Michigan
Minnesota
Higdon, Evans Power Football Past Minnesota to Keep Little Brown Jug
11/4/2017 11:58:00 PM | Football
» Karan Higdon tied a career high with 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He became the first Michigan tailback since Mike Hart in 2004 to have two 200-yard rushing games in the same season.
» Chris Evans rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns, breaking off touchdown runs of 60 and 67 yards. He averaged 14.7 yards per carry.
» Khaleke Hudson had 15 tackles (8 tackles-for-loss, a single-game school record), two sacks and a forced fumble.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 33, Minnesota 10
Records: U-M (7-2, 4-2 B1G), Minnesota (4-5, 1-5 B1G)
Attendance: 111,090
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 11 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), 3:30 p.m., TV: BTN
• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh | Players
• Kornacki Feature: Higdon and Evans' 391 Rushing Yards
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tailbacks Karan Higdon and Chris Evans combined for 391 rushing yards and four touchdowns to pace the University of Michigan football team past Minnesota, 33-10, on Saturday (Nov. 4) at Michigan Stadium, keeping the Little Brown Jug in Ann Arbor for another year.
The game's start was delayed an hour due to heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area, but the soggy conditions did not slow down Michigan's running game. Behind an offensive line that opened up holes all night, Higdon (16 rushes, 200 yards, 2 TDs) and Evans (13 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TDs) ran wild on Minnesota's defense, breaking off seven runs of 15 or more yards. Higdon, who tied a career high set three weeks ago at Indiana, became the first Michigan tailback since Mike Hart in 2004 to have two 200-yard rushing games in the same season.
After coming in off the bench last week and performing well, quarterback Brandon Peters got the start on Saturday. He was not called on to throw much but was efficient when he was, going 8-of-13 for 56 yards and a touchdown.
The Michigan defense stood tall, holding Minnesota to 164 yards of total offense, with just 36 of those in the second half. Khaleke Hudson was a one-man wrecking crew, tallying 15 tackles, -- including 8 tackles-for-loss, a single-game school record -- to go along with two sacks and one forced fumble. Devin Bush had nine tackles and Mike McCray added seven.
The Wolverines forced a Minnesota punt to start the game but started inside their own 20-yard line. The field switched quickly, as Higdon rumbled for 47 yards on the second play of the drive, putting Michigan on the Minnesota 28-yard line. It appeared to be on the doorstep of the end zone after a Peters play-action pass to Eddie McDoom, but it was called back due to penalty. On the redo from the 20-yard line, Peters rolled to his right and threw back left on a screen to Sean McKeon, who got an open lane to the end zone thanks to a punishing block from guard Ben Bredeson.
Minnesota responded with a 10-play drive, tying the score on a 10-yard rush from Rodney Smith.
But Michigan counter-punched on a long 77-yard touchdown run from Higdon, the team's longest of the season. The blocking made it happen, as Bredeson took out a lineman at the line of scrimmage and Khalid Hill neutralized a linebacker on the second level to open the hole. Quinn Nordin missed the extra point, however, making the score 13-7.
The teams exchanged possessions until Chris Evans made it 20-7 on a 60-yard touchdown run, maneuvering through and around three would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone. The Wolverines closed the first half averaging 15.6 yards per rush.
Defense turned into offense in the third quarter following a takeaway. Hudson made it happen off a blitz, chasing down Minnesota quarterback Demry Croft from behind and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chase Winovich. With great starting field position, Michigan continued to feed Higdon and Evans, ending the nine-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run from Higdon to make the score 27-7.
Evans showed his big-play ability once again on the team's next possession, ripping off a 67-yard touchdown run that was reminiscent of his first-half gallop. He took the handoff up the middle, cut right, made the first man miss and was gone, breaking two more tackles on his way to the end zone. The Wolverines missed the two-point conversion, making the score 33-7.
Minnesota added a field goal with 1:55 left, closing the scoring at 33-10.
The Wolverines will head back out on the road for a two-game swing starting next Saturday (Nov. 11) at Maryland. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
