Defense / ST notes: Jake Moody cements 'legendary status' with game-winning kick that pushes Michigan past Illinois

Michigan Wolverines football graduate kicker Jake Moody, an even-keeled individual, was emotional before the Maize and Blue’s 19-17 win over Illinois, given that it was his last game at The Big House. During the game, though, Moody was his cool, calm and collected self.

Winds were gusting upwards of 20 miles an hour, but the steady Moody trusted his preparation, which included studying the stadium’s “wind patterns” over the last five years.

On a freezing cold day where the Michigan offense gained just 376 yards, its second-lowest output of the season, it was up to Moody to put up points. He drilled all four of his field goal attempts, including a 46-yarder into the wind early in the third quarter.

“It was just outside of the kick line that we had established at the 27-yard line,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh explained. But I asked him if he felt good. “Ball was on the 28. He gave me a thumbs up. That was a big, huge kick.”

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He also hit from 41 and 33 yards, before the kick of his life with 13 seconds left won his team the game.

Down 17-16, the Michigan offense got down to the Illinois 17-yard line before turning to Moody’s leg to do the rest.

The snap was on point, the hold was sound and the 35-yard kick was true all the way, right down the middle. Naturally, after his 65th career made field goal, Moody was mobbed by his teammates.

“I don’t know if any of us quite comprehend what that feels like that he experienced today,” Harbaugh said. “When he came into the locker room, every guy was chanting his name. It was a tremendous celebration.”

Moody said he knew he’d make it. Likewise, his teammates had the utmost belief in him.

“I don’t think there was a single player on that sideline that didn’t have confidence in our kicker,” Michigan junior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins said. “Moody is without a doubt one of the best kickers I’ve ever seen, period. He’s that type of player. He’s able to make the big-time plays in big-time moments, in big-time games.”

“He’s built for it, man,” graduate wide receiver Ronnie Bell, Moody’s classmate, added. “The preparation that goes into it every week, the preparation he’s put in since we got here. I didn’t doubt it for a second.”

Harbaugh has followed and studied Michigan football since the 1970s, a self-proclaimed program expert, and he believes Moody is one of the best to wear the winged helmet.

Moody is now tied with Remy Hamilton (1994) for the most made field goals in a single season in program history (25), with at least two more games to go. He’s now the Wolverines’ all-time leader with 65 career makes, passing Garrett Rivas (2003-06).

“That’s why he’s the Lou Groza winner, right?” Harbaugh said. “But, legend. I mean, I’ve been watching Michigan football since I was a kid. Pretty decent historian of Michigan football, and I am nominating him for legendary status at the University of Michigan.

“Can I get a second? Jack Harbaugh? You’ve seen a lot of Michigan football. Can I get a second?”

To that, his father, a smiling Jack Harbaugh, gave a round of applause in the back of the press conference room.

Michigan defense comes up with huge stop

After starting with two straight punts to start the game, Illinois’ offense was actually able to move the ball fairly efficiently —considering the conditions and relative to how Michigan has played so far this season — with 326 yards for the game (178 passing, 148 rushing) and 5.1 yards per play.

Running back Chase Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, was questionable all week but gave it a go and was spectacular with 140 yards and 2 touchdowns on 29 carries. His second score, a 37-yard dash late in the third quarter, put his team ahead 17-10.

The Illinois passing attack, led by quarterback Tommy DeVito, also had success, with 21 completions and 178 yards on 30 attempts. Much of the damage was done on short, out-breaking routes.

Michigan’s defense didn’t have its best day, but it did step up when needed. The Wolverines turned Illinois over on downs twice when it drove deep into U-M territory, first in the second quarter (36-yard line) and then early in the fourth quarter (31-yard line).

Plus, Harbaugh trusted coordinator Jesse Minter‘s group with the game on the line. Instead of going for it on fourth-and-11 at the Illinois 15-yard line with less than four minutes to go, the head man chose to kick a field goal and put the pressure on the defense. It answered the bell with a quick stop to hand it back over to the offense and, eventually, Moody.

“It was great for us,” Jenkins proclaimed. “All year, our coaches have been talking about being able to fight through adversity. No matter the situation, being able to make those big-time plays in big-time games. Making those stops, it was really prideful for us. We wanted to set that tone, set that as our identity.”

“So many heroes in the game,” Harbaugh said. “Defense with the fourth-down stops. [Senior cornerback] DJ Turner, big, huge tackle on fourth down, fourth-and-1 stop we had. Took everybody today.”

Ronnie Bell adds punt-return boost

Bell hadn’t returned a punt in a game since the one on which he tore his ACL against Western Michigan Sept. 4, 2021, until Saturday at The Big House, when he was replacing junior A.J. Henning, who did not play or dress. Harbaugh said that coming in the coaching staff instructed him to fair catch everything. But the playmaker in him took over, and Harbaugh wasn’t upset about it.

He returned 2 punts, one for 5 yards and the other a 40-yarder that set up Michigan’s field goal to climb within four points and make it 17-13 late in the fourth quarter.

“Ronnie Bell, the tremendous punt return for Ronnie,” Harbaugh said. “As you know, he tore his ACL on a punt return in the first game of the 2021 season. And this week it was, hey, Ronnie, just go back there. A.J. is out. Just going to ask you to fair catch it.

“Got to figure that his mind … what would his mindset be like going out there and trying to return punts from the opening punt? … he’s returning them. And that huge, huge punt return he had in the fourth quarter was big.”

Miscellaneous Michigan defense / special teams notes

• Brown’s third-quarter score was the first third-quarter touchdown Michigan had allowed all season. Illinois scored twice in the third stanza.

• For just the fourth time this season, a team rushed for more than 100 yards on Michigan, with Illinois accumulating 148 rushing yards Saturday. That’s the most the Wolverines have given up this year.

• Illinois’ 20 first downs are the third-most Michigan has allowed this season (Maryland, 23; Indiana, 21).

• Michigan has notched 11-plus wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1902 and 1903. In fact, the Wolverines recorded 11 wins in three consecutive years from 1901-03.

• Michigan freshman defensive tackle Mason Graham and classmate Will Johnson, a cornerback, each recorded career highs with 4 tackles.