The majority of the Michigan football team’s game against Washington Saturday was a defensive showdown. While both the Wolverines and Huskies’ offenses managed to make significant gains down the field on multiple occasions, more often than not, they fell short of their ultimate goal: the endzone.
But in the defensive battle, it was Michigan’s (5-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) unit that came out on top, snuffing out Washington’s (5-2, 2-2) offensive fire en route to the 24-7 victory.
In the Huskies’ first drive of the game, they moved steadily down the gridiron until they breached the Wolverines’ territory. Sitting at the 31-yard line at third-and-12, Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. spotted wide receiver Dezmen Roebuck along the right sideline and fired the ball toward him. All signs pointed to the Huskies getting a big first down, but senior defensive back Zeke Berry successfully broke up the pass, forcing Washington to punt it away.
While the Wolverines put a touchdown on the board for an early lead at the end of the quarter, the Huskies remained scoreless as Michigan’s defense continued to apply pressure. It wasn’t that Williams wasn’t making the throws — he was. But each time a receiver snagged the ball, the Wolverines’ defense was there, ready to take them down.
The majority of the second quarter mirrored the first, with each defensive unit taking turns stifling the respective offensive attack. However, in the final moments before the half, Coleman snuck through the gap to notch Washington’s first points of the contest, evening the score.
With the game tied, the pressure amped up for both teams. Luckily for Michigan, its defensive unit was built to handle it.
The Wolverines’ first two drives of the third quarter fell short, with the first ending in a turnover on downs and the second resulting in a punt. It seemed as though the tune of the third quarter was going to be similar to that of the first. But as Michigan’s defense jogged onto the field once more, things were about to change.
With 1:32 remaining in the third quarter, Williams rattled off another pass into right field. But instead of hitting his intended target, sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan jumped behind the route, snagging the ball for an interception.
Not only did Sullivan stop the Huskies’ momentum, he gave the Wolverines’ offense a second chance. And on the first play, sophomore running back Jordan Marshall ran it home to retake the lead, 14-7.
As it turns out, Michigan’s defense wasn’t done yet. Washington’s next drive was cut short, too, this time with senior linebacker Jimmy Rolder snatching the pass.
It was these interceptions that reignited the Wolverines’ offensive fire. Stacking on one more touchdown, Michigan steamrolled its way to the finish off a performance both catalyzed and made possible by its rugged defensive unit.
In a game that was marred by offensive stagnancy, it was the Wolverines’ defense that ultimately paved the way for and brought about the victory.
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