Moten (6) runs back to the sideline in celebration after making an interception during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium, Oct. Moten - who was also recruited as a baseball player - made an over-the-shoulder catch near the goal line. Thorne rolled to his left and flung a careless pass into double coverage down the left side, where safety R.J. Thorne panicked on Michigan State’s initial third down as outside linebacker Aidan Hutchinson broke through the offensive line.
McNamara’s aerial outburst - he finished 28-for-44 for 383 yards, two touchdowns and an interception - was aided by a Michigan defense that generated a pair of takeaways in the first quarter before MSU quarterback Payton Thorne settled in. He assumed a starring role against his hometown Spartans with a gorgeous 17-yard reception from McCarthy that gave Michigan a 20-14 lead late in the second quarter, plucking the ball above the helmet of cornerback Chester Kimbrough.Ī late field goal by Jake Moody three minutes later gave the Wolverines a 24-13 lead at the half. Anthony entered Saturday’s game without a catch, with only one touch this season - a 6-yard rush against Northwestern last week. While the increased production from All continues an encouraging pattern, the emergence of Anthony was far less predictable - even as he received praise from Harbaugh for his development in practice this season. On Michigan's next possession, which ended with another touchdown pass to Anthony, the longest pass was a 15-yarder to All on a square-in over the middle.Īll told, the Wolverines churned out 333 yards of offense in the first half, with only 24% of their production via running plays. En route to a field goal to give the Wolverines a 13-7 lead, McNamara connected with All for 21 yards as his tight end dragged defenders for extra yards. The checkdowns and short passes that have formed the backbone of U-M’s passing attack remained, but he also made several gutty throws downfield to tight end Erick All, who had the best game of his career. The freshman from East Lansing then outran the Spartans for a crowd-stunning 93-yard score.įor the first time all season, McNamara carried the momentum of an unexpected big play into subsequent drives. As the protection eroded, McNamara hung in the pocket and rifled a strike to wide receiver Andrel Anthony Jr., across the middle of the field. He answered his critics on third-and-4 from Michigan's own 7 during Michigan’s first possession. So the impetus for movement fell to McNamara, whose confidence was surely tested by the insertions of McCarthy in recent weeks. A ferocious Michigan State front seven punished Haskins (14 carries, 59 yards) and Corum (13 carries, 47 yards) on each run, swarming the ballcarriers to minimize yards after contact.
His moment arrived in Michigan’s biggest game of the season. And at that point, critics said, McNamara would either sink or swim when offensive coordinator Josh Gattis needed him most. There would come a point, critics said, when one of the stouter Big Ten opponents proved capable of stifling arguably the nation’s best running back tandem. Questions about the sustainability of Michigan’s run-heavy offense originated in the aftermath of a win over Washington in Week 2 in which McNamara threw for just 44 yards while as tailbacks Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum combined for 326 yards. Yet for so long on Saturday, the game unfolded beautifully for Michigan, with a passing offense seemingly awake for the first time all season. Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara looks to pass during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium, Oct.