The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team shook off a sluggish start to surge early in the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points to beat Bowling Green 31-6 on Saturday night (Sept. 16) at Michigan Stadium.
After three first-half turnovers resulted in a pair of Bowling Green field goals, the Wolverines flipped the script and took advantage of two BGSU turnovers inside its 26-yard line to ignite their offense in the third quarter with 17 points in the first nine minutes.
Running back Blake Corum carried the ball 12 times for a season-high 101 yards and two touchdowns -- his second straight multi-touchdown game -- with touchdown runs of four yards and two yards in the first and third quarters, respectively.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 8-of-13 passes for two touchdowns and threw three interceptions -- his first of the season. Wide receiver Roman Wilson posted his sixth touchdown of the season -- tied with Corum for the team high -- in the second quarter as part of a two-catch, 42-yard effort. Wilson and Corum have both scored at least once in all three games this season.
Wide receiver Cornelius Johnson also recorded a receiving touchdown -- and the first not by Corum or Wilson this season -- while leading the Wolverines with 71 receiving yards on three catches.
Michigan posted 312 yards of total offense -- 143 passing and 169 rushing -- while holding BGSU to 205 total yards, including 81 on the ground.
Michigan used a run-heavy attack to find the end zone on its first drive. It took the Wolverines offense only four plays to score -- all running plays, including a 54-yard Corum rush on the first offensive play of the game and his longest run of the season. Corum ended the drive with his four-yard touchdown to put Michigan on the board early.
The next three Michigan possessions were less successful. In yet another red-zone attempt, McCarthy threw his first interception of the season in the end zone, which led to the Falcons' first scoring drive with a 36-yard field goal, to cut the U-M lead to 7-3. It was the first time Michigan has allowed first-half points this season.
The Wolverines fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and BGSU converted on another field goal, this one from 42 yards out, to pull within one point at 7-6. The next Michigan offensive possession produced a third straight turnover on a downfield pass by McCarthy, leading to the Falcons' second interception.
Michigan closed out the half on a high note as Wilson reeled in a 33-yard touchdown catch to make the score 14-6 and tie Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for the most receiving touchdowns (six) through the first three games of a Wolverines season. U-M utilized the run game heavily in the first half, rushing the ball 16 times while passing only five times. The Wolverines held an eight-point lead going into halftime despite the three turnovers.
Edge rusher Kris Jenkins recorded his first career interception on BGSU's first offensive play of the third quarter, returning it to the BGSU two-yard line and setting up Corum's two-yard rushing touchdown on the next play, and the Wolverines took a 21-6 lead.
Michigan's defense recorded its second turnover in only three plays on linebacker Michael Barrett's first career fumble recovery -- a turnover forced by edge rusher Jaylen Harrell -- and resulting in kicker James Turner's 42-yard field goal to push U-M's lead to 24-1. U-M added its second touchdown of the quarter on its next possession when McCarthy connected for his second passing touchdown on a 50-yard pass to Johnson to cap the scoring at 31-6.
Defensively, Michigan held Bowling Green to no second-half points and only 85 yards. The Wolverines finished with a season-high three turnovers, three sacks and 10 total tackles for loss.
Michigan opens its Big Ten slate next Saturday (Sept. 23), hosting Rutgers at Michigan Stadium. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
