Air Force Falcons vs Michigan Wolverines Match Player Stats On Sep 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 16, 2017

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones scored on a 79-yard punt return and Quinn Nordin tied the school record with five field goals, leading No. 7 Michigan to a 29-13 victory over Air Force on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

Peoples-Jones' touchdown was the first of his career. Wilton Speight completed 14 of 23 passes for 169 yards as Michigan (3-0) finished off its non-conference schedule. Ty Isaac led the ground attack with 89 yards on 16 carries, and Karan Higdon had a 36-yard rushing touchdown with 1:02 remaining.

Quarterback Arion Worthman rushed for 60 yards on 26 carries and also completed a 64-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Cleveland for Air Force (1-1). All six of Worthman's other pass attempts were incomplete. Falcons running back Timothy McVey added 62 yards on 11 carries.

People-Jones gathered in Charlie Scott's 53-yard punt, weaved around defenders and eluded Scott's tackle attempt at the 10 to give Michigan a 16-6 lead 1:09 into the second half.

The Falcons quickly matched that score with a big play of their own. Cleveland got past safety Tyree Kinnel, caught Worthman's toss at midfield and raced to the end zone on the 64-yard play.

Nordin's 29-yard field goal later in the third made it 19-13. He drilled his fifth of the game, a 36-yarder, in the opening minute of the fourth for a nine-point lead.

Air Force's Luke Strebel missed a 29-yard field goal try with 7:19 remaining, preserving Michigan's two-score advantage.

Higdon's touchdown completed the scoring.

The teams traded field goals throughout the first half and the Wolverines emerged with a 9-6 lead.

Nordin's 35-yard field goal gave Michigan an early advantage. Robert Bullard's recovery of a Chris Evans fumble at the Wolverines 44 set up the Falcons' first score, a 37-yard field goal by Strebel.

Speight completed two pass plays of at least 30 years early in the second quarter but Michigan had to settle for Nordin's 26-yard field goal. A 34-yard scamper by Worthman led to Air Force's next score, Strebel's career-best 50-yard field goal.

Nordin's 49-yarder in the closing seconds put Michigan back on top

NOTES: The Wolverines are now 10-0 against current members of the Mountain West Conference. They lost to Utah in 2008 when the Utes were still in the MWC. ... Michigan has defeated Air Force in all three meetings. ... The Falcons' six-game winning streak against nonconference opponents was snapped. ... Air Force's last victory over a Top 10 opponent came against No. 9 Notre Dame in 1995. ... Michigan is 8-0 in nonconference games and 15-2 at home under coach Jim Harbaugh. ... The Falcons are 4-6 following an off-week under coach Troy Calhoun.