Recap: Michigan run game leads 49-3 romp over WMU
Final leaders
Passing
UM - Shea Patterson: 12/17, 125 yards, 3 TDs
UM - Dylan McCaffrey: 1/1, 18 yards, TD
WM - Jon Wassink: 16/34, 85 yards, INT
Rushing
UM - Karan Higdon: 13 atts., 156 yards, TD
UM - Chris Evans: 10 atts., 86 yards, 2 TDs
WM - Levante Bellamy: 11 atts., 65 yards
Receiving
UM - Nico Collins: 1 rec., 44 yards, TD
UM - Donovan Peoples-Jones: 4 recs., 31 yards, TD
WM - D'Wayne Eskridge: 2 recs., 20 yards
Final team stats
Passing yards
UM - 181
WM - 123
Rushing yards
UM - 308
WM - 123
Total yards
UM - 433
WM - 204
Tru Wilson runs out the clock for Michigan
Looking to make up for his two defensive penalties, Ambry Thomas takes the kickoff from his own end zone. He only gets to the 18-yard-line.
Tru Wilson gets the ball on first down for a 17-yard gain and the remaining Michigan fans in attendance show their appreciation with a chorus of "Truuuuu".
The Michigan tailback gets five yards on first down to get to the Michigan 40, and O'Maury Samuels gets his first action of the day with a four-yard run on second down. Berkley Edwards gets stopped for no gain on third down, and that'll be the last play of today's decisive contest as the clock runs to all zeroes.
49-3 Michigan (FINAL)
Western gets on the board with a field goal
Stop me if you've heard this before: Jake Moody's kickoff goes for a touchback, and Western will start its drive from the 25-yard-line.
Chase Brown shows off his strength with a nice stiff-arm that leads to a 15-yard gain on the ground. He gets six yards on first down and then 14 more on second-and-4 to get to the Michigan 40-yard-line.
Tucker gets the ball next and gains one yard. Jon Wassink hits Tyron Arnett for a gain of eight to make it third-and-1 at the Michigan 31. Tucker's third-down run goes for no gain, and the Broncos will try their hand at a fourth-down conversion once again. Tucker gets just enough to keep the chains moving.
Brown gets to the Michigan 28 with a two-yard run on first down. Wassink misses the intended receiver on second down and his pass is nearly picked off.
Ambry Thomas is called for pass interference on third-and-8, and Western will have a fresh set of downs at the 18.
Brown runs for one yard on first down, and after an incomplete pass on second down, Wassink is brought down behind the line by Jordan Anthony for a loss of one.
Western sends its field goal unit out to end the shutout with a 35-yard field goal. It fails to get the snap off in time, resulting in a five-yard penalty.
Ambry Thomas blocks the kick, but he left a little early. It's a 35-yarder once again, and this time, Josh Grant puts it through the uprights.
49-3 Michigan (2:34 4th)
McCaffrey throws first touchdown pass as a Wolverine
Shea Patterson will watch the rest of today's game from the sideline. Dylan McCaffrey is in for the Wolverines.
Tru Wilson takes over at running back and he picks up 13 and nine yards on back-to-back first-down runs. McCaffrey is sacked for a loss of two on second-and-1, but Wilson gets the Wolverines back on track with a run for eight yards to keep the chains moving.
McCaffrey runs for 10 yards to get to the Western 18-yard-line on first down. He then throws it to Jake McCurry, who jukes a Bronco defender on his way to the pylon for McCaffrey's first touchdown pass as a Wolverine.
49-0 Michigan (8:51 4th)
Broncos can't catch break on fourth down
Jon Wassink completes a pass to D'Wayne Eskridge for a gain of 10, and that'll do it for the third frame of today's ball game.
42-0 Michigan (End 3rd)
LeVante Bellamy runs for six yards on first down, and gets to the 41-yard-line with a five-yard run on second down to move the sticks.
Wassink's first-down throw to Eskridge falls incomplete. Davon Tucker runs for four yards on second down. Josh Uche jumps offside and the raining yellow laundry makes it a much more manageable third-and-1.
Jim Harbaugh calls a timeout before Western goes for it on fourth-and-1. The official announces the timeout was called by "Michigan State", which draws boos from the Maize and Blue faithful.
Timeout Michigan
110,814 is the announced attendance for Michigan's home opener.
Wassink sneaks it up the middle for a one-yard gain to give the Broncos a first down in Michigan territory.
Wassink tries to find Eskridge down the sideline, but like most attempts to the Western receiver today, Brandon Watson's coverage forces the pass to the ground. Keishawn Watson catches a pass for five yards on second down to reach the Michigan 44-yard-line. The third-down attempt to Juwan Dowels falls incomplete, and Western will go for it on fourth down again, this time needing five yards to get a fresh set of downs.
Wassink throws it behind Watson on a slant route and Michigan will take over at its own 44-yard-line.
42-0 Michigan (11:14 4th)
Patterson sack stalls Michigan drive
Chris Evans continues to get the ball at tailback for Michigan. He picks up five yards on first down, and after an incomplete pass on second down, Shea Patterson shows off his set of wheels as he takes off for a 16-yard gain. It'll be first down at the Western 47-yard-line.
Tru Wilson gains two yards on first down. Patterson's run is essentially wiped from the stat sheet as he takes a 16-yard sack on second down to make it third-and-24. He misses Grant Perry over the middle and Will Hart will be out to punt.
Hart boots it into the end zone and Western will get the ball at its own 20.
42-0 Michigan (0:14 3rd)
You get a tackle-for-loss! You get a tackle-for-loss! Everybody gets a tackle-for-loss!
Jake Moody boots it into the end zone for a touchback. First down Western Michigan at the 25.
Jon Wassink throws a completed pass to Keishawn Watson for 7 yards on first down and makes a run for it on second to gain three yards and a first down before getting decked by Josh Ross.
Chase Brown has no room to run up the middle, and bouncing to the outside did him no good, either. Devin Bush wraps him up for a loss of one. Brown gets the screen pass on third down, and this time he's dropped for a loss of three by Brad Hawkins.
The Wolverines have seven tackles-for-loss on the afternoon.
Peoples-Jones fields the punt with a fair catch at his own 33-yard-line.
42-0 Michigan (3:03 3rd)
Peoples-Jones touchdown caps short drive
Shea Patterson throws to Donovan Peoples-Jones behind the line on first down, but the Michigan wideout is unable to gain any yards. Chris Evans gets the ball on second down and he carries it to the Western 24-yard-line for a gain of 27.
Peoples-Jones gets one hand on an incomplete deep ball from Patterson and Western corner Anton Curtis is flagged for having one hand wrapped up in the receiver's jersey. It'll be first-and-goal from the 9.
Evans gets four yards on first and second down, and the Patterson-to-Peoples-Jones connection gets Michigan in the end zone on third down.
Make that *two* touchdowns from Michigan wide receivers in the last 364 days.
42-0 Michigan (6:21 3rd)
Rashan Gary doing it all for Michigan
Jon Wassink fields the snap on first down and is immediately sacked by Rashan Gary for a loss of four, Gary's seventh tackle of the day. Wassink misses his receiver on second down. Gary gets in Wassink's face on third-and-14 as he throws an incomplete pass to D'Wayne Eskridge.
Western's punt is nearly blocked again. Donovan Peoples-Jones calls for a fair catch at the Michigan 49-yard-line.
35-0 Michigan (8:56 3rd)
Bronco defense gets a stop
Chris Evans starts the second half as Michigan's primary rusher. He picks up five yards on first down and reaches the Western 24-yard-line with an 18-yard run on second down.
Evans gets the rock again on first-and-10, but is dropped for a loss of one. Shea Patterson's second-down pass falls incomplete. He miraculously avoids a sack on third down, flipping the ball to Tru Wilson as he goes to the ground. The three-yard gain is not enough for a first down. Quinn Nordin will be out to try a 40-yard field goal.
Nordin's try has plenty of distance, but it sails to the left of the uprights.
Western will get the ball at its 22.
35-0 Michigan (9:44 3rd)
Michigan defense not giving an inch
Western will get the ball to start the second half.
LeVante Bellamy rushes for nine yards on first down, and on second down, Odell Miller bruises forward to pick up four yards on a screen pass. It'll be first down at the 38.
Jon Wassink goes to Drake Harris for a gain of three. His pass on second down falls incomplete. Wassink steps up on third-and-7 and bolts for the line of scrimmage. He slides one yard short, but the Broncos will go for it on fourth down.
Timeout Western Michigan
Bellamy is stuffed by Devin Bush for no gain. Michigan will take over at the Western 47.
35-0 Michigan (12:23 3rd)
First half leaders
Passing
UM - Shea Patterson: 9/11, 117 yards, 2 TDs
WM - Jon Wassink: 8/17, 43 yards, INT
Rushing
UM - Karan Higdon: 13 atts., 156 yards, TD
UM - Chris Evans: 3 atts., 28 yards, 2 TDs
WM - Levante Bellamy: 7 atts., 45 yards
Receiving
UM - Nico Collins: 1 rec., 44 yards, TD
UM - Sean McKeon: 2 recs., 23 yards, TD
WM - Jayden Reed: 2 recs., 17 yards
Michigan offense finally stopped
Karan Higdon gets the rock and gains one yard on first down and five on second down.
Shea Patterson is chased fifteen yards behind the line of scrimmage and nails Donovan Peoples-Jones on a comeback route for a first down at the 34-yard-line.
Chris Evans is wrapped up for a loss of one on first down. McKeon catches a pass on second down to pick up six yards. On third-and-5, Patterson tosses the ball away on a rollout due to the hot pursuit of Western's defensive line.
Tyron Arnett fields Will Hart's punt from his own 5 and returns it eight yards to the Michigan 13.
35-0 Michigan (0:19 2nd)
LeVante Bellamy carries it up the middle for Western and that'll do it for the first half of play in Ann Arbor.
35-0 Michigan (End 2nd)
All sizzle, no steak: Western drive halted in Michigan territory again
Western will take over from the 25.
Jamauri Bogan goes for five yards on first down and three yards on second down to make it third-and-2. Jon Wassink throws it to D'Wayne Eskridge on a slant route for a gain of 10. It'll be first down at the 43.
Khaleke Hudson jumps offside, but its called on Noah Furbush. Nonetheless, it'll be first-and-5. Wassink threads a pass over the middle through two defenders and Jayden Reed goes down at the Michigan 42-yard-line for a gain of 10.
The catch will now be reviewed.
Reed was evidently hurt on the play as he is shown heading to the locker room on the FS1 broadcast. Adding insult to the injury, the call on the field is overturned. It's second-and-5.
LeVante Bellamy is wrapped up by Hudson for a gain of one to make it third-and-4. Western tries a screen pass to Bellamy, but the Western back is tackled by Lavert Hill for a loss of seven yards.
Donovan Peoples-Jones botches the line drive punt and the ball trickles behind him several yards before he's able to dive on it at the 14.
35-0 Michigan (3:17 2nd)
Finally, a wide receiver touchdown
Western is called for a substitution infraction to make it first-and-5 at the Western 44-yard-line.
Shea Patterson drops back and finds Nico Collins wide open over the middle. The Michigan wide receiving corps' 364-day touchdown drought has ended.
35-0 Michigan (6:55 2nd)
Western gambles on fourth down and loses
Western Michigan will take over at the 25-yard-line.
LeVante Bellamy has nowhere to go on the first down run as he's met by Rashan Gary and Devin Bush at the line for no gain. Jon Wassink goes far-side to D'Wayne Eskridge for a gain of eight yards to give the Broncos a first down.
Wassink is chased down and out-of-bounds for a loss of six on first down, but Michigan is flagged for a personal foul as Josh Metellus gives Western's quarterback a shove as he crosses the sideline. The official mistakenly assigned the penalty to Khaleke Hudson.
Wassink throws it to Drake Harris on first down to get to the 49-yard-line. His pass falls incomplete on second down and Jamauri Bogan is wrapped up for no gain on third down. It's fourth-and-1 and the Broncos will go for it.
Wassink is cracked just before the down marker and Michigan will take over on downs.
28-0 Michigan (7:02 2nd)
Evans scores second touchdown of game
Shea Patterson misses a wide-open Sean McKeon in the end zone on first down at the Western 24-yard-line. Karan Higdon rushes for nine yards on second down, no gain on third down and one tough yard on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive.
Patterson finds Peoples-Jones in the flat and the Wolverine receiver gets down to the 2-yard-line.
Chris Evans gets to the outside and dances into the end zone for a Michigan touchdown, his second of the game.
Michigan has scored touchdowns on its last four possessions after punting on its first.
28-0 Michigan (9:35 1st)
Michigan blocks Western punt after its longest drive of day
Jon Wassink and the Western offense will start its drive from the 25-yard-line after a touchback.
Wassink completes the first-down pass to former Michigan wideout Drake Harris for a gain of four and LeVante Bellamy runs for eight yards on second down to move the sticks for Western to end the quarter.
21-0 Michigan (End 1st)
it's first-and-10 from the 37 to start the second quarter. Wassink fakes the handoff to Bellamy and rushes for a gain of five. On second down he lets his back keep it, and Bellamy gets two yards up the middle to make it third-and-3. Bellamy catches a pass down the sideline and beats Devin Bush to the outside on his way to a nine-yard gain. Western is in Michigan territory.
Jamauri Bogan gets 2 yards on first down to get to the Michigan 27, but loses a little less than a yard on second down to make it 3-and-8. Western is forced to punt after an errant pass from Wassink.
Western's punt is blocked by Khaleke Hudson and is returned 10 yards by Joe Hewlett to give Michigan the ball at the Western 24-yard-line.
21-0 Michigan (12:02 2nd)
All hands on deck for Michigan running game
Starting from the Western 46, Michigan goes back to the running game to keep its mojo going.
It's a successful plan.
Karan Higdon runs for 19 yards on first down and Chris Evans finishes off the two-play drive with a 27-yard touchdown run.
21-0 Michigan (0:52 1st)
Michigan defense coming up big
Jake Moody's kick goes for a touchback and Western will start its drive from the 25.
Davon Tucker rushes for two yards on both first and second down to make it third-and-6. Jon Wassink puts a great ball right between the numbers of Jayden Reed on a slant route for a gain of 10. First down.
Michigan's defensive line remains stingy up the middle, as Chase Brown loses three yards on the ground on first down. Wassink goes deep down the sideline again, and this time its nearly picked off by Brandon Watson.
The drop by the Michigan cornerback turns out to be a blessing in disguise, as Noah Furbush picks off Wassink's pass much closer to the original line-of-scrimmage.
14-0 Michigan (1:31 1st)
Higdon train keeps chugging along
Karan Higdon was clearly not satisfied with his performance in South Bend a week ago. On first down, he explodes for 67 yards to put Michigan up two scores. He has 121 yards rushing in the first quarter.
14-0 Michigan (4:11 1st)
Michigan D-Line keeping Broncos in check
LeVante Bellamy returns the kickoff from a yard inside his own end zone, a poor decision in hindsight as he only gets to the 11-yard-line.
Jayden Reed catches a pass from Jon Wassink for a gain of seven on first down. Jamauri Bogan gets two yards up the middle on second down. Bogan picks up two more yards on third-and-1, giving the Broncos a first down at the 23.
Wassink takes his second deep shot of the day, this time down the right sideline, but it yields the same result as his first long throw: an incompletion. Bellamy gets three yards up the middle on second down before being stopped by Rashan Gary, the Michigan lineman's third tackle of the day.
Wassink overthrows Keishawn Watson on third down and Western will punt.
Donovan Peoples-Jones calls for a fair catch at the 33.
7-0 Michigan (4:21 1st)
McKeon gets Michigan on the board
Michigan will start its second drive from its own 18 after a fair catch by Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Ambry Thomas makes his offensive debut for the Wolverines on first down, catching a pass for five yards. Shea Patterson is forced to scramble on second-and-5 before finding Oliver Martin down the sideline for a gain of eight and a fresh set of downs.
Karan Higdon picks up five yards on first down from the Michigan 32 and gets three more on second down.
On third-and-2, Higdon gets free through the middle, breaks a couple tackles, and gains 43 yards for his longest run of the season. Michigan is in the red zone.
Higdon is dropped for no gain on first-and-10 from the 16. Sean McKeon catches a pass near the right sideline on second down and bolts to corner of the pylon for a touchdown. The score will be reviewed.
And the ruling on the field stands. Touchdown, Michigan.
7-0 Michigan (7:05 1st)
Big run yields no results for Western Michigan
On Western Michigan's first play from scrimmage, LeVante Bellamy gets to the outside and gains 24 yards on the ground before being bushed out of bounds at the 45.
Bellamy picks up one yard in the flat on first-and-10. Jon Wassink misses his receivers on second and third down, and Western will punt.
0-0 tie (10:52 1st)
Michigan offense sputtering early
Michigan wins the toss and elects to receive. They will get the ball to start the second half.
Still seems to be quite a few empty seats in Michigan Stadium as the Wolverines get ready for the opening kick.
Ambry Thomas takes it to the 28-yard-line.
Shea Patterson fires a pass to Zach Gentry on the first play of the game for a gain of ten and a new set of downs.
The Wolverines aren't able to get setup at the line before the play clock expires, and they've already burned a timeout with 14:20 remaining in the first.
Coming out of the timeout, Michigan is flagged for a false start.
On first-and-15 from the 32, Karan Higdon picks up three yards, and rushes for two yards on second down. It's third-and-10.
Patterson dumps it off to Chris Evans, and he's taken down at the line of scrimmage for no gain. Michigan will be forced to punt.
0-0 tie (12:19 1st)
Pregame
Michigan entertains Western Michigan in the Wolverines’ 2018 home opener on Saturday at noon. Follow the action here with live updates throughout the game by Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.
WESTERN MICHIGAN AT MICHIGAN
Kickoff: Noon Saturday, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
TV/radio: FS1/950 WWJ
Line: Michigan by 28
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