The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior quarterback Wilton Speight hit senior wideout Amara Darboh for the game-winning touchdown pass with 7:56 remaining to help No. 4 Michigan earn a 14-7 win over No. 8 Wisconsin in a Big Ten defensive struggle on Saturday.
In a matchup where both defenses entered having given up less than two touchdowns per game, Michigan's stood out more than Wisconsin's defensive unit, holding the Badgers to eight first downs, 71 yards rushing and just 159 yards of total offense while intercepting Wisconsin freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook three times.
Michigan (5-0, 2-0) took a 7-0 lead with 14:56 remaining in the first half on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Khalid Hill, which capped off an 11-play, 77-yard drive that took 4:41 off of the clock.
Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1) tied the game with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hornibrook to senior Dare Ogunbowale, a scoring play that was set up by a 46-yard interception return to the Michigan 31-yard line by junior Derrick Tindal.
After it went scoreless in the third quarter, Michigan finally broke through on offense, with Speight hitting Darboh in stride down the field after got behind the Wisconsin defense near the sideline.
Michigan dominated the final statistics, outrushing Wisconsin by a margin of 130-71, outgaining Wisconsin in total yards, 349-159, and collecting 21 first downs to Wisconsin's eight.
The only trouble for Michigan came in the kicking game, with the Wolverines missing three field goals to keep the Badgers hanging around until the fourth quarter.
Speight went 20 of 32 passing for 219 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Michigan.
Hornibrook went 9 of 25 for 88 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions for Wisconsin.
NOTES: This was the first meeting between the teams since 2010, which was won by Wisconsin, 48-28. It was the first time ever the teams met when both were ranked in the Top 10. ... Wisconsin was playing without arguably its best defensive player in linebacker and team captain Vince Biegel, who on Thursday had foot surgery and is expected to be out 2-to-4 weeks. ... Michigan K Kenny Allen went 18 of 22 on field goals last season, but after missing field goals of 31 and 43 yards in the first half, he already missed his fourth field goal this season in just eight attempts. Backup K Ryan Tice replaced Allen but missed a 40-yard field goal with 2:25 left in the third quarter. ... After starting the season with five straight home games, Michigan will play its first game away from Ann Arbor next Saturday night when it plays at Rutgers. ... The announced attendance of the game was 111,846 fans, the 270th consecutive time Michigan has had at least 100,000 in attendance for a home game.