The Stories Behind an Emotional Wolverine Victory Over MSU
11/17/2019 6:21:00 PM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There are turning points in big games, and there are closing points, too.
When University of Michigan cornerback Lavert Hill intercepted Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke early in the fourth quarter with a 24-point lead in hand, it was over. No miracles were going to save the Spartans in this one.
Those wearing maize and blue in the sellout crowd of 111,496 at Michigan Stadium roared their approval and began chanting the chorus of "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes: "WHOA! Oh-oh-oh-OHHH! OHHH!"
The Wolverine defenders and then the entire team started bounding up and down as if on pogo sticks. Players began doing jumping jacks, spraying water bottles and waving towels on the sideline. The Big House rocked, and the Spartans were in shock.
It was a moment to savor in Michigan's 44-10 victory Saturday afternoon (Nov. 16).
"It was great," said senior safety Josh Metellus. "Ambry (Thomas) got the pick first, and then he's from Detroit, the (MSU) rivalry is really big to him. It's also big to 'Vert, and when 'Vert got his pick, you could just feel the intensity."
Hill
Hill jumped up and caught the tipped ball with both hands behind receiver Cody White. Hill returned it five yards, stiff-arming White before going out of bounds, and held up his right arm in triumph.
Metellus continued on Hill: "You could feel it through him, and the vibe that he had just went throughout the whole stadium from the field to the fans to the top row.
"You could just tell that this team knew what we did today."
Captain Khaleke Hudson said, "That was a big moment for us -- just being able to get the ball back for our offense and give us another chance to put even more points on the scoreboard. Our defense prides itself on getting turnovers and putting the offense in situations they want to be in, and we feel like we did that today and played our best ball today.
"We feel great because we came out with the victory."
Three of the first four plays to begin the fourth quarter went this way:
• Hudson made third career punt block by going inside the up-back's blocking attempt, laying out and getting the ball off Jake Harbarger's right foot with his right hand.
• Shea Patterson fired a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, who went up and got the ball that only he could catch in tight, one-on-one coverage. "This is just beast mode," said Fox analyst Joel Klatt.
• Then Hill made his interception on MSU's second play of the ensuing possession.
It was a powerful surge and a party broke out: "WHOA! Oh-oh-oh-OHHH! OHHH!"
Hudson
The Wolverines made a joyous noise to salute a joyous performance.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said, "I thought our team played really disciplined, had fun, executed extremely well, did their jobs individually, and also just had fun. I think they're having fun out there. They were playing with a light heart and it was fun to play ball, and having fun doing it. Everything you want from your team and your players."
When a coach uses the word "fun" five times in one response, really good things have happened.
Patterson threw for 384 yards and four touchdowns to carry the offense, and the offensive line, receivers and backs blocked superbly.
The special teams made a big difference. Quinn Nordin had three field goals, including a 49-yarder that made it a three-possession game again for MSU late in the third quarter, and Hudson had that blocked punt that brought about an avalanche. Hudson has five for his career, moving one ahead of Marquise Walker for the most since 1997, when the statistic began being charted.
The defense held the Spartans to 54 yards rushing and 1.8 yards per attempt, 220 yards total offense, 2-for-13 on third-down conversions, and had three sacks against an opponent that had allowed only 12 in nine games. Carlo Kemp had 1.5, sharing one with Jordan Glasgow, and Michael Danna added another sack.
"The defense, especially, we made a statement today," said Metellus. "We were playing really physical and it got to a point where it was too physical, and they (MSU) started doing stuff after the play when we weren't looking. And it just showed today that we were the better-prepared team, and we wanted to come out and execute better than they did."
Metellus circled the Wolverines in a pregame huddle to set the intensity tone.
"I was just telling them to play their heart out in this game," said Metellus. "We needed everybody on the sideline, we needed everyone on the field, to play as hard as they could. I just tried to make sure everyone was focused and ready to do whatever to win the game."
Harbaugh had much praise for his players:
"And a great job by the receivers. Ronnie Bell -- that was a career game, and he was running good and hard. It was hard to tackle Ronnie Bell today and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Their run-after-catches were really good. I thought the offensive and defensive lines were really physical and played exceptional.
"The secondary -- two interceptions were huge. Ambry (Thomas) and Lavert. I thought (defensive lineman) Aidan (Hutchinson) was like a guy possessed out there. It was fun to watch. (Defensive end) Kwity Paye had a big game. So many guys played really well. The tight ends were as good as they've been all year, catching the ball and blocking.
"I talked about Aidan being possessed, but I could see it in Ben Bredeson and Jon Runyan, too. Mike Onwenu, the same. You saw Cesar Ruiz come out and get back into the ball game, and Jalen Mayfield was too emotional at the beginning but settled down and really played well. The five of them (offensive linemen) were very physical and they executed at a really high level.
"(Offensive coordinator) Josh (Gattis) called a great game, and the same with (defensive coordinator) Don Brown -- another really good defensive performance, and special teams was great. ... Good, solid execution, great result."
Nordin
Nordin looks to be solidifying himself as the placekicker after competing for the spot with Jake Moody most of this season.
Harbaugh said, "Quinn Nordin -- I've got to give a lot of credit to Quinn. He comes in and hits a 49-yarder from the right hash. He told me when I was recruiting him that someday he was going to kick a 49-yarder from the right hash to beat Michigan State. So, it was kind of a cool moment after he kicked that one. I walked out and reminded him of that. That was a big kick at that point of the game.
"Yeah, that was a really big point in the game."
Bell's play continued being pivotal. He had 150 yards on nine catches and now has 37 receptions for 621 yards (16.8 per catch) with zero touchdowns this season.
Patterson, asked about that oddity, said, "That (yardage) makes up for not having a touchdown, but I didn't even know that."
Bell, of course, had a touchdown in his hands that could have sent the Penn State game to overtime. He got burned on social media for that drop but was supported by those closest to him.
"The support that I got from my family, my friends, this team, I mean it was unreal," said Bell. "It was a blessing, and they all picked me up. So, I owe these seniors big-time, and I'm glad I was able to go out and do that (against MSU)."
Harbaugh added, "And you're going to see a lot of good blocks by Ronnie when he didn't have the ball. He played really good and tough. He's a real football player."
There was so much to be happy about for the Wolverines, who have won three straight over Notre Dame, Maryland and the Spartans. Now they travel to Indiana (Nov. 23) before hosting Ohio State (Nov. 30), hoping to finish the season with the same bang displayed in this victory.
"If Shea Patterson plays clean," Klatt told viewers, "they can beat anybody."
Fox announcer Gus Johnson countered: "Anybody?"
Klatt made a squeaky noise indicating some indifference to Johnson alluding to the unbeaten Buckeyes, before adding, "It certainly makes it a more interesting matchup, right?"
OSU beat MSU, 34-10, in Columbus, scoring 10 fewer points while allowing the same point total Michigan (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten) did in Ann Arbor.
Comparisons will be made in the next two weeks, but one thing's for sure. This Wolverine team is playing with a true purpose, and has its fans excited.
