Michigan TD

Chad Henne dissects NU's secondary with passes over the middle. After a solid first half, NU's front seven didn't get much pressure on the quarterback during the last drive. It didn't help that Mike Hart finally showed up with an 18-yard rush to get the Wolverines into NU territory.

 

Henne caps off the drive with a 5-yard TD pass to Carson Butler.

 

Michigan 14

Northwestern 16

 

Looks like we've got ourselves a ball game. How will NU respond?

Defense comes to play

After NU ends the first half with a field goal, NU's defense opens the second half with a key stop. The Cats keep Michigan from advancing past the NU 38 and force a punt.

 

Michigan QB Chad Henne was back on the last drive after sitting out most of the first half, and he looked good. But NU is handling Mike Hart well - he had just 30 yards on 12 carries in the first half.

NU 13 - Michigan 7

Guess it was Northwestern's turn to catch a break. After C.J. Bacher makes a great fake and bootleg run, a Michigan late hit penalty tacks on 15 yards. Northwestern capitalizes with a 49-yard field goal by Amado Villarreal.

 

Michigan 7

Northwestern 13

 

 

Tyrell Who?

Northwestern running back Omar Conteh's first collegiate TD is a big one - a 49-yard scamper. He rushes up the middle, bounces left, breaks a tackle and outraces a defensive back for the touchdown.

 

NU 10 - Michigan 7

 

 

About that fast start...

First: a correction to the last post - Rasheed Ward made the great play, not Ross Lane. Apparently I can't read numbers well.

 

After NU's scoring drive, Michigan bounces back with some nice throws by QB Chad Henne, who's back from injury. On 4th and 3 from the NU 30, the Cats are called for a face-masking penalty to keep the Wolverines' drive alive. They answer two plays later with an 11-yard TD pass.

 

7-3, Michigan.

 

The good news? Michigan RB Mike Hart, who came in averaging 168 yards a game, has six carries for 6 yards through the first 8 minutes. Good sign for the NU front seven, which has made some key stops so far and gotten more pressure on the quarterback than we've seen so far this season.

Nice start for NU

NU starts with the ball - good call by Fitz after falling behind 7 in the first few minutes last week - and converts on a quick scoring drive.

 

Ross Lane makes a balla play, rolling over a defender without his knees touching the ground - to turn a 9-yard slant into a 64-yard gain.

 

The Cats settle for a field goal - kind of a downer after the kind of big opening play that builds momentum for a game. But it's still good news: NU os 6-2 over the past two years when it scores first.

 

-- Matt Baker

Predictions

Northwestern will win if Bacher passes for 400 yards and Mike Hart is held to 100. Neither happens. Final: Michigan 31, Northwestern 16

-- Matt Baker

Amado Villarreal kicks a game tying field goal -- at halftime. Entering the second half tied 17-17, Michigan's defense gets scared, and begins to play as they did last week against Penn State. Mike Hart never relinquishes the ball in the final 30 minutes, and the Wolverines come away with a victory. Final: Michigan 31, Northwestern 17

--Chris Gentilviso

Michigan 38. Northwestern 17. That is all.

--Abe Rakov.