Postgame Notes: No. 21 Michigan 35, Maryland 10
11/11/2017 7:18:00 PM | Football
• Today's game marked the seventh meeting in the history of these two programs, and the fourth while both are members of the Big Ten Conference. Michigan improved to 6-1 all-time in the series with this afternoon's victory.
• This was the second matchup between Michigan and Maryland, with the Terrapins being led by former U-M defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who is now in his second season at the helm. U-M won the first matchup, 59-3, last season and has now outscored Maryland 122-13 in 12 quarters under Jim Harbaugh.
• Today's matchup was a head-to-head battle of the only two Power Five programs who have won at least one game with three or more different starting quarterbacks. For Michigan, that list includes Wilton Speight (Florida, Cincinnati, Air Force, Purdue), John O'Korn (Indiana, Rutgers) and Brandon Peters (Minnesota). For Maryland, the list consists of Tyrrell Pigrome (Texas), Kasim Hill (Towson) and Max Bortenschlager (Minnesota, Indiana). The two non-Power Five programs to accomplish this feat are the University of Louisiana Lafayette and the University of Houston.
• In his second career start, Brandon Peters improved Michigan's record to 2-0 under center. Peters completed 9-of-18 pass attempts totaling 145 yards. He also threw for a career-high two touchdowns to two different tight ends.
• Peters has recorded at least one passing touchdown in each of the last three games, and his 33-yard hookup with Zach Gentry in today's game was his longest connection of the season so far.
• Running back Chris Evans scored his 10th career touchdown, and his fifth on the ground this season, in the second quarter. He finished as the team's leading rusher with 15 carries for 80 yards and two touchdowns.
• Once running back Chris Evans surpassed the 500-yard rushing mark for the season on his nine-yard carry in the first quarter, he joined Ty Isaac (548) and Karan Higdon (804 prior to today) to give U-M three backs at or over 500 yards on the season for the first time since 1991 (Ricky Powers, Jesse Johnson, Tyrone Wheatley).
• Running back Kareem Walker added seven rushes for 23 yards.
• Fullback Henry Poggi, a Baltimore native and game captain for today's contest, scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard plunge in the second quarter.
• Today marks the fourth game this year in which tight end Zach Gentry has at least one reception of 25 yards or more. He caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters in the second quarter.
• Tight end Sean McKeon hauled in a three-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters, giving him touchdowns in back-to-back weeks and two for his career. McKeon has become the team's leading receiver and is quietly riding a seven-game reception streak.
• With Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry accomplishing the feat today, this is now the second time in the Harbaugh Era (2015-present) that multiple tight ends have caught a touchdown pass in the same game for Michigan (Illinois, 2016: Jake Butt, Tyrone Wheatley).
• U-M outgained Maryland by 100 yards even in the first half: 212-112.
• Cornerback David Long intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it more than 80 yards to the Maryland 20 near the end of the second quarter. It marked Long's second career interception.
• The Michigan defense held Maryland to 3-of-16 on third down (18.8 percent).
• Khaleke Hudson registered his first career interception in the fourth quarter, returning it 22 yards. He finished the game with seven tackles, four solo.Â
• After coming close for several weeks in a row, Michigan blocked its first punt of the season against the Terps. Josh Metellus blocked their second-quarter attempt from the 27-yard line, and the ball was recovered by Devin Gil.
• Maryland wide receiver Taivon Jacobs had recorded at least one touchdown in three of his last four games entering this one, but was kept out of the end zone against U-M.
• Wide receiver DJ Moore had eight touchdown passes entering this weekend, leading the Big Ten Conference, but was kept off the score sheet against the Wolverine defense.
• Maryland had been 8-1 with respect to winning the turnover battle prior to today's game. Michigan outscored them in that area today (1-0) to become the second team to beat the Terps in the turnover category (Rutgers, 2-1).
