No. 4 Michigan capitalizes off Colorado's mistakes, rolls 45-28

Ann Arbor, Michigan - The unranked Colorado Buffaloes came straight into the Big House and hit No. 4 ranked Michigan square in the mouth taking a very quick 14-0 lead with just 11:48 in the first quarter. 110,000 fans were silenced when Colorado Senior Quarterback Sefo Liufau hit Devin Ross for a 37-yard touchdown, then Derek McCartney recovered a fumble to make it 14-0. Below is a recap of each quarter and how the game eventually ended with Michigan winning 45-28.

Talk About The Game Here

Ann Arbor, Michigan - The No. 4 ranked Michigan Wolverines in front of 110,000 trailed the unranked Colorado Buffaloes 14-0 with 10:19 in the 1st quarter. After Colorado's defense forced a punt, Buff Quarterback Sefo Liufau hit receiver Devin Ross to make it a quick 7-0 Colorado lead. On the next series, Colorado defensive back Chidobe Awuzie hit Michigan Quarterback Wilton Speight off a corner blitz, which caused a fumble that was recovered by Defensive Linemen Derek McCartney for a 18-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. Michigan's first points of the game came off a blocked punt for a touchdown to make it 14-7 with 8:21 left in the 1st quarter. Colorado would answer right back with a 10 play 67-yard drive capped off by another Liufau touchdown pass to Devin Ross for 6-yards to make it 21-7 with 3:48 in the 1st Quarter.

The quarter started with a Colorado field goal miss. Diego Gonzalez had entered the game perfect, but missed a 36-yard field goal. Colorado still led at this point 21-7 with 12:05 left before half. Colorado punter Alex Kinney literally kicked the ball into the protection which set Michigan up in great field position, leading to their second score of the game. Jehu Chesson scored off a 17-yard touchdown run to make it 21-14 Colorado with 8:49 left before half. Colorado would be forced to punt again and though Michigan would start in a great field position, the Wolverines would miss a 37-yard field goal with 5:30 in the 2nd quarter to keep the score at 21-14. Colorado unable to get anything going would give the football back to Michigan and this time Wolverine Kicker Kenney Allen redeemed himself hitting a 39-yard field goal with 1:59 in the 2nd quarter. Michigan at this point with tons of momentum on their side forced another Colorado punt, then took their first lead of the game when Michigan Quarterback Wilton Speight hit Amara Darboh who took a short pass and turned it into a 45-yard touchdown giving the Wolverines a 24-21 lead at the half.

The Buffs came out firing in the in the 3rd quarter when Sefo Liufau threw a 70-yard touchdown to Shay Fields to put Colorado up 28-24 with 14:02 in the 3rd. On the play, Liufau went down and had to be helped up. On the ensuing drive, Michigan’s De'Veon Smith scored off a 42-yard rushing touchdown to make it 31-28 Michigan with 13:16 in the 3rd quarter. Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau would exit with an ankle injury (Finished 16 of 25 passing for 246-yards and 3 TDs) and in would step RS-Freshman Steven Montez. Montez and the Buffs would not get a first down after a flea flicker pass to George Fraizer was dropped in the end zone and a sack from Jabrill Peppers would force a Colorado punt. Michigan would score off a Ty Issac 1-yard touchdown run. The drive was a grinding 10-plays 80-yards and lasted 5:14 seconds. The key play of the drive came off a Speight to Grant Perry pass completion which went for a very big 54-yard first down. Montez at quarterback for Colorado struggled on his second series, which led to another Colorado punt.

The final quarter of the game continued with a overpowering Michigan drive, but the Wolverines would punt back to the Buffs with 12:28 left in the game. Montez leading the Buffs at Quarterback was 0-3 passing at this point. Montez would continue to struggle and the Buffs went a quick three and out. Colorado punted to Jabrill Peppers and he made them pay returning the punt 54-yards for a touchdown to make it 45-28 with 11:41 in the game. Peppers played running back, linebacker, and punt returner today, proving again that he is one of the most dangerous and versatile players in all of college football. The two teams would trade possessions and punts to end the game 45-28.

1st Quarter

TD Colorado - Sefo Liufau pass to Devin Ross for 37-yards (12:37)

TD Colorado - Wilton Speight sacked by Chidobe Awuzie, Derek McCartney returns fumble for touchdown (11:48)

TD Michigan - Blocked Punt, G. Perry returns for 6-yard score (8:27)

TD Colorado - Sefo Liufau pass to Devin Ross for 6-yards (3:49)

2nd Quarter

TD Michigan - Jehu Chesson 17-yard touchdown (8:49)

FG Michigan - Kenny Allen hits 39-yard field goal (1:59)

TD Michigan - Wilton Speight to Amara Darboh for 45-yards (0:33)

3rd Quarter

TD Colorado - Sefo Liufau to Shay Fields for a 70-yard TD (12:37)

TD Michigan - De’Von Smith touchdown run for 42-yards (13:16)

TD Michigan - Ty Isaac touchdown for 1-yard (3:06)

4th Quarter

TD Michigan - Jabrill Peppers 54-yard punt return (11:27)

Final