ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Wearing all maize uniforms and emerging from the Michigan Stadium tunnel that now features a light show, Michigan commenced the Kyle Whittingham era with fanfare.
It ended with a 47-yard Hail Mary from Bryce Underwood to JJ Buchanan on the game's final play to give the Wolverines a 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
Underwood, who struggled most of the game, was 12 of 22 for 170 yards, one touchdown, an interception and a fumble. Michigan had three turnovers, including one on special teams.
Western Michigan, which dominated the time of possession in the game, took a 12-7 lead with 35 seconds left on a 33-yard field goal from Dieter Kelly. He also had field goals of 52, 45 and 39 yards.
That gave Underwood and Michigan a desperation drive with 35 seconds left starting from the Wolverines’ 25 yard line. It appeared the game ended on an incomplete pass to Andrew Marsh, but a second was added to the clock giving Michigan one final opportunity. Underwood heaved it down the middle and Buchanan caught it in the end zone.
“We’re a way better team than this,” Michigan captain and running back Jordan Marshall said on Michigan radio after the game. “We’ve got to be way better than this.”
There was little that went right for the offense after an efficient opening drive led to a Wolverines’ touchdown. Sophomore starting quarterback Underwood struggled and was 11 of 21 for 123 yards working behind a struggling offensive line that didn’t get much push.
The Broncos took a 9-7 lead after driving 71 yards on 20 plays and used 13:40. The made a 39-yard field goal with 10:25 left in the game. Western Michigan dominated the third quarter and carried that drive into the start of the fourth. Michigan, meanwhile, had the ball for only 4:19 in the third quarter and by that point had only run 36 plays in the game. The Broncos moved 61 yards on 13 plays in 9:05 before the end of the quarter and had a first down at the Michigan 31 to open the fourth. The Broncos were 3 of 4 on third down.
Michigan responded to the WMU scoring drive with a three-and-out, their fourth of the game.
A stunning start to the game, that included Underwood completing five straight passes enroute to a 75-yard touchdown drive, turned quickly for Michigan, which mustered 116 total yards, including a paltry 29 in the second quarter. The Wolverines carried a 7-6 lead into halftime giving up a 45-yard field goal with no time left before the half.
Michigan’s offensive line, which started: Blake Frazier at left tackle, Evan Link at left guard, center Jake Guarnera, Nathan Efobi at right guard and Andrew Sprague at right tackle, with Brady Norton rotating at right guard, did not get much push in the first half. The Wolverines had 46 yards rushing and was 0 of 5 on third down. The Wolverines’ defense, highlighted by edge Dom Nichols, held Western to 94 yards and. Nichols was credited with 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Michigan players headed toward the tunnel with some booing. The booing started early in the second quarter when Underwood was sacked for the team’s second three-and-out of the quarter.
A stunning start to the game, that included Underwood completing five straight passes en route to a 75-yard touchdown drive, turned quickly for Michigan, which mustered 116 total yards in the first half, including a paltry 29 in the second quarter. The Wolverines carried a 7-6 lead into halftime giving up a 45-yard field goal as time expired.
Western Michigan tightened the game late in the half when Dillon Moore intercepted Underwood with nine seconds left and started its final drive of the Wolverines’ 26-yard line. Before that turnover, Michigan’s anemic offense had three straight three-and-outs in the second quarter and had only 9 yards. Underwood was 8-for-13 passing for 70 yards and also rushed for the team's only first-half score.
After Western Michigan scored a field goal on its first drive of the game to pull within 7-3, Michigan looked less efficient on its second possession. Underwood, who was 5-for-5 passing to start the game, missed both of his attempts and had what appeared to be an interception called back after the Western Michigan player who tipped the ball to Joey Pope was out of bounds. Michigan punted.
The Wolverines’ defense responded with a three-and-out but then stumbled on special teams. On the punt return, the ball went through Andrew Marsh’s hands at the Michigan 28-yard line and was recovered by WMU’s Braden Steely. Starting at the Wolverines’ 27-yard line, Western Michigan faced fourth-and-2 but quarterback Broc Lowry, facing pressure from Trey Pierce, threw an incompletion.
Michigan looked sharp to open the game driving 75 yards on 11 plays, including Underwood going 5 for 5 on the first five plays of the game. He had 61 yards passing in the drive and three runs for 11 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down for the 7-0 lead. Underwood and JJ Buchanan freelanced on the second play. After the snap went through Underwood’s legs he picked it up and threw it up in Buchanan’s direction, and he grabbed it with one hand for a 20-yard gain.