Defense/ST Notes: Ohio man sinks Buckeyes with game-sealing pick

Every kid who dreams of playing for the Michigan Wolverines or Ohio State Buckeyes does so with the aspiration of making the game-winning play. Those opportunities are few and far between for so many, but junior safety and Ohio native Rod Moore got to make it a reality on Saturday.

The former three-star recruit, who was not offered by the Buckeyes, sealed the Michigan win with an interception on the final drive of the game with Ohio State driving for the lead. It has been a rough year for Moore as he worked his way back from injury. But when he was needed most, he delivered on the biggest possible stage against the biggest possible opponent to keep Michigan’s Big Ten title and national championship hopes alive.

“Being from Ohio and getting the pick … every year it’s personal,” Moore said after the game. “Every single year it’s so personal to me. Before the defense went out there, I told myself, ‘You’re either going to make a play or somebody else is.’ I told the upfront guys they had to get to the quarterback from us, and I believe Mason and Jaylen did.”

J.J. McCarthy and the Michigan offense did their part throughout the day, but had to settle for a field goal instead of icing the game with a touchdown on their final possession. But there was never any doubt the Wolverines would come up big when it mattered.

“I have so much trust in that defense,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, we see them every single day, so I know how good they are. I’m not lying to you, I really felt like Rod was going to make the play. Honestly, I just had this deep feeling in my gut that my twin was going to show up when it mattered, that’s for sure.”

Running back Blake Corum added: “For me personally, I wanted to get that first down so bad so we could take a knee and get in victory formation — the best formation in football. But I knew my defense, I knew we’d get the field goal and the defense would go back out there and I knew somebody would make a play. You practice like you play, and we practice hard, man. So, seeing Rod out there get that pick, it just brought joy to my heart. I knew he was ready. I knew he was ready for the moment. The opportunity came, he took advantage of it and he did his thing. I knew this defense was going to come through for us.”

Moore got to realize a dream on Saturday afternoon, and he got to leave Michigan Stadium with the now-infamous “Turnover Buffs.”

“It was a dream come true, making the game-winning plays in one of the biggest games probably in college football history,” Moore said. “Like I said, I really can’t put it into words how I’m feeling. I was just sitting on the field looking like, ‘I just called game.’ I can’t really explain it coming true.”

Will Johnson injury update

Speaking of turnovers, sophomore cornerback Will Johnson had a major one early on Saturday. Drawing the matchup with OSU star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., it was a good-on-good battle of likely future first-round picks. Johnson’s first-quarter interception set up a Corum touchdown run from seven yards out to take an early 7-0 lead.

But late in the contest, Johnson was on the sideline with his helmet in hand as the Buckeyes tried to make a comeback effort.

“Think he just had a lower leg injury. I think he’ll be all right,” acting head coach Sherrone Moore said after the game. “The guys just adjusted well. End the game with a pick … pretty good. Excited for the defense and what they did, how they adjusted. Just great team defense.”

Johnson and the Michigan defense held Harrison in check with five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, hardly the Heisman-caliber day he had been outspoken about wanting. Credit goes to the Wolverines for finding ways to hold him down.

Mason Graham chips in with workmanlike effort

The Wolverines defense was able to hold down the Ohio State run game with 107 yards on 28 carries (3.8 yards per carry), led by a stout defensive line performance.

Sophomore Mason Graham is a puppy when it comes to this rivalry, but now has two victories under his belt. He had two tackles and a shared sack on Saturday.

“I’ve been a part of two of the last three,” Graham said. “Just our preparation, our complimenting each other offense and defensively just goes well together. I feel like we kept on playing good football. We know the expectations of this game and what comes with it. We know it’s gonna be a dogfight. I feel like we had a good game plan good preparation and just came out on top.

“We know they were going to be one of the best offensive lines we faced. They have good tight ends too and that compliments the line really well. So we knew we had to be on our best game going into every play, executing it the best we can.”

Miscellaneous Michigan defense and special teams notes

• Graduate kicker James Turner made his second field goal of 50-plus yards this year with his made kick in the third quarter. He made all of his kicks on Saturday (three field goals, three extra points).
• Michigan has forced at least one pick, fumble or turnover on downs on the first series in 10 straight games and 11 of 12 this season.
• Michigan has not allowed an individual 100-plus yard rusher this season or more than two scores in any half this season.
• Johnson’s first-quarter interception was the sixth of his career. Moore’s pick was his second this year and also his sixth.