The Wolverine Now

OCT. 14, 2012 WASHED AWAY T in the runaway. For the second straight week, Michigan Wolverines Storm Past Hapless Illini, 45-0 BY JOHN BORTON he Big House turned into The Big Washtub for Homecoming, a steady, quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase in the game. When he got knocked from the con- test early in the second quarter, Illinois saw its chances swirling down the Michi- gan Stadium drains along with the excess rainwater. "I really thought this was a complete cold rain sweeping over well-chilled al- ums. Illinois proved coldest of all, soaking up a 45-0 loss like an inoffensive sponge. The Illini couldn't score with elusive game in a lot of ways," U-M head coach Brady Hoke said. "This was probably the most complete we played, running the ball with the running backs, and Denard [Robinson] obviously had some great runs in there. Defensively, after the second or third series, we started playing Michigan defense." In fact, Michigan demonstrated com- plete domination against an Illinois crew that looked like it would have trouble scor- ing against the U-M alumni band. The Il- lini managed 134 total yards against Mich- igan's 527 and a mere 29 through the air. The Illini recorded seven first downs, completed seven passes, and sank into showed off big-play, quick-strike ability early. Robinson fired laterally to redshirt junior wide receiver Jeremy Gallon in the left flat on Michigan's opening possession, and Gallon left the Illini empty handed. Picking up strong blocks from fifth-year senior wideout Roy Roundtree, redshirt junior tackle Taylor Lewan and fifth-year senior guard Ricky Barnum, Gallon fired out, slashed to his right and sprinted away, 45 0 leaving a FieldTurf rooster tail on a 71- yard touchdown bolt. Redshirt junior kicker Brendan Gib- bons added an 18-yard field goal minutes later, but only after some major lineup subtractions. Barnum went down to a leg injury on the 65-yard drive leading to the score, and after gunning a 33-yard pass to a leaping Roundtree, Robinson himself departed. The senior quarterback kept for eight Junior defensive tackle Jibreel Black and the U-M defense held the Illini to just seven first downs and 134 yards of total offense in the Wolverines' dominating win. ineffectiveness like a triathlon swimmer with concrete flippers. "Give credit to Coach Hoke and his staff and the Wolverines — they did a great job today," assured Illini head coach Tim Beckman. "Our players are disappointed and hurting, and our coaching staff is too — and I'm sure Illini nation is, too." Illini Nation's football team found itself PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN outgained by one man, Denard Robin- son, who rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns while connecting on 7 of 11 passes for 159 yards and two more TDs. Meanwhile, those not named Robinson ac- counted for more than 200 rushing yards, sophomore Thomas Rawls busting out for 90, redshirt freshman Justice Hayes 66 and redshirt junior Fitzgerald Toussaint 62 yards to the Illinois 1, but took a shot to the right hand that left in him obvious pain. He departed, backup Russell Bel- lomy, a redshirt freshman, entered, and two straight runs by Toussaint into the middle of the Illinois defense netted noth- ing but a headache. Gibbons made it 10-0 with 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but the big- ger news involved Michigan's offensive tsunami with No. 16 standing idle in the cold rain.

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