Defense / ST notes: Crucial mistakes outweigh big plays in Michigan loss to TCU; Jake Moody makes history

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Michigan Wolverines football defense made some huge plays in a 51-45 loss to TCU. Thirteen of the Horned Frogs’ points came by way of interceptions returned for touchdowns, too, meaning the defense is credited with allowing 38. Allowing too many big plays ultimately did the Maize and Blue in, even after having chances late. TCU is off to the national title game, while Michigan’s season ends at 13-1.

Despite all of TCU’s success (488 yards, the aforementioned pick-six points), the Horned Frogs turned the ball over 3 times — an interception by senior nickel back Mike Sainristil, a pick by sophomore safety Rod Moore and a fumble recovery by senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The Wolverines scored 13 points off those takeaways, cashing in to an extent.

However, the Michigan defense also allowed TCU to rip off a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Max Duggan to wideout Quentin Johnston, a 69-yard run by backup running back Emari Demercado down to the 1-yard line and other big plays. All told, the Horned Frogs had 11 plays of 10-plus yards. They averaged 16.8 such plays per game this season.

Overall, the Michigan team was one play or one lack of mistake away from winning the wild matchup on New Year’s Eve.

“They made their fair share of mistakes. We made ours,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “They made their big plays. We made our big plays. And we just had one fewer big play, one less misfire.”

TCU was 8 of 16 on third down, averaged 6.4 yards per rush and was sacked only once.

Duggan completed only 14 of his 29 passes for 225 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 picks, but he also rushed for 57 yards and 2 scores on 15 attempts. Demercado amassed 150 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 attempts, filling in for starter Kendre Miller, who left the game with an injury (he had 8 carries for 57 yards before departing). Johnston had 6 catches for 163 yards and a score.

The Horned Frogs also hit big on special teams, with punt returner Derius Davis returning a graduate Brad Robbins punt 31 yards to the Michigan 16-yard line to set up a fourth-quarter field goal.

Michigan just couldn’t get a firm grip on the game despite creating some opportunities for itself in the second half. The Wolverines allowed 30 points after halftime, following a 13-game stretch in which they’d given up only 5.7 second-half points per game.

The third quarter, especially, was electric, with big momentum shifts each way. Forty-four of the Fiesta Bowl-record 96 total points scored came in the stanza.

TCU just delivered one more haymaker than Michigan, and it made all the difference.

“Could have been easily standing in our locker room at the end of our ball game and congratulating a whole locker room of heroes,” Harbaugh said. “Because that’s what they are, that’s what they have been this entire season, including this game.”

Jake Moody hits 59-yard field goal, becomes Michigan’s all-time points leader

Michigan graduate kicker Jake Moody really helped keep the Wolverines in the game in the first half, after which they trailed 21-6. He nailed a 42-yard field goal to get the Maize and Blue on the board early in the second quarter, then made a program- and Fiesta Bowl-record 59-yard field goal as time expired before the half.

Suddenly, after a first half that included a failed fourth-down attempt at the 2-yard line, a fumbled exchange at the 1-yard line and a pick-six, the Wolverines were only down two possessions.

That gave Michigan some life heading into the locker room. It kept fighting in the second half and had a better chance than otherwise because of it.

“We’re a four-quarter team, regardless of the score,” Michigan sophomore running back Donovan Edwards said. “It was 21-6 before we headed to the halftime. Jake Moody made a legendary GOAT kick. That’s why he was the GOAT of Michigan at field goal kicker.”

Edwards isn’t wrong. Harbaugh has already labeled him “legendary,” and he’s now the Wolverines’ all-time leading scorer. He officially earned that title on a second-half extra point and has 355 total points, one more than former Michigan kicker Garrett Rivas.

Miscellaneous Michigan defense / special teams notes

• Saturday marked the first time in which Duggan completed less than 50 percent of his passes since going 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) in TCU’s 26-12 win over Oklahoma State Dec. 5, 2020.

• TCU’s 263 rushing yards are its third-most in a game this season. It amassed 361 against Oklahoma Oct. 1 and 275 versus Colorado Sept. 2.

• That was the most rushing yards Michigan has allowed all season and most since giving up 341 to Wisconsin Oct. 14, 2020.

• Moody now has 17 40-plus-yard field goals, adding to his program record.

• The Michigan program’s previous long field goal was 57 yards, shared by Quinn Nordin and Hayden Epstein.

• The only longer field goal than Moody’s 59-yarder made in a bowl game was a 62-yarder hit by Texas A&M’s Tony Franklin in the 1977 Sun Bowl against Florida.

• Michigan junior safety Makari Paige recorded his first career sack in the second quarter.