Michigan Stymies UNLV Behind Big Runs, Dominant First Half

Saturday, September 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

2-1

UNLV

0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNLV

Michigan

Ty Isaac

Michigan Stymies UNLV Behind Big Runs, Dominant First Half

9/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» U-M led 21-0 at halftime and accumulated 254 yards rushing and three touchdowns total in the game.
» The defense notched eight tackles-for-loss, five pass break-ups and two interceptions.
» Blake O'Neill put four of his five punts inside the 20-yard line and had two punts of 50 yards or more.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 28, UNLV 7
Records: U-M (2-1), UNLV (0-3)
Attendance: 108,683
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 26 -- vs. BYU (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: ABC/ESPN)

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Isaac Returns with a Home Run

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the second consecutive game, the University of Michigan football team used a strong rushing attack (254 yards, three touchdowns) and a stout defense and raced past UNLV, 28-7, on Saturday (Sept. 19) inside Michigan Stadium. Junior running back Ty Isaac led the ground game, totaling 114 yards on eight carries, including a 76-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

The Michigan defense allowed only 235 yards of total offense -- 124 of which came in the fourth quarter after UNLV trailed 28-0 -- to go along with nine tackles-for-loss (including two sacks), five pass break-ups and two interceptions. Senior linebacker Joe Bolden led the team with six tackles.

Graduate student quarterback Jake Rudock went 14-of-22 for 123 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target on the afternoon was senior wide receiver Amara Darboh, who caught four passes for 34 yards.

The Wolverines went on defense to start the game and forced a turnover on the first possession, as junior cornerback Channing Stribling intercepted UNLV quarterback Blake Decker, giving Michigan great field position. The offense capitalized, as Rudock found junior running back De'Veon Smith wide open in the flat for a five-yard touchdown, putting U-M up 7-0 early.

Smith, Stribling
De'Veon Smith (left) and Channing Stribling

Michigan resorted to a little misdirection for its second touchdown. One play after a reverse by Darboh netted four yards, Rudock handed off to senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson on a jet sweep, and he took it 36 yards down the sideline for six. The first-half scoring was capped at 21-0 by Isaac's slippery 76-yard touchdown run.

The two teams traded possessions in a scoreless third quarter. The defense and special teams units continued to play at a high level, as fifth-year senior punter Blake O'Neill downed two punts inside UNLV's own 20-yard, line and senior safety Jeremy Clark came down with an acrobatic interception one play after getting flagged for defensive pass interference.

Rudock engineered a nine-play touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter to extend Michigan's lead to 28-0. On a third-and-three from the five-yard line, Rudock connected with senior fullback Sione Houma for what was initially called a touchdown, but it was called back to the half-yard line after review. Houma got the ball again on the very next play, diving into the end zone for his first career touchdown.

Chesson, Houma
Jehu Chesson (left) and Sione Houma

After being grounded for most of the game, the Rebels got on the board midway through the fourth quarter on a six-yard touchdown pass from Decker to Devonte Boyd, making the score 28-7.

The Wolverines will close out their three-game homestand at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 26) against BYU. Kickoff is set for noon. The game will be shown on ABC or ESPN.

Tweet of the Game

When you win, the best thing to do is celebrate with the fans.

#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/IwBfAC7fZA

-- Michigan Athletics (@UMichAthletics) September 19, 2015