The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2025 M ichigan coaches said going into the Nov. 30 game at Ohio State as a 20-point underdog that there was a path for victory, improbable as it may have seemed. The Wolverines needed to play to their defense, force a few turnovers and win a low-scoring game … and that's exactly what happened in a stunning, 13-10 victory. Not surprisingly, the formula was much the same as a 16-point underdog to Alabama in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl. The Wolverines were playing without numerous starters, including left tackle Myles Hinton, running backs Kalel Mull- ings and Donovan Edwards, tight end Colston Loveland on offense, elite de- fensive linemen Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham and Josaiah Stewart along with All-America cornerback Will Johnson. Few gave them a chance for a win. Instead, the reserves played incredibly well, and the Wolverines got off to a 16-0 lead before holding on for a 19-13 victory in Tampa. The Wolverines also became the first program in history to defeat Alabama twice in a calendar year after having beaten the Crimson Tide in the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl last year on the way to the national championship. Defense was once again the difference. Alabama managed only 260 yards of to- tal offense and turned the ball over three times. The Crimson Tide managed only 68 yards rushing, and U-M sacked Ala- bama quarterback Jalen Milroe 5 times. "I gave game balls to everybody on the team, but the defensive front started it all," Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. "And then it just permeated through everybody else. Those guys just all played phenomenal." Alabama crossed midfield on its open- ing drive, but the defense set the tone with a huge early stop. Edge rushers TJ Guy and Derrick Moore, both stand- outs in the game, collapsed the pocket and met at the quarterback for the first sack to force a turnover on downs on a fourth-and-4 at U-M's 45. A few plays later, kicker Dominic Zvada scored the game's first points with a field goal … and then the rain came. Three Alabama turnovers ensued, two of them forced, and led to 13 more Michi- gan points. Freshman running back Jor- dan Marshall then provided just enough offense, especially after starting quar- terback Davis Warren went down with a knee injury (later determined to be a torn ACL), to grind out a win. Marshall would finish with 100 yards on 23 carries. "I think he's got a bright future," Moore said of the game MVP. "He re- minds me so much of [former U-M run- ning back] Blake [Corum] the way he ap- proaches his business, and what he does off the field to take care of his body. "He's a physical runner. He can make people miss; he can run you over … he obviously has that burst. "Jordan Marshall's going to be a spe- cial back. He's got a lot of ability, and he works really hard. I think that's the piece that really makes him different." The offensive line, with sophomore Evan Link moving from right tackle to left and true frosh Andrew Sprague at right tackle, held up just enough. Michi- gan managed only 190 yards of offense, but the Wolverines picked up some tough yardage in the fourth quarter to run the clock down. "There was some hard hitting going on, on both sides. You could hear the pads popping," Moore said. "Our guys delivering their hits, them delivering the hits … 3-yard runs, those dirty runs. Those are like body blows, and there was a lot of that on both sides of the ball. "All the credit in the world to Alabama and the way they play a physical style of defense — but I thought our guys really bowed up and played physical ball. "Our guys stepped up the most when ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Defense Dominates Again In 19-13 Win Over Alabama The swarming Michigan defense forced three Alabama turnovers — including this first-quarter fumble recovery by junior edge Derrick Moore (8) — and led the way to a 19-13 victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla. PHOTO COURTESY RELIAQUEST BOWL/STEVE JACOBSON