Michigan
3-0
Air Force
1-1
Michigan Relies on Special Teams to Defeat Air Force
9/16/2017 3:51:00 PM | Football
» Quinn Nordin made five field goals (26, 29, 35, 36, 49), tying a program record for most in a game. Through three games to start his college career, Nordin has made 11 of 13 field goals.
» Donovan Peoples-Jones (79-yard punt return) and Karan Higdon (36-yard run) accounted for Michigan's touchdowns on the afternoon.
» Linebackers Mike McCray and Devin Bush each had 11 tackles, while Chase Winovich added nine.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #7 Michigan 29, Air Force 13
Records: U-M (3-0), AF (1-1)
Attendance: 111,387
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 23 -- at Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.), 4 p.m. (TV: Fox)
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman kicker Quinn Nordin tied a school record with five field goals made and freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown as the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan football team grounded Air Force, 29-13, on Saturday (Sept. 16) inside Michigan Stadium.
Senior quarterback Wilton Speight went 14-of-23 passing for 169 yards, but it was his running backs who did most of the damage, as fifth-year senior Ty Isaac (16 rushes, 89 yards), junior Karan Higdon (12 rushes, 64 yards, one TD) and sophomore Chris Evans (six rushes, 30 yards) each averaged at least 5.0 yards per attempt. Freshman Tarik Black caught five passes for 55 yards to lead the receiver corps.
Outside of one Air Force touchdown drive, the Michigan defense was stout all afternoon. The unit racked up nine tackles for loss (three sacks), an interception by sophomore Khaleke Hudson and a forced fumble. Fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray and freshman Devin Bush each recorded 11 tackles, while senior Chase Winovich had nine.
Speight came out throwing on the first three plays of the game, converting an early third-and-12 to Black to keep the chains moving on the team's opening drive. Isaac nearly went the distance on the next play but stepped out of bounds along the sideline, setting for a 32-yard gain. The Wolverines came away with points on their first red zone trip on a 35-yard field goal from Nordin.
Air Force took advantage of a Michigan fumble to score its first points of the game. After starting the drive on Michigan's 45-yard line, the Falcons faced a fourth-and-1 and barely converted, the spot of the ball holding up after a challenge. They ended up facing a third-and-goal from the seven-yard line, but quarterback Arion Worthman was sacked by Bush for a 13-yard loss on his first pass attempt of the game. Luke Strebel hit a 37-yard field goal on the next play to tie the game at 3-3.
The second quarter was much more of the same: stingy defenses and field goals. Nordin added two more before the halftime break -- one from 26 yards, the other from 49 yards -- to give Michigan a three-point cushion, 9-6, heading into the locker room.
The Michigan defense got a three-and-out to start the second half and took advantage on special teams, as Peoples-Jones weaved his way through the coverage team for a 79-yard touchdown return to make the score 16-6. The Falcons responded on the next possession, though, when Worthman found Ronald Cleveland for a 64-yard touchdown pass, trimming the lead back to three.
Following a few empty possessions, a poor Air Force punt gave the Michigan offense a very favorable starting spot at the Falcons' 43-yard line. A fourth-down conversion from fifth-year senior fullback Khalid Hill kept the drive alive, but the offense stalled in the red zone, leading to a 29-yard field goal from Nordin. He also converted from 36 yards in the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game at 22-13.
The Falcons had a chance to cut into the lead with 7:19 left, but Strebel shanked a 29-yard field goal attempt. They got the ball back after a Michigan punt but chose to punt themselves with 4:50 left, allowing Michigan to shut the door with two first downs and Higdon's 36-yard touchdown scamper with 1:02 left.
Michigan will open up Big Ten play next Saturday (Sept. 23) at Purdue. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. on Fox from West Lafayette, Indiana.
Team Stats
AF 0, MICH 3
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 35 yd field goal 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:09
AF 3, MICH 3
AF - STREBEL, Luke 37 yd field goal 12 plays, 24 yards, TOP 6:13
AF 3, MICH 6
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 26 yd field goal 8 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:14
AF 6, MICH 6
AF - STREBEL, Luke 50 yd field goal 6 plays, 42 yards, TOP 3:11
AF 6, MICH 9
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 49 yd field goal 6 plays, 9 yards, TOP 3:18
AF 6, MICH 16
MICH - Peoples-J, D. 79 yd punt return (Nordin, Quinn kick)
AF 13, MICH 16
AF - CLEVELAND, R. 64 yd pass from WORTHMAN, Arion (STREBEL, Luke kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:57
AF 13, MICH 19
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 29 yd field goal 11 plays, 32 yards, TOP 5:22
AF 13, MICH 22
MICH - Nordin, Quinn 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 28 yards, TOP 1:58
AF 13, MICH 29
MICH - Higdon, Karan 36 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kick), 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:48
