Late Illinois recap

The Michigan Wolverines would become bowl eligible for the first time in the Rich Rodriguez era with a triple overtime classic against the Illinois Fighting Illini 67-65. Never in 131 years have so many points been scored in a Michigan game. And rarely has a victory against Illinois meant so much to the Wolverines now making them bowl eligible for the first time in three years. This was hands down one of the top 5 most exciting games I have watched in a long time. It was even better watching it with an Illinois fan, who I still really don’t feel sorry for after this game was over. Also Michigan would now of snapped a three game losing streek that saw them play some bad football.

Going into this game I figured both teams would easily score over thirty, but surely didn’t think they would double that. This game seemed like a track meet up and down the field with all sorts of fireworks. Thanks to the defense, yes the defense, which stepped up and made the final stop on a two point conversion in the third overtime and actually had some stops early in the game preventing touchdowns and only giving up field goals after Michigan turnovers. The 5 Michigan turnovers put the defense on there heals most of the game, but they forced field goals and a big turnover in the red zone early in the game. You wouldn’t think that this would be possible at any other place in the country for a defense to be actually excited after giving up 65 points anywhere else except for in Ann Arbor this year.

            The fireworks started early for the Michigan Wolverines as on the very first play of scrimmage Denard Robinson found Roy Roundtree for a 75 yard touchdown pass the longest completion of his career as of this time and the longest touchdown pass of his career. This would soon be bettered when he completed a 77 yard pass to Junior Hemingway later in the game. Illinois got the ball back and marched right up the field before the defense forced a field goal and within 6 minutes both teams were already on the board. The rest of the quarter saw Denard throw two interceptions, one of them leading to another Illinois field goal. This quarter was a good quarter for the Michigan defense forcing two three and outs and holding Illinois too a pair of field goals.

            The second quarter was the start of the scoring frenzy. Michigan would score on 4 of their 5 drives with there only non-scoring drive ending on a 4^th and 6 at the Illinois 30. Illinois would start the scoring in the first 20 seconds of the quarter and successfully get the two point conversion, but Michigan would respond with another Roy Roundtree touchdown on what would be a career day for Roundtree in one of the best days in history for a Michigan wide receiver. Both teams would go back and forth scoring with each team only making a few stops. A field goal by Illinois at the end of half would send both teams would go into the locker room with 31 points. Michigan would also have made a field goal this quarter something that is as rare as a lunar eclipse.

            The third quarter would see both teams missing a field goal and only one touchdown. Luckily for Michigan fans, Michigan was the team to score that touchdown as Michael Shaw would score on an 18 yard scamper. This quarter was another confidence booster on the roller coaster day for the defense. The bad news of the quarter for the Wolverines being Denard Robinson would be knocked out of the game and he would not return. Denard finished the day with 300 yards throwing and 66 yards rushing with all 3 touchdowns by the air along with a couple interceptions. Other then a couple bad reads Denard had played very well, 366 yards in just three quarters was amazing. This would lead to Tate Forcier taking over at quarterback and the blunt of the rushes put on the shoulders of the 3 backs, Vincent Smith, Michael Shaw, and true frosh Stephen Hopkins

            Now the fourth quarter, which we would see things unravel fast for the Wolverines. Illinois scored right away to tie the game at 38-38. Tate Forcier would come off the bench and his first snap of the game he fumbled and gave the ball back to the Fighting Illini with great field position. At this point in the game I started to get nervous as you could feel the momentum quickly switch over into Illinois favor. Illinois would only need 3 minutes to punch in another score and take there first lead of the game with 10 minutes to go in the game. 45-38. The next drive saw Michigan cross mid field and have to punt forcing the defense to have to make a big play. After the Penn State game I had lost about all confidence this was possible and with Mike Martin on the bench I was for sure Illinois would seal the game. But, to my surprise Michigan would stop Illinois giving Tate a chance for some late game heroics. Tate would lead them down on an 80 yard drive and find Darryl Stonum in the end zone with 1:40 on the clock. Yes, The Wolverines are back in it as I jumped around the house carefully not spilling my adult drink. The defense would make a few more stops and this game was going to overtime.

            The first two overtimes would only see 17 plays and both teams scoring touchdowns. The most amazing play would happen for the Wolverines in the second overtime on 3^rd down as Tate would hit the back of a Illinois defensive back and see the ball go up into the air and Junior Hemingway going up and getting it for a touchdown to secure this game would go to a third overtime. In the third overtime Michael Shaw would run in his second touchdown in the 3 overtimes. Now it was going to get interesting with teams having to go for two. Tate would again find Hemingway to give the Wolverines the 8 point lead. Now could they make a stop? The season was going to make or break at this moment. Illinois would score easily and now have to go for two. For the first time in many weeks Michigan would actually blitz knocking Scheelhasse down and batting the ball away coming away with there 6^th victory of the year.

            This would mean Michigan will be bowl eligible at 6-3 going into a very winnable game on the road against Purdue. This would be a fantasy football lovers dream as Michigan would throw for 419 yards and rush for another 257. Roy Roundtree would set a Michigan receiving record with 246 yards and Junior Hemingway would also have over 100 yards receiving.  This was all done with 5 turnovers. I could only imagine what would happen when they play an error free game and are clicking. At this time Illinois was the 25^th overall defense in the nation and had played the likes of Mizzou and Ohio State. Then can you believe it would be the defense making the stops to win, this game was just awesome. Great win for Rich Rodriguez and the staff and great for the guys to not give up when Denard went out and to keep playing hard.

            It had been a while since Michigan had a win so it's now its time for the guys to keep rolling and go beat Purdue and be 7-3!

             I also would like to appologize to everyone in the midwest that would see this game and then have to watch there team play as it would make those games look like the t.v was messed up and everything was in slow motion.