Game recap: Michigan guts through BGSU in non-con finale

The Michigan Wolverines were far from sharp but found a way to get out of Ann Arbor with a blowout win over Bowling Green on Saturday night by a score of 31-6.

It was mostly a night to forget for junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who finished 8-for-13 for 143 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Senior running back Blake Corum had 12 carries for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns in the game.

Here is a blow-by-blow recap of the game.

First quarter

Michigan won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, starting on defense. After a 30-yard completion to start the game, Bowling Green’s offense stalled out. Sophomore safety Keon Sabb picked up his first career sack on third down. U-M would take over on its own 23-yard line after a fair catch on a punt by Jake Thaw (12:36).

Senior Blake Corum got the offensive action going with a 54-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Three plays later, he found the end zone for the fifth time this season, this time from 4 yards out. Michigan would lead 7-0 after James Turner’s extra point with 10:44 to go.

That’s the way to start!#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/qcRqHYwUuW

— TheWolverine.com (@TheWolverineOn3) September 16, 2023

A three-and-out from the Michigan defense forced another BGSU punt, this time to sophomore Tyler Morris. He returned the punt 22 yards to the Falcons’ 43-yard line with 8:36 remaining. The Wolverines went 37 yards in eight plays on the following drive, but junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw an interception in the end zone, his first of the year. BGSU took over at its own 20-yard line with 4:48 left in the quarter.

The first quarter would end with Bowling Green driving and facing a third-and-5 from Michigan’s 21-yard line.

Michigan 7, Bowling Green 0

Second quarter

The Falcons ran a third-down play short of the first-down marker, leading to a 36-yard field goal from the Falcons. Michigan’s lead would be trimmed down to 7-3 with 14:13 left in the first half. A short kickoff from BGSU was returned by tight end Max Bredeson, who fumbled it away to the Falcons on the U-M 33-yard line. BGSU would take over on offense and get another field goal out of it, this time from 42 yards out. Michigan led 7-6 with 11:39 remaining.

On the following drive, McCarthy threw his second interception of the night, which was returned to BGSU’s 34 yard-line. The Falcons went three-and-out, and they punted right back to Michigan. Five plays later, McCarthy found senior wideout Roman Wilson for their sixth touchdown connection of the season. U-M led 14-6 with 4:15 to go in the half. Michigan got the ball back after a Quinten Johnson interception with 1:51 to go, but would punt after a three-and-out. BGSU would kneel to end the half.

Michigan 14, Bowling Green 6

Third quarter

Michigan took the opening kickoff and started on its own 24-yard line. The Wolverines went three-and-out, punting away to BGSU down to its own 14-yard line. On the first play of the drive, senior defensive lineman Kris Jenkins grabbed his first career interception and returned it down to BGSU’s 2-yard line. Corum scored his second touchdown of the night and sixth of the season on the next play. Michigan led 21-6 after the extra point with 12:44 to go. On the following Bowling Green possession, senior edge Jaylen Harrell forced a fumble, recovered by graduate linebacker Mike Barrett. The U-M offense took over on BGSU’s 26-yard line with 11:46 remaining. Michigan would settle for a 42-yard field goal from Turner, extending the lead to 24-6 with 10:12 to go in the quarter.

The game was delayed for several minutes after BGSU linebacker Demetrius Hardamon went down on the field with an apparent head injury after a tackle. He had movement in his fingers before being placed on a backboard and carted out of the stadium.

The Michigan defense came back out and forced another three-and-out, giving way to the U-M offense. Three plays later, McCarthy found graduate wideout Cornelius Johnson for a 50-yard touchdown pass on a flea flicker with 6:28 to go. Johnson made a juggling catch on his way into the end zone. Michigan led 31-6 after Turner’s extra point.

FLEA-FLICKER TIP DRILL TD 😲@CorneliusNation x @UMichFootball

📺: Big Ten Network pic.twitter.com/akBurVTBGJ

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 17, 2023

After forcing another three-and-out, Michigan got the ball back and went 28 yards in six plays before McCarthy threw his third interception of the night. Bowling Green took over on its own 20-yard line and ran one play before the end of the quarter.

Michigan 31, Bowling Green 6

Fourth quarter

After a nine-play, 32-yard drive, BGSU punted again down to Michigan’s 20-yard line. A three-and-out from the second-team offense gave way to a punt to BGSU at it own 35-yard line with 6:53 to go. Bowling Green ran the clock down almost entirely from there, attempting a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds to go, but missed. The game would end after a kneel-down from Michigan.

FINAL: Michigan 31, Bowling Green 6

Michigan vs. Bowling Green final box score