, Quebec/Vieux Montreal) and Ezeh.

The Wolverines responded in their next possession, adding seven points to their point total. Strong running from Brown and Minor, who combined for 46 yards on seven plays, marched Michigan down the field. An 11-yard reception from Forcier to junior/sophomore slot receiver Kelvin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) placed the Wolverines on the EMU five. Brown later forced his way into the end zone, rushing nine yards for the touchdown, which stood after a review of the play.

EMU followed up with a score of its own when senior quarterback Andy Schmitt ran 11 yards to score the equalizer.

The offensive flurry continued as the Maize and Blue pushed 69 yards up the field to regain the lead, 17-10. Odoms hauled in a 26-yard pass from Forcier to open the series. Shaw rushed 34 yards in the drive's final three plays, including a 22-yard carry and a five-yard touchdown.

Brown then sprinted down the field for a career-best, 90-yard touchdown, which was the third-longest rushing touchdown in program history, to hand Michigan its first double-digit lead of the game with over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.

EMU junior running back Dwayne Priest carried the ball for each of the six snaps in the following drive for Eastern Michigan, rushing a total of 36 yards and for the touchdown to bring the Eagles within seven near the end of the first half.

After the onslaught of offense in the first half, both teams cooled down offensively until midway through the second quarter when a slick reverse play allowed Odoms to dash 13 yards into the end zone, making it 31-17 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter.

As Ezeh rushed up to Schmitt, he tipped the Eastern Michigan quarterback's pass, which Roh was there to grab with one hand. Forcier was later sent to the sidelines after a hard hit, causing Robinson to sub in at quarterback. Two plays later, Robinson charged into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown and a 38-17 lead.

Michigan kept Eastern Michigan scoreless in the second half when the Maize and Blue defense stalled a 55-yard drive by EMU that ended on the Wolverines' five-yard line. U-M continued its success on defense as senior defensive end Brandon Graham (Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical) picked up a fumble by the Eagles' quarterback on the subsequent Eastern Michigan drive.

Robinson dodged multiple defenders and sprinted 36 yards en route to the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the contest, capping a 46-yard Michigan drive in a span of two plays late in the fourth.

The Wolverines finish up their four-game home stand next Saturday (Sept. 26) when they host Indiana at Michigan Stadium for homecoming. The game will start at noon, but the network broadcasting the game is still to be determined.