Michigan’s Jake Butt and Wilton Speight had career games in the Wolverines blowout win over the Maryland Terrapins, 59-3.
Butt is now the career leader in receiving yards for a tight end at Michigan, passing Jim Mandich for the top spot. Speight had a career first half throwing for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns (second passing, first running).
Another big game for Michigan as former Michigan defensive coordinator DJ Durkin borught the Maryland Terrapins into the Big House. Durkin was a part of the Michigan resurgence last season with one of the nation’s best defenses.
“He was a great contributor to our ball club,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game about coaching against Durkin.
As soon as the game began, you could see that Michigan was coming out of the gates to show why they deserve a place as one of the top four teams in the College Football Playoffs. It wouldn’t take long for the Speight to lead the Wolverines to an early lead.
Michigan started on their own 9 yard line. Speight would miss on first pass attempt to Darboh but would connect on his next two passes to Jake Butt for a 6 yard completion and then Jehu Chesson for a long 23 yard catch and run. The Wolverines would then ground and pound the ball against Maryland with Smith, Evans and Speight.
A few plays later, Speight would hand the ball off to Peppers who would then pass it to Speight and then he would find Darboh in the end zone for a 34 yard TD catch. Michigan would then take the early lead and never look back.
Michigan’s defense would once again be gritty and not allow Maryland any momentum on their first possession of the game. Speight would once again carry the Wolverines down the field once again, Michigan would mix up the run and pass game on the drive. Speight would find Chesson twice on the drive first for a 16 yard catch and then for a 40 yard catch which would put the Wolverines in position for their second score of the game. After a first down run by Karan Higdon, Speight would drop back and run straight into the end zone to make it 14-0 Michigan.
On Maryland’s second drive of the game, they would get some momentum and make it down to the Michigan 1 yard line. But the defense would stay strong and force the Terrapins a short field goal attempt. The Terrapins field goal attempt would hit the uprights and Michigan would get the ball back.
“We practice our goal line coverage at every practice,” Delano Hill said after the game about the Wolverines goal line defense.
On the following drive, the Wolverines would once again make a long drive down field. A Smith 14 yard run and Butt 37 yard catch and run would move Michigan into Terrapins territory and within striking distance. The drive for the most part was a Butt and Smith drive with a Jabrill Peppers 13 yard run in the end. Smith would end the drive with a 3 yard TD run which would be his first of the three on the day. Michigan led the Terrapins 21-0 early in second quarter.
Maryland would stumble on their next drive gaining an early first down but then going three and out on the next three plays. Michigan would get the ball and Speight would once again take them on another scoring drive. On third and seven Speight would find his fullback Khalid Hill for a crucial first down. After two penalties and a Higdon 4 yard loss the Wolverines would be in a yardage you don’t get a lot 2nd and 34. Michigan had a play for that and Speight would find freshman Chris Evans for a 56 catch and run all the way down to the Maryland 1 yard line. Evans catch and run would be reviewed to see if he crossed the goal line but after review the play was confirmed. The Wolverines would score on their next play as Khalid Hill would run it in to extend the lead 28-0.
After a quick three and out by the Terrapins, Speight would lead the Wolverines in a 3 minute offense at the end of the quarter. Speight would go 3 for 4 on the drive and would find Chesson in the end zone on a 33 yard touchdown pass. Michigan would take a five touchdown lead 35-0 with 0:42 seconds remaining in the half.
The Terrapins would give the fans in Michigan Stadium a quick grasp of breath as Maryland marched down the field. Maryland quarterback Caleb Rowe would find receiver DJ Moore for a 47 yard catch and run but Moore would be tackled at the 1 yard line by linebacker Mike McCray as time expired.
Once again entering the second half the Michigan offense had a comfortable lead but would not take their foot off the gas. On Maryland’s first drive of the second half, the Terps would gain a couple of quick first downs and start to gain momentum. Rowe would miss on his next two throws and on his third down throw would be intercepted by Delano Hill.
Michigan would take the Hill interception and look to extend their lead again. The drive would falter and the Wolverines would have to settle for a Kenny Allen 29 yard field goal to make it 38-0.
Both Michigan and Maryland would trade possessions on turnover on downs in the third quarter. After Maryland’s second turnover on downs, Speight marched the offense down the field late. The Wolverines used a heavy dose of Smith and Higdon. Smith would cap off the drive with a 1 yard TD run as the quarter expired.
Maryland got the ball to start the fourth quarter and would march down the field to make a 37 yard field goal and spoil the Wolverines shutout.
On Michigan’s next drive, the Wolverines would move quickly down the field and ended it with Smith’s third touchdown of the game. Michigan lead Maryland 52-3.
Maryland would march down the field once more, gaining a first down and a bit of momentum and when on a critical third down for the Terps, Rowe would throw his second interception of the game to Delano Hill.
Backup quarterback John O’Korn would lead the Wolverines down the field. Michigan would once again used different running backs throughout the drive. On first and goal O’Korn would find Kekoa Crawford in the end zone to put the proverbial steak in the coffin of the Terrapins.
Michigan would go on to win the game 59-3 in a game where it saw the Michigan offense put up 660 yards of total offense and where junior quarterback Wilton Speight would have a career day ending the day 19 of 24 for 362 yards passing and three touchdown passes.
“I think it’s time to throw his hat in the ring,” Harbaugh said about Speight.
The Michigan offense and defense as a whole has been playing lights out for each other. The Michigan offense hasn’t fumbled since Speight’s second interception in the second half of last week’s Michigan State game. The defense did allow Maryland to move down the field but not down field, they had to use screens and short passes to get around the vaunting defense.
Michigan will go on the road and head to Kinnick Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at 8PM EST.
