The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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1. Declawing The Gators — Michigan's defense dominated No. 17 Florida all afternoon long in the Sept. 2 season-opener — allowing just 192 yards and three offensive points — and this was summarized perfectly with 1:41 left in the game. With U-M leading 26-17, fifth-year senior Gator quarterback Ma- lik Zaire took the snap from his own 4-yard line and dropped back a few steps into his own end zone. Redshirt junior defensive end Chase Winovich launched into the backfield from the left side untouched and pummeled an oblivious Zaire, who instantly fumbled the football. Before it rolled out of the back of the end zone, redshirt junior linebacker Noah Furbush recovered it to extend U-M's lead to 33-17, putting the perfect exclamation point on a stifling defensive afternoon. 2. Peoples-Jones Takes Flight Against Air Force — With U-M leading Air Force just 9-6 in the third quarter Sept. 16, the Falcons lined up to punt with 14:06 to go in the frame. A booming kick was sent to- ward freshman wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who caught it at his own 21-yard line. He immediately sprinted to his left and continued that way until he hit his own 40-yard line, never coming close to being tackled along the way. Once there, the freshman eluded a diving Falcon tackler and cut across the middle of the field to the right, running alongside a convoy of teammates. The Air Force punter turned out to be Peoples-Jones' last obstacle between him and the end zone, and the freshman easily brushed off his feeble tackle attempt at the 15-yard line. Peoples-Jones then sprinted into the end zone, giving fans a glimpse of the electric potential he possessed. 3. Running To Victory — Indiana scored 10 points over the final 3:27 of its Oct. 14 contest with Michigan, sending the affair into over- time. However, U-M junior running back Karan Higdon quickly swung the momentum back in the Wolverines' favor. With the game knotted at 20 on the first play of the extra session, Higdon took a handoff and immediately ran straight into a pile of line- men three yards behind the line of scrimmage. The junior then showed incredible agility and speed and bounced the play out to the left, out- running every Hoosier in pursuit to the sideline. From there, Higdon sprinted 25 yards — untouched — into the end zone for the game-winning score, capping off a three-touchdown, 200- yard afternoon. 4. Bomb To Black — With Michigan and Florida tied 3-3 late in the first quarter of the season opener Sept. 2, redshirt junior quarter- back Wilton Speight took a snap from under center, faked a handoff to Higdon and then scanned the field for an open receiver. The veteran quarterback launched a bomb down field from his own 45-yard line. The TV cameras panned to freshman wide receiver Tarik Black — who had six yards of separation between himself and freshman Gator defensive back Shawn Davis — five yards in front of the end zone. Davis closed in on Black just as he easily hauled in the 46-yard touch- down pass to put U-M up 10-3. The score was part of a career-high 83-yard afternoon for the rookie making his college debut. 5. Hurst Sandwich — Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Maurice Hurst made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and offensive linemen all season long, but in the 33-10 win over Minnesota Nov. 4, the D-lineman terrorized both — at the same time. U-M held a 20-7 lead with 6:13 to go in the second quarter when redshirt sophomore Gopher quarterback Demry Croft took a snap from shotgun, just as Hurst immediately began manhandling redshirt freshman right guard Conner Olson. The fifth-year senior drove Olson backward five yards in less than three seconds and sacked Croft seven yards behind the line of scrimmage while the Gopher lineman was still attempting to block him. 1. KHALEKE HUDSON vs. Min- nesota — The sophomore viper had a performance for the ages in a 33-10 win over the Gophers Nov. 4, racking up 15 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. His eight tackles for loss set a new program and Big Ten record for a single game, and tied the all-time NCAA mark. 2. Karan Higdon vs. Indiana — In a tightly contested matchup, the junior running back came up big time after time for the Wolverines. He TOP FIVE INDIVIDUAL PLAYS 144 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Rookie wideout Donovan Peoples-Jones scored his lone TD of the season on a 79- yard punt return against Air Force. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN