Michigan Earns 60-Point Victory over Hawaii to Begin 2016

Saturday, September 3

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

1-0

Hawaii

0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Hawaii

Michigan

Chris Evans

Michigan Earns 60-Point Victory over Hawaii to Begin 2016

9/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football

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

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» The margin of victory on Saturday (60 points) is the program's largest since 1975.
» Junior Wilton Speight started, overcoming an interception on the first play of the season to go 10-of-13 for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
» Freshman Chris Evans led the team in rushing (eight carries, 112 yards, two touchdowns).
» Senior defensive backs Channing Stribling and Delano Hill each recorded pick-sixes.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #7 Michigan 63, Hawaii 3
Records: U-M (1-0), Hawaii (0-2)
Attendance: 110,222
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 10 -- vs. Central Florida (Michigan Stadium), Noon

• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh | Players

Postgame Features
• Kornacki: Harbaugh Impressed as Speight Rebounds from Adversity
• Defense Stands Tall in Season-Opening Win

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan football team encountered little trouble in its 2016 opener, dispatching Hawaii, 63-3, on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 3) at Michigan Stadium. It marks the program's largest margin of victory in any game since 1975.

Junior Wilton Speight got the start at quarterback and overcame a turnover on the first play of the season to have a solid season debut, completing 10-of-13 attempts for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Chris Evans turned heads in his first game, carrying eight times for 112 yards and a pair of scores. He is the third true freshman running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards in his collegiate debut, joining Chris Perry (2000) and Walter Cross (1998).

The defense looked stout in its first game under the direction of new defensive coordinator Don Brown. Together, the unit combined for 10 tackles-for-loss (four sacks), two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) and one forced fumble. Three U-M linebackers -- senior Mike McCray, junior Jabrill Peppers and senior Ben Gedeon -- combined for 24 tackles to lead a defense that limited Hawaii to a 1-for-11 clip on third downs. The Wolverines did not allow a first down until the 4:45 mark of the second quarter.

Speight settled into the game after his early turnover, throwing touchdowns to three different receivers in the first half. The Wolverines started their second possession on their own two-yard line, but it did not matter, as Speight engineered an 11-play, 98-yard drive to crack the scoreboard first, ending with a 12-yard toss to sophomore Grant Perry in the corner of the end zone.

Speight added touchdowns on the next two series -- one to senior tight end Jake Butt (19 yards) and one to fifth-year senior wide receiver Amara Darboh (five yards). After the early turnover, Speight went 9-of-11 for 123 yards and those three scores in the first half.

The defense added to the team's point total early in the second quarter on a pick-six from senior safety Delano Hill to make the score 28-0. Hawaii quarterback Ikaiaka Woolsey dropped back to pass and looked for a quick slant, but Hill jumped the route, make the interception and ran down the open sideline for six.

As the defense continued to hold, the offense kept piling on the points. Evans bookended both halves with touchdown runs -- an 18-yard scamper in the second quarter and an explosive 43-yard run up the middle on the third play of the third quarter. The U-M defense then added more points on the next Hawaii possession courtesy of its second pick-six of the afternoon, this one being a 51-yarder from senior cornerback Channing Stribling. It came after Stribling had an interception erased earlier in the drive after a roughing the passer penalty.

Late in the third quarter, Speight was replaced at quarterback by senior John O'Korn, but it did not slow the offense down any. He put together a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown run from senior fullback Khalid Hill.

Hawaii broke the shutout early in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard field goal from Rigo Sanchez.

The Wolverines added its ninth and final touchdown on a five-yard run from sophomore Karan Higdon, capping the scoring at 63-3.

Michigan returns to Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 10), facing Central Florida. Kickoff is slated for noon. The game will be televised on ABC or ESPN.