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For the second time in the era of Jim Harbaugh, the Michigan Wolverines start 7-0 after their 33-7 win over Northwestern on Saturday at the Big House.
The Wolverines have had some shortages this season, but they have been able to make the moves necessary to assert themselves. Their defense has mauled opponents, allowing only 15.5 points per game for Saturday’s matchup against the Wildcats.
Northwestern has been trying to find week-to-week consistency throughout the season. The team of head coach Pat Fitzgerald now alternated wins and losses in the first seven games.
Michigan got off to a slow start, leading 10-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Wolverines were able to break away. They scored 17 points thanks to dazzling touchdowns from Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins.
The stormy attack carried Michigan’s offensive to victory. It had 294 yards on 54 carries. Corum and Haskins both had two quick touchdowns.
The Wolverines defense continued their stellar game. They only allowed 233 yards and 10 first downs.
Notable game stats
- Cade McNamara (ME): 20-by-27, 129 yards
- Blake Corum (ME): 19 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD
- Hassan Haskins (MICH): 23 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD
- Ryan Hilinski (NW): 14 of 29, 114 yards, INT
- Evan Hull (NW): 6 carries, 81 yards
Corum, Haskins carry wolverines to victory
Saturday was a perfect recap of what made Michigan so successful to kick off the 2021 season.
The defense burst out of the gate in flames. Northwestern’s first three drives totaled 16 games and won 38 yards. Ryan Hilinski hit 29 yards on his first throw, but his next 10 passes totaled 16 yards.
Corn n Brew @MaizenBrew
Michigan’s defense came under a lot of pressure at the beginning, the biggest advantage for UM so far.
There was a brief moment in the late second and early third quarters when it looked like Northwestern had found a soft stomach on defense.
Aside from two rushed games to pass the clock at halftime, the Wildcats had back-to-back drives that gained 124 yards. Evan Hull won 75 yards in one game with a touchdown run with 2:16 remaining before halftime.
However, after those two rides, Michigan’s defense was able to tighten things up again. For the remainder of the game, there wasn’t a drive of more than nine games.
Harbaugh and his staff also made adjustments on the offensive end to blow up the game. Her first drive of the second half was 74 yards in seven games, culminating in Corum’s touchdown run.
FOX college soccer @CFBONFOX
💪 @UMichFootball‘s Offense drives down the field and finds the end zone to extend his lead to 17-7! pic.twitter.com/s5Ej5jsOeD
Special teams also helped the Wolverines break away. Cornelius Johnson blocked a punt in the middle of the third quarter to set up Haskins’ 13-yard touchdown three plays later.
FOX college soccer @CFBONFOX
LOCKED ❌@UMichFootball blocks the punt and recovers in a great field position pic.twitter.com/FA2LKWiVl9
The blocked punt becomes 7 for @UMichFootball as the Wolverines move away from Northwestern 🙌 pic.twitter.com/FaAzkS5tcf
There are still aspects of this Michigan team that pop up every week suggesting that this group might be battling better competition.
The passing game was virtually non-existent against Northwestern. Cade McNamara remains a very limited passer. He averaged 4.8 yards per attempt on Saturday, his second-lowest mark of the season (2.9 vs. Washington).
Harbaugh brought in freshman JJ McCarthy in the fourth quarter when the result was well under control.
Jordan Strack @JordanStrack
Look, I’m sorry to be that guy … but you have to let 9 play. He’s a lot more dynamic. It brings so much more to the table. That Michigan offense is so limited at McNamara.
Cade is a great kid. He did a good job. But McCarthy can make a difference.
McCarthy only threw five passes, so it’s hard to make big statements about his skills in this game.
At some point, however, the Wolverines will have to throw the ball to win a game. Right now they can celebrate the 7-0 that goes into a marquee match against Michigan State next week.
Northwestern is still looking for answers at QB
One of the biggest problems Northwestern and head coach Pat Fitzgerald are facing right now is what to do as a quarterback.
Fitzgerald has clearly recognized this with his handling of the position so far this season. Ryan Hilinski, Hunter Johnson and Andrew Marty all threw at least 16 passes on Saturday.
Johnson looked impressive in the season opener against Michigan State. The senior went 30 of 43 for 283 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-21 loss. He was a mess over the next two games, however, scoring a combined 15-of-32 with a touchdown and four interceptions.
After Johnson threw three of these interceptions against Duke, Hilinski was promoted to # 1 on the depth map. He had his best game of the year last week with 267 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-7 win over Rutgers.
For Hilinski against Michigan, however, it came back on the ground. The sophomore caller had only 114 yards and an interception on 29 pass attempts.
FOX college soccer @CFBONFOX
GIMME DAT@ djturner_5 with incredible concentration to find the INT for @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/TUubS9SnOJ
Ryan Hilinski’s first interception of the year goes to EJ Turner from a circus catch that the corner also brought back to the northwest 15-yard line. Just a brutal idea of the offensive today.
The quarterback’s problems derailed the rest of the offense which has a lot of promising talent playing well. Hull has 643 yards and five dazzling touchdowns to 101 carries this season after losing on Saturday.
FOX college soccer @CFBONFOX
And just like that @NUFBFamilie Strikes in Ann Arbor! 👀 pic.twitter.com/KIwXrt6AUE
Malik Washington, who caught six passes against Michigan, has three games in a row with a catch of at least 29 yards.
Fitzgerald apparently saw enough of Hilinski late in the game that he turned to Carl Richardson for the team’s last two possessions. It’s hard to rate a player on three passes in a blowout, but everything should be on the table in the future.
Northwestern has five games left to change things. Next week’s matchup against a good team from Minnesota will likely go a long way in showing whether or not the Wildcats can save a Bowl appearance this season.
What’s next?
Northwestern will return home next Saturday to host Minnesota. Michigan will travel to East Lansing on October 30th to battle Michigan State’s No. 9.
