Michigan did what it’s done best this season: run the damn ball.
On the Wolverines’ first drive, running back Donovan Edwards bolted for a 41-yard touchdown with his first carry of the game. It marked the second-longest rushing touchdown in the 10-year history of the playoffs, falling behind Derrick Henry’s 2016 50-yard scoring run against Clemson.
That record didn’t stand long.
Running back Donovan Edwards spoke to media about his explosive start to the championship game. (Damien Dennis/The Pit Media)
On Michigan’s second drive, “The Don” got the ball a second time and ran it home for 46 yards.
Fellow running back Blake Corum also scored two touchdowns as top-ranked Michigan knocked off No. 2 Washington, 34-13, to win its first national championship in 26 years.
Corum, who earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, praised his colleague in the backfield.
“I was so excited for Donovan because I just felt like he needed that,” Corum said. “He needed it. He’s back. Dono is back.”
Likewise, quarterback JJ McCarthy also honored Edwards.
“I’ve been honored to be his roommate for two years,” McCarthy said. “And just knowing everything he goes through behind the scenes and just the man he is on a day-to-day basis, this couldn’t have been a better moment for him to show out and show the world who he really is.”
Michigan (15-0) managed to stifle Washington (14-1) all night.
The Huskies were held to just 46 yards on the ground as Michigan forced Heisman finalist Michael Penix, Jr. to throw the ball a lot. He finished 27-of-51 for 255 yards, but two picks.
The first was on the first play of the second half, when Michigan’s Will Johnson made a diving catch to pick of Penix.
Mike Sainristil picked Penix off the second time, returning the ball 81 yards in the fourth quarter and setting up Corum for his second and final score of the night.
Coach Jim Harbaugh praised both Johnson and Sainristil after the game.
“This man, Will Johnson, talked at halftime we’ve got to get this momentum back,” Harbaugh said. “And darned if we don’t get it back the first play of the second half. Pull it down. That was phenomenal.
“When a play needs to be made, Mike Sainristil has made it. When a play needs to be made, Blake Corum makes it. When a play needs to be made, Will Johnson makes it.”
Michigan started strong and finished strong, but the Wolverines suffered a lull in the middle parts of the game. Michigan put up 174 yards rushing in the first period alone, averaging 19.3 yards per carry. Edwards tallied 87 of those yards on his two carries, while Corum added 73 yards on four carries – including a 59-yard dash to end the quarter.
At the half, Michigan tallied 209 yards on the ground with a 17-10 advantage.
Michigan wasn’t nearly as explosive in the second half.
“They may have added another guy in the box, but they made some good plays too,” Corum said. “That’s why they were in the national championship. I give them the credit. Like you said, we started fast. They slowed us up a little bit. But when we needed to start fast again, we started fast. They had us for a little bit. We knew they were going to get theirs.”
As for Harbaugh, he said this win checks the “biggest box” for him.
“For me, personally, just to be part of the family,” he joked. “With my dad, who won a national championship with Western Kentucky in 2002, and John Harbaugh, who won the Super Bowl 2012 season, 2013 Super Bowl. I get to sit at the big person’s table now.
“That feels really good. Just to be the only coach in your only family that hasn’t won a national title or Super Bowl, the championship, that feels great, personally.”
