Michigan spring game: Bryce Underwood's Blue team beats Maize

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines held their annual spring game on Saturday in Ann Arbor with the Blue team winning 17-0, led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.

Here’s the blow-by-blow recap from Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Maize kicked off to Blue to start the game with freshman Andrew Marsh back to return, and kneeled down in the endzone for a touchback. Quarterback Bryce Underwood was “sacked” on first down, leading to a 2nd and 15. Running back Justice Haynes got some of the yardage back with a 6-yard rush, followed by a -3 yard completion to Channing Goodwin, leading to a put to the Maize team down to the 32-yard line.

Jordan Marshall took the first rush of the game for the Maize squad, gaining four yards to set up a 2nd and 6. He rushed 4 times for 9 yards before Maize turned it over on downs, giving it back to Blue on the Maize 41-yard line with 10:50 to go. Blue’s drive was started by an incomplete pass from Underwood to Marsh, followed by a 2-yard Haynes rush. A delay-of-game penalty on the offense pushed them back to 3rd and 13 at the 44-yard line. Underwood took a shot down the field to Goodwin that fell incomplete, setting up a punt for Blue down to Maize’s 13-yard line with 7:59 to go.

Davis found Donaven McCulley for a 25-yard gain on first down, but the Maize offense would stall out from there after gaining four more yards. Blue would take over with 4:55 to go on its 12-yard line. That would be when Haynes got going, consistently moving the chains and then busting through the defense for a 26-yard rush off the left side down to the Maize 41-yard line. Underwood started to find a rhythm, completing back-to-back passes to Goodwin for 25 yards. The first quarter would end with the ball on the 20-yard line.

BLUE 0, MAIZE 0

Second quarter

The Blue squad got down to the 6-yard line on a completion from Underwood to tight end Jalen Hoffman, but the drive would stall out on the 10-yard line after a four-yard loss from running back Micah Ka’apana. A Stuart Blake field goal would give the Blue team a 3-0 lead with 11:03 to go in the first half.

On the first play of the next drive, Maize would get the ball to the 40 thanks to an Enow Etta penalty. Another holding penalty on Trey Pierce moved the Maize team to the 47-yard line. A sack moved the ball back to the 39-yard line on a 2nd and 18. Maize would eventually get down to Blue’s 38-yard line before turning the ball over on downs on 4th and 7 with 4:01 remaining.

A few Underwood completions to Hoffman and some tough running from Ka’apana got the Blue team down to the Maize 39-yard line when the two-minute timeout hit. Underwood would attempt to find Goodwin on a deep ball, but a miscommunication led to nobody in the area and an interception to Maize defensive back Tevis Metcalf with 1:30 to go in the half. The Maize team was able to get a little offense going thanks to running back Bryson Kuzdal, but would run out the clock and head into the locker room down 3-0 to Blue.

BLUE 3, MAIZE 0

Third quarter

Maize started the third quarter with the ball. Two plays later, Davis threw an interception to Blue defensive back Jeremiah Lowe, who returned it to the 32-yard line. The Blue team took advantage, thanks to a few completions from Underwood to Jalen Hoffman and a PI in the endzone on Tevis Metcalf, which moved the ball down to the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Ka’apana found the endzone for the first touchdown of the day. Blue would lead 10-0 after the extra point with 10 minutes to go.

On the following drive, Maize got down to the 23-yard line thanks to some big runs from Bryson Kuzdal, who had a 38-yard scamper on the drive. However, they would settle for a 40-yard field goal attempt from Blake, who missed it left. Blue took over at the 23-yard line with 6:17 to go in the quarter. They would not be able to get much going, punting down to the 41-yard line with a little under four minutes to go in the quarter. A three-and-out would give the ball back to Blue at the 16-yard line with 1:54 left in the quarter. The clock would run out with the ball on the 29-yard line.

BLUE 10, MAIZE 0

Fourth quarter

Blue would get down to the 25-yard line before settling for a 42-yard field goal attempt from Blake that missed right. They would still lead 10-0 with 7:12 to go. Maize put a drive together attempting to cut into the deficit, driving down to the Blue 35-yard line with 2 minutes left to try and cut into the lead thanks to a Davis rush of 12 yards to pick up a first down. Davis threw an interception to Lowe with around a minute to go, giving Blue the ball back at the 11-yard line.

It appeared that the Blue team would run out the clock, but a double flea flicker pass as time expired led to a late-game touchdown to pad the lead. Underwood hit Hoffman on the score for 90 yards, and the Blue team would walk off with a 17-0 victory.

FINAL: BLUE 17, MAIZE 0