Western Michigan at Michigan

Western Michigan at Michigan

This is Missed It. Western Michigan at Michigan, Saturday, September 5, 75 and clear at Michigan Stadium, with the Broncos. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's Western Michigan Broncos against Michigan Wolverines, and Michigan has the ball first. We're on the road, the underdogs coming into the Big House, and we know what kind of fight this is going to be. The Broncos are one and oh on the season, Michigan is one and oh as well, and somebody's perfect record is going to take a hit today. The crowd is loud, the stakes are real, and we've got sixty minutes of football ahead of us. Let's see what we're made of.

Q1

Michigan takes the ball and goes to work. Thirteen plays, chewing up the clock, moving the chains methodically. They're not flashy, they're just efficient, and they're grinding their way down the field. Then at the nine forty mark, Underwood keeps it himself, rushes middle for one yard, and he's in. Touchdown Michigan. The kick is good, and just like that we're down seven to nothing. It's the kind of drive that makes you nervous, because they didn't have to do anything fancy. They just took what we gave them and punched it in. But we answer. Lowry drops back, scans the field, and finds Chenault on the short right. Chenault catches it at the Michigan forty-one, turns upfield, and picks up eleven yards to the thirty-seven. First down. That's the spark we needed. The offense is moving, the line is holding, and suddenly we're in business. It's not a touchdown, but it's a statement. We're not going to roll over. The drive stalls a bit, but Kelly comes on for a field goal attempt from fifty-two yards out. Fifty-two. That's a long one, folks. The snap is clean, the hold is good, and Kelly drills it right through the uprights. Three points. We're on the board, down 3 to 7, and that kick just changed the energy on our sideline. A fifty-two yarder on the road against Michigan. That's how you answer. Michigan gets the ball back and tries to get something going. Marshall takes the rush left for two yards, but Betts gets flagged for a face mask, fifteen yards, and suddenly Michigan has a first down at their own forty-two. That penalty hurts. It gives them life, extends the drive, and we can't afford to give them free yards like that. They end up punting anyway, so we escape that one. Now we've got the ball, and we're driving. Eight plays, moving the ball, and we're knocking on the door. Lowry drops back, looks for Brooks in the end zone, throws it to the five yard line, but Pierce is in his face, hurrying the throw. The pass falls incomplete. Turnover on downs. We had a chance to tie this game or take the lead, and we came up empty. That one stings, because we were right there.

Q2

Michigan gets the ball back, but they can't do anything with it. Four plays, punt. We take over, and we're moving again. Seven plays, but we can't convert, and we turn it over on downs again. That's twice now. We're moving the ball, but we're not finishing drives, and against a team like Michigan, you can't leave points on the field. Michigan gets it back, and this time they're the ones who stall. Four plays, downs. We take over, and Hughes gets loose on the rush left, six yards to the Michigan forty-five, and Snowden gets flagged for unnecessary roughness. Fifteen yards, first down at the thirty. That's the kind of play that can flip a game. We're in Michigan territory, we've got momentum, and we're threatening to take the lead. But then we shoot ourselves in the foot. Delay of game, five yards, and it pushes us back. It's the little things, folks. The little things that kill you in games like this. We end up punting, and the drive fizzles out. Michigan takes over, four plays, punt, and we get the ball back with just over three minutes left in the half. Seven plays, but we can't get anything going, and we punt it back to Michigan with under a minute to play. They're trying to run out the clock, maybe take a shot, but Underwood drops back and throws one right to Moore. Moore picks it off at the thirty, returns it four yards to the twenty-six. That's a huge turnover. We've got the ball, we've got time on the clock, and we've got a chance to put points on the board before the half. Lowry takes a knee, loses a yard, and we let the clock run down. Then Kelly comes on for a forty-five yard field goal, and he drills it. Six to seven. We're within one at the half, and that interception was the play that turned the tide. We're going into the locker room with all the momentum.

Halftime

At the break, it's 6 to 7. We're down by one, and honestly, we should feel good about where we are. We've had our chances, we've moved the ball, and we've kept Michigan from running away with it. But the play that this half turned on was that turnover on downs in the first quarter. Lowry's pass to Brooks, thrown to the five, hurried by Pierce, incomplete. We were right there, knocking on the door, and we came up empty. If we finish that drive, we're not chasing the game, we're leading it. But we've got forty-five yards of field goal range working for us, we've got a defense that's making plays, and we've got the ball coming out of the half. We need to keep grinding, keep taking what they give us, and most importantly, we need to finish. One point. That's all that separates us. Let's go take it.

Q3

Michigan gets the ball to start the second half, and they're trying to establish something. Ten plays, chewing up clock, but our defense holds. They punt, and we take over with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter. This is where the game gets decided. We've got the ball, we've got the momentum, and we've got a chance to take our first lead of the game.

The Sequence

This is it. This is where the game is won or lost. We've got the ball, we're down 6 to 7, and we're about to go on a drive that will define this football game. Buckley takes the handoff, rushes middle for four yards to the Michigan twenty-one, and it's a first down. The play goes under review, but the call is upheld. First down. We're in the red zone, we're moving the ball, and we're grinding. This is the drive we've been waiting for. Twenty-two plays, folks. Twenty-two plays. We're chewing up the clock, we're wearing down their defense, and we're moving the chains. It's not pretty, it's not flashy, but it's working. Finally, Kelly comes on for another field goal, and he hits it. Nine to seven. We've got the lead. We've got the lead against Michigan, on the road, and we've earned every single point. The sideline is fired up, the fans are on their feet, and for the first time all game, we're ahead. Michigan gets the ball back, and they're desperate. Five plays, and they punt. We take over, and we're trying to run out the clock. Buckley takes the handoff, rushes middle for eleven yards to the forty-three, and it's a first down. That's the kind of run that seals games. We're moving the ball, we're controlling the clock, and we're one first down away from putting this thing away. But we can't finish. Ten plays, and we punt it back to Michigan with just over three minutes left. We're up 9 to 7, and we need our defense to make one more stop. Underwood drops back, tries to escape the pocket, rushes right for thirteen yards to the thirty-one, and then it happens. The ball comes loose. Franklin forces the fumble, Burley recovers it at the thirty-one. Fumble. We've got the ball. We've got the ball with under two minutes to play, and we're up by two. This is it. This is the moment. We take over, we run the clock, and Kelly comes on for another field goal. He hits it. Twelve to seven. We're up by five with thirty-five seconds left. The game is in our hands. All we have to do is stop them one more time. But Michigan has other ideas. Underwood drops back, and he lets it fly. Buchanan is downfield, and he hauls it in. Forty-seven yards. Touchdown Michigan. The kick is good, and just like that, it's 12 to 13. We had them. We had them, and they took it away.

Wrap-up

Final score: Western Michigan 12, Michigan 13. We lost by one. One point. We led that game in the fourth quarter, we forced the fumble, we made the kicks, and we still came up short. It's the kind of loss that stays with you, the kind that keeps you up at night. But we fought. We fought them to the very end, and we made them earn every single point. We're going to feel this one for a while, but we're not going to hang our heads. We came into the Big House, we took them to the wire, and we proved we belong. That's all we can ask for. That's all we can do.

By the Numbers

The Broncos by the numbers. Final score, Western Michigan 12, Michigan 13. 221 yards of offense to their 276, 89 through the air and 132 on the ground. 16 first downs. 8 of 18 on third down. 0 turnovers for us, 3 for them. We held the ball for just over 40 minutes.

Outro

That was Western Michigan at Michigan, from the Broncos side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Western Michigan at Michigan

This is Missed It. Western Michigan at Michigan, Saturday, September 5, 75 and clear at Michigan Stadium, with the Wolverines. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's Western Michigan Broncos against Michigan Wolverines, and we've got the ball first. The Broncos come in looking to spoil our night, and we're looking to start something. The crowd is buzzing, the nerves are real, and it's time to see what we're made of.

Q1

We take the opening drive and we march. Thirteen plays, and we're knocking on the door. It's first and goal, and Underwood takes the snap, rushes middle for 1 yard, and he's in. Touchdown, Michigan. The kick is good, and we're up 7 to nothing. That's how you open a game. But Western Michigan answers. They're moving the ball, and at 7:30, Lowry drops back, fires short right to Chenault, caught at our 41, and he takes it 11 yards to our 37. First down. You can feel the momentum shift their way. They're not going away. And then Kelly lines up for a 52-yard field goal. Fifty-two yards. That's a long one. And it's good. Just like that, it's 3 to 7, and they've got life. We get the ball back, and Marshall takes a rush left for 2 yards, but Betts grabs him by the face mask. Fifteen yards, first down. That's a gift, and we'll take it. But we can't sustain it, and we punt it away. Western Michigan takes over, and they're driving. They get all the way down to our 5-yard line. It's fourth down. Lowry drops back, throws short right to Brooks, thrown to the 5, but Pierce gets the pressure, the pass falls incomplete, and it's turnover on downs. We held. We held.

Q2

We take over, but we can't do anything with it. Four plays, punt. Western Michigan gets it back, and they're moving again. Hughes takes a rush left for 6 yards, and Snowden gets flagged for unnecessary roughness. Fifteen yards, first down. That's a penalty that hurts. But then they get a delay of game, and it stalls them out. They punt. We get the ball, four plays, punt. Western Michigan gets it, seven plays, punt. We're stuck in a battle of field position, and nobody's giving an inch. Then, with under a minute left in the half, we're trying to make something happen. Underwood drops back, and he throws. Intercepted. Moore picks it off at our 30 and returns it 4 yards to the 26. That's a killer. We gave them the ball right back. They take a knee, and then Kelly lines up for a 45-yard field goal. And it's good. Six to seven. They've taken the lead, and we're heading to the locker room down by one.

Halftime

So here we are at the break, down 6 to 7. The play that turned this half was that turnover on downs at our 5-yard line. We held them when we had to, and that kept us in this game. But that interception before the half, that gave them the field goal, and now we're chasing. We need to come out and take control. We need to protect the ball and find a way to put points on the board. The defense has been holding up, but we need the offense to answer.

Q3

We get the ball to start the second half, and we're trying to find a rhythm. Ten plays, and we're moving a little, but we can't finish. We punt it away. The defense is going to have to keep us in this, because the offense is struggling to find any traction.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. Western Michigan takes over at the 9-minute mark of the third, and they start to grind. They're eating clock, they're moving the chains, and they're wearing us down. At 13:21 in the fourth, Buckley takes a rush middle for 4 yards to our 21, and it's a first down. The play goes under review, and it's upheld. They're knocking on the door. They keep pushing, and they get the field goal. Nine to seven. They've taken the lead, and now we're really in trouble. We get the ball back, five plays, and we punt. Western Michigan takes over again, and they're still grinding. At 8:15, Buckley rushes middle for 11 yards to their 43, first down. They're controlling the clock, and we can't get off the field. We finally get the ball back with just over three minutes left. We need a score. Three plays in, and Underwood takes off, rushes right for 13 yards to our 31, and the ball comes out. Fumble. Franklin forces it, Burley recovers at our 31. It goes to review, and it's upheld. Turnover. Our hearts sink. Western Michigan takes over, and they're just trying to run out the clock. They get a field goal, and it's 12 to 7. We're down five with 35 seconds left. We get the ball back at our own territory. We need a miracle. Underwood drops back, and he lets it fly. Buchanan is downfield, and he hauls it in. Forty-seven yards. Touchdown. Michigan. The kick is good. Thirteen to twelve. We take the lead with no time left on the clock.

Wrap-up

Final score, Western Michigan 12, Michigan 13. We win by one. That was a gut check, a heart-stopper, a game that came down to the final play. We found a way. That's all that matters. We're walking out of here with a win, and that's the only thing that counts.

By the Numbers

The Wolverines by the numbers. Final score, Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12. 276 yards of offense to their 221, 170 through the air and 106 on the ground. 12 first downs. 3 of 10 on third down. 3 turnovers for us, 0 for them. We held the ball for just under 20 minutes.

Outro

That was Western Michigan at Michigan, from the Wolverines side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.