Defense Stands Tall in Season-Opening Win
9/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2016
By Katie Conklin
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown and his defense had little trouble shutting down Hawaii in a season-opening 63-3 victory on Saturday (Sept. 3) at Michigan Stadium. Coaching the Boston College defense to a No. 1 ranking in 2015, Brown and his new defense were expected to produce, and in Brown's first game as a Wolverine, produce they did.
The Wolverines' aggression on defense was obvious from Hawaii's first possession. With a pass breakup by fifth-year senior cornerback Jeremy Clark and a tackle-for -loss by senior linebacker Mike McCray, the Rainbow Warriors found themselves punting at their own 24-yard line. And from then on, it was all Michigan, all the time.
On their fifth possession, the Rainbow Warriors had yet to convert a single first down. Senior safety Delano Hill intercepted a pass from Hawaii quarterback Ikaika Woolsey's at the Hawaii 27-yard line, and with a clear path into the end zone, gave the Maize and Blue another touchdown.
But one pick-six wasn't enough for the Wolverine defense, as senior cornerback Channing Stribling tacked on a second with a 51-yard interception return to extend U-M's lead to 49-0. This marks the first time Michigan tallied two pick-sixes in a single game since 1999.
With the depth of the Michigan defense, the statistics were spread, with 23 players recording at least one tackle. After being sidetracked by injuries in his first three years, McCray led the team in tackles (nine), tackles-for-loss (3.5) and sacks (two). He also forced a fumble.
"We talked about going out there and sending a message," McCray said. "We lost three seniors last year. We wanted to go out there and prove something. I feel like we made a good statement."
And dominating Hawaii 63-3, the seventh-largest margin of victory in program history, was a good statement indeed. The Wolverines held Hawaii to only 3.9 yards per play and only 232 yards -- less than half of the Wolverines' 512. With 10 tackles-for-loss on the day, the Maize and Blue earned the praise of J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh.
"Watching our defense go through the first half, and even the third quarter, there wasn't a mistake made," Harbaugh said. "There wasn't a linemen mistake made. There wasn't a stance alignment mistake. They were right with their eyes and right with their feet."
And with the first game down, Brown and his defense will work to remain stout heading into next Saturday's (Sept. 10) game against UCF and beyond -- it is the start of the season, after all.
