The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
the first quarter, Michigan had not tallied a touchdown in nine straight quarters (beating Michigan State, 1210, and losing to Nebraska, 23-9, in the two weeks prior). To make matters worse, Gardner was making his first career start at quarterback. Minnesota struck first, with a 10yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter. So, Michigan fans everywhere were feeling pretty pessimistic when, on a third-and-17 from the 45-yard line, Gardner began flailing around in the backfield, trying to escape the Minnesota pass rush. He sprinted right, curled back behind the line of scrimmage to the left and heaved a pass all the way to the end zone — where Dileo was standing all alone. The junior was so wide open, that he caught the pass like a punt. From there, the Gardner-led offense found its legs. Best Reception Roy Roundtree Vs. Northwestern When you think about the odds of Roundtree making a catch like the one he did in the wild comeback win over Northwestern, it's easy to see that the Wolverines were mere centimeters from a 7-6 season. All the Northwestern defense had to do was knock Gardner's heave down. With 18 seconds to go and 62 yards to the end zone, an incompletion on that play would have almost certainly spelled doom for the Wolverines. Instead, the NU defender tipped the ball in the air, altering its direction. Roundtree twisted his body around and made the catch. It set up a gametying field goal by Gibbons, and the Wolverines finished off the 38-31 win in overtime. Best Rush Denard Robinson Vs. Illinois Robinson has made his fair share of highlight-reel plays. And he certainly made big runs in more crucial times this season than in the third quarter of a 45-0 blowout win over Illinois. But for pure, physics-defying fun, nothing beats the moves Robinson put on the Illini. Up 17-0 early in the third quarter, Robinson took a direct snap and started up the middle of the field. He jumped over a flailing defender, cut right, completely stopped in the middle of the play and pivoted to cut back right. At that point, it was all but over. Robinson squeaked out to the edge and raced down the sideline for an incredible 49-yard score. By the time he crossed the goal line, there was no Illini defender within 20 yards of him. Best Interception Sophomore Cornerback Raymon Taylor At Purdue At the time of this game, it was billed as a trap for the Wolverines. Michigan has started the season 2-2, with disappointing performances against Alabama and Notre Dame. Purdue was 3-1 with hopes of winning the Legends Division title and playing in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines quickly quelled the Boilermakers' dreams. Michigan