Game recap: Michigan football tramples Hawai'i behind J.J. McCarthy's first-career start

Michigan football came into Saturday’s game against Hawai’i as hefty favorites and left 56-10 victors to move to 2-0 on the season. The first career start of sophomore J.J. McCarthy was the main attraction that did not disappoint.

McCarthy finished the game 11-for-12 for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 1 rush for 16 yards. He was in command of the offense throughout the night and put his arm talent on display, making an emphatic case for Michigan’s starting quarterback job moving forward.

Hawai’i finished the game with 253 yards of offense. They barely had an inch to operate for most of the night until the reserve defenders entered the game.

Here is the recap of the Week 2 contest.

First quarter

Michigan started the game on defense and quickly forced a three-and-out, giving way to McCarthy in his first drive as a starter. The Wolverines found paydirt on their second play from scrimmage, a 42-yard touchdown catch from Hawai’i native Roman Wilson to take a 7-0 lead with 12:48 to go in the quarter.

After another Hawai’i three-and-out, Michigan put together a 7-play, 77-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run from junior running back Blake Corum. Jake Moody‘s second extra point made it 14-0 with 7:36 remaining in the first. Hawai’i’s next drive went 6 plays and gathered 13 yards before another punt back to the Wolverines. Michigan responded with a 3-play, 43-yard drive capped off by a 21-yard rush by Wilson, his second touchdown of the night. U-M led 21-0 with 4:23 to go in the opening quarter of play.

Michigan would force another punt and go three-and-out on its own, giving way back to the Warriors toward the end of the quarter.

Second quarter

The story played out the same in the second quarter. Hawai’i went three-and-out on its first three possessions. McCarthy roped a 54-yard throw to senior wideout Cornelius Johnson on Michigan’s first drive of the quarter, followed by a 13-yard touchdown to fifth-year wideout Ronnie Bell. The 5-play, 90-yard drive ended in another Moody extra point and a 28-0 lead with 12:05 left in the quarter.

Michigan’s next offensive possession was a quick one. The Wolverines went 59 yards in 3 plays, capped off by a 1-yard Donovan Edwards touchdown run. McCarthy had found Edwards on a 33-yard reception down to the 1-yard line prior to that. After the extra point, Michigan led 35-0 with 8:38 to go in the half.

With the big lead, the Wolverines gave senior quarterback Cade McNamara a drive that ended after 5 plays and 21 yards. A drop by freshman back CJ Stokes and three bad reps from the offensive line killed the drive. Following another Hawai’i three-and-out, McCarthy re-entered the game and led a 4-play, 52-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 17-yard touchdown throw to Johnson. Michigan went into the locker room up 42-0.

Third quarter

With Michigan up big, the benches began to empty in the third quarter. It was ugly for both teams with the Wolverines and Hawai’i alternating punts on the first three drives of the quarter. Hawai’i put together a 12-play, 45-yard drive to end the shutout thanks to a 26-yard Matthew Shipley field goal. That narrowed the deficit to 42-3 with 3:51 left in the quarter, which is where things would end heading into the fourth.

Fourth quarter

Third-string quarterback Davis Warren completed a 56-yard pass to walk-on tight end Max Bredeson just before the third ended to set up another Michigan scoring drive. Stokes scored on a 15-yard run to end a 5-play, 91-yard drive to extend the lead to 49-3 after the extra point with 14:54 left in the game.

Michigan’s reserves put a lot of needed improvements on film for the second week in a row. Hawai’i responded with a 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped off by a 54-yard touchdown from Tyler Hines to get the score to 49-10 after the extra point with 11:27 remaining.

The Wolverine offense picked the slack back up with junior walk-on Isaiah Gash scoring on a 38-yard rush with 7:39 to play to extend the lead to 56-10 after Tommy Doman‘s extra point.

Michigan football vs. Hawai’i full box score

Up next for Michigan

Michigan stays home next week for a date with the UConn Huskies, who lost 48-14 to Syracuse in Week 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET with the broadcast set for ABC.