Ground Attack, Defensive Blanket Key U-M's Shutout Win

Saturday, October 8

Piscataway, N.J.

7:00 PM

Michigan

6-0 , 3-0

Rutgers

2-4 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Rutgers

Karan Higdon

Ground Attack, Defensive Blanket Key U-M's Shutout Win

10/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore Visual Story Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» It is the program's third-largest margin of victory in program history since 1920.
» Offensively, Michigan ran for 481 yards (Chris Evans had a team-high 153) and nine touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per attempt.
» The Michigan defense held Rutgers to only 39 total yards and two first downs.
» Five different players recorded rushing touchdowns: Karan Higdon (2 TDs), Jabrill Peppers (2), Ty Isaac (2), Khalid Hill (2), Bobby Henderson (1).

Site: Piscataway, N.J. (High Point Solutions Stadium)
Score: #4 Michigan 78, Rutgers 0
Records: U-M (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), Rutgers (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten)
Attendance: 53,292
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 22 -- vs. Illinois - Homecoming (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m.

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Is There Anything Peppers Can't Do? Harbaugh Knows

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Behind an offense that generated nearly 500 rushing yards and a defense that held the opposition to just two first downs, the University of Michigan football team (No. 4 AP, No. 4 Coaches) smashed Rutgers, 78-0, on Saturday night (Oct. 8) inside High Point Solutions Stadium. It is the second-largest margin of victory for U-M since 1920.

As a team, Michigan got whatever it wanted in the running game, racking up nearly 500 yards (481) and nine touchdowns while averaging a staggering 8.6 yards per rush. Junior Jabrill Peppers, a New Jersey native, only played the first half, but it was enough to make an impact on the game, rushing three times for 74 yards and a pair of scores. The do-everything junior was one of five players to score rushing touchdowns, along with sophomore Karan Higdon (13 rushes, 114 yards, two touchdowns), senior Ty Isaac (12 rushes, 93 yards, two touchdowns), fifth-year senior Bobby Henderson (three rushes, 26 yards, one touchdown) and senior fullback Khalid Hill, who added two scores from the one-yard line. He also added an 11-yard receiving touchdown in the third quarter. And though he did not score, freshman Chris Evans led the ground attack with 153 yards on 11 carries.

With a huge advantage on the ground, Michigan did not need to pass much. Three players -- including Peppers, though he did not attempt a pass -- logged snaps at quarterback. Junior Wilton Speight started, going 6-of-13 for 100 yards and a passing touchdown, while seniors John O'Korn and Shane Morris alternated drives in a run-heavy second half. Senior Amara Darboh led the team with 65 yards receiving on just two receptions, while senior Jehu Chesson logged 30-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.

The defense, though only forcing one turnover, was simply dominant, forcing Rutgers into 14 three-and-outs and a 0-for-17 clip on third down. The Scarlet Knights had only two drives in Michigan territory all night -- one as a result of a first-quarter fumble and the other coming on their last drive of the game with the result already well in hand. Twenty-eight players recorded at least one tackle, led by freshman Josh Metellus with six.

The two teams felt each other out for the first part of the game's opening quarter, but that changed when Peppers lined up at quarterback. On his first play, he opted to keep on a zone read and took the ball up the left sideline 63 yards before being taken down at the Rutgers four-yard line. Isaac punched in the ball on the next play to give U-M an early lead.

From there, the rout was on. Peppers appeared to run a punt back for a touchdown after the ensuing Rutgers possession, but it was called back due to a penalty. The offense regrouped and executed, though, as Chesson ended that drive with a diving catch in the end zone for six.

Two drives later, fifth-year senior Kenny Allen dropped a punt to the Rutgers one-yard line. The defense made it count, forcing Rutgers backup quarterback Zach Allen into a turnover, a fumble that was recovered by junior Bryan Mone at the six-yard line to end the first quarter. Coming back from the break, Peppers lined up at quarterback again and scored, rushing in from seven yards to make it 21-0.

After another three-and-out, the offense was back on the field. The big play here came from Evans, who weaved in, out and around the defense for a 43-yard gain down to the one-yard line. Hill took it in for six on the next play. But instead of kicking the extra point, head coach Jim Harbaugh called a fake, as senior quarterback Garrett Moores, the holder on point-after touchdown attempts, ran it into the end zone for the two-point conversion. Hill added another touchdown dive on the next possession -- on fourth down from the one-yard line -- driving the score to 36-0.

Peppers added his second touchdown run right before the break, dashing into the end zone untouched from seven yards out. Michigan led 43-0 at halftime, holding Rutgers to a single yard of offense in the first half.

O'Korn took over at the start of the second and kept the pressure on, throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Hill on the opening drive. Morris came in next and simply handed it off: first to Evans for a 57-yard gain and then to Higdon for a 15-yard touchdown to make the score 57-0.

The defense kept getting stops and kept churning out rushing touchdowns, getting second-half scores from Henderson (13 yards), Higdon (44 yards) and Isaac (34 yards) to close out the game.

U-M heads into its bye week, returning to the field on Saturday, Oct. 22, when it welcomes Illinois to Michigan Stadium for homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. A television designation has not yet been set.