Northwestern Wildcats vs Michigan Wolverines Match Player Stats On Oct 10, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 10, 2015

Michigan's fifth consecutive victory set the stage for a showdown with rival Michigan State next week and might have opened some eyes to the Wolverines as a legitimate contender.

Michigan hit the accelerator on the opening drive and Northwestern left with tire marks on their backs by the time the final seconds ticked off the clock at Michigan Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a 38-0 Wolverines' win.

The Wolverines have not allowed a point in the last 12 quarters, outscoring the opposition 97-0. The Wildcats (5-1) mustered 38 yards on 25 running plays (1.5 yards per rush), had 168 total yards and converted just two of 13 third downs.

Derrick Green's 4-yard touchdown run with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter raised Michigan's lead, sapping more than seven minutes off the clock and covering 66 yards. Green and De'Veon Smith combined for 116 yards on 20 carries for Michigan.

The No. 13 Wolverines led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter, the most points allowed by Northwestern's top-ranked defense this season, and had the game salted away early in the second half.

Michigan hosts second-ranked Michigan State in Ann Arbor Oct. 17.

Northwestern led the FBS in scoring defense at 7.0 points per game entering Saturday's loss but the biggest issues for the Wildcats were special teams and a sluggish offense.

Kenny Allen kicked a 47-yard field goal to stake Michigan to a 31-0 lead in the third quarter.

Michigan led 28-0 at halftime and dominated from the jump on a 96-yard kickoff return by Jehu Chesson and junior cornerback Joudon Lewis added a pick-6 on a 37-yard return in the second quarter on which he ripped the ball away from Northwestern junior wide receiver Mike McHugh as McHugh leapt, made the catch and was crashing to the ground on the Wolverines' sideline.

Quarterback Jake Rudock capped Michigan's 21-point quarter with a 2-yard TD run to end a six-play, 75-yard drive with 2:35 left in the first quarter. Rudock was 17 of 23 for 179 yards.

Northwestern spun its wheels thanks to penalties, offensive line breakdowns and was limited to 105 total yards in the first half. The Wildcats had 16 carries for 24 yards at halftime.

NOTES: Michigan has outscored opponents 154-7 in the past 20 quarters. ... Northwestern (5-1) hosts No. 22 Iowa (6-0) next week. ... Michigan State won the past two meetings by a combined score of 64-17. Michigan won 12-10 in 2012. ... The New York Philharmonic brass section joined Michigan's marching band at halftime, part of a five-year agreement with the music program.