Michigan Uses Big Plays to Remain Perfect

Sept. 17, 2016

By Katie Conklin

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Early on in Saturday's (Sept. 17) contest with Colorado, the University of Michigan football team was locked in a boxing match. One team landed a punch, then the other swung back.

The Buffaloes scored what could be considered an early knockdown, going up 14-0 no more than five minutes into the game, quickly silencing the crowd of 110,000-plus at Michigan Stadium.

"There's going to come a point in time where things don't go our way, and that's exactly what was happening to us as a team early on," said senior tight end Jake Butt. "We found a way. It wasn't pretty, but it was good enough to get the job done."

With their backs against the wall, facing their largest (and only) deficit of the season thus far, the Wolverines opted to go big. And it paid off.

Down 14-7 after a blocked punt return for a touchdown by sophomore wide receiver Grant Perry and 21-7 after Colorado answered back, the Wolverines entered the second quarter with some catching up to do -- and catch up they did.

"It was a game of big plays. When you look at how they were getting their points, it was the big plays. So were ours."
-- Head coach Jim Harbaugh

On the Wolverines' second possession of the quarter, junior quarterback Wilton Speight found Butt for a gain of 21 yards, placing Michigan's offense nicely on Colorado's 17-yard line. The following play, fifth-year senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson took control, darting to his left on an end-around that eventually led to six. The Buffs' lead was cut to seven.

But a 17-yard play wasn't enough. Speight one-upped Chesson with a 45-yard bullet to fifth-year senior wide receiver Amara Darboh, who ran the ball into the end zone with the help of a huge block by Perry. The score closed out the quarter and gave the Wolverines their first lead of the game, 24-21.

"My mindset was try to make a play and get a big gain and help the team out by scoring a touchdown or getting a big first down," Darboh said. "Grant Perry had a good block, and I think some of the linemen did. When plays like that work you know it's because of good blocking."

Entering the third quarter, it was senior running back De'Veon Smith's turn for a big play. Smith, typically a between-the-tackles runner, shot out to the left sideline and followed the blocks for a 42-yard touchdown. The Wolverines were up, 31-28, and never looked back.

"[Smith's] such an effective runner inside the tackles, and he was again today," said J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh. "He had good, productive, winning runs and then got on the perimeter and hit a home run today."

Perry's special teams play and blocking on the edge weren't his only contributions in the day's outing. Near the end of the third quarter, Speight found Perry downfield for a 54-yard gain, setting up the Wolverines with a first-and-goal. Senior running back Ty Isaac finished off the drive with a short rush, allowing Michigan to pull away.

With the Wolverines up 10 points entering the fourth quarter, junior linebacker Jabrill Peppers wanted in. Peppers caught Alex Kinney's 36-yard punt and took off. Taking full advantage of his teammates' blocks, Peppers dodged through three Colorado players in the final 15 yards of his run before crossing the goal line. Peppers' score marked the second special teams touchdown of the game and the final score of the day.

"It was indescribable," Peppers said. "When you get a line drive and great blocking and you don't score, then they've got to put somebody else back there. And the hole was wide open."

"Jabrill Peppers proved he was the best player today," Harbaugh added. "You don't win that game without Jabrill Peppers."

And you don't win today's game without its big plays. Michigan had five plays of 20-plus yards (two for touchdowns), while Colorado had three (two for touchdowns).

"It was a game of big plays," said Harbaugh. "When you look at how they were getting their points, it was the big plays. So were ours."

Michigan will open Big Ten play against Penn State next Saturday (Sept. 24) at Michigan Stadium.

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University of Michigan Athletics

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