ECFA Week 1 Game report
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
VS.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
FIRST QUARTER
An explosive start, as Michigan gets the ball at the 38 and on 3rd-down, Forcier hits Odoms for a 67-yard score. Kentucky's safeties were caught pinching up, and none could catch the steady-running Odoms from behind. The Wildcats responded with a field goal, then thwarted the next Wolverines drive when Trevathan sacked Forcier for an 11-yard loss, removing Michigan from field goal range. The teams then traded interceptions over the next four plays, and the quarter ended with Kentucky facing 4th-and-1 at its 41.
MICHIGAN 7, KENTUCKY 3
SECOND QUARTER
The Wildcats went for it and got it when Hartline got 8 on a QB sneak. But the drive stalled and a sequence of three straight punts started. Michigan then used the Forcier-to-Odoms hook up to stun Kentucky again, this time from 79 yards. UK was ready for it, with 4 people deep, but none could make the tackle. Again, the Wildcats answered with a field goal. But this time, they kept the momentum when on Michigan's next drive, Forcier fumbled when sacked at the 39. A 31-yard pass from Hartline to Cobb gave UK 1st-and goal, and Matthews caught a 4-yard pass to draw Big Blue within 1 when the bands took the field.
MICHIGAN 14, KENTUCKY 13
THIRD QUARTER
Getting ball to start the second half after their explosive finish to the first, the Wildcats drove 62 yards in 6 plays, culminated by Cobb's 27-yard touchdown catch to give Kentucky the lead. Unable to run the ball, Michigan's offense began to sputter, and with Odoms double-teamed, the other receivers rarely stepped up, despite gaping holes in the Kentucky secondary. Michigan punted, and Kentucky scored again, another 6-play drive, this time 43 yards, ending in Locke's 20-yard touchdown run. Facing 3rd-and-1 at the 48 on their next series, the Wolverines couldn't get the yard and turned it over on downs. Kentucky, however, punted on the quarter's final play.
KENTUCKY 27, MICHIGAN 14
FOURTH QUARTER
Kentucky also punted to start the quarter, in fact, they punted 3 times in the frame. But Michigan's ground game was completely bankrupted by the Kentucky front four, and Forcier was not sharp. Without the bomb to Odoms to rely on, the Wolverines offense wobbled into oblivion. Smith picked off two more passes in the quarter, giving him 3 for the day. Michigan did kick a 45-yard field goal at 8:13, but never threatened afterward.
FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 27, Michigan 17
Stats in the next post.
Next up: Florida State vs. Ohio State
Ed
