Jake Moody saves Michigan football with winning FG in 19-17 win over Illinois

A hush took over the Big House crowd, packed into Michigan Stadium on Saturday for senior day.

The hope for fans, initially, was the chance to get to send Michigan football out of its final home game in 2022 with momentum.

Instead, all the focus was on star running back Blake Corum, young quarterback J.J. McCarthy and avoiding a near-stunning upset, as Wolverines kicker Jake Moody hit three field goals in the fourth quarter — the final one with nine seconds left — to give U-M a slim 19-17 victory over Illinois.

PAINFUL LOSS:Michigan football RB Blake Corum injured vs. Illinois

SHORT-HANDED:Michigan without RB Donovan Edwards for home finale

Corum, Michigan's Heisman Trophy candidate in the backfield, left late in the first half after suffering an apparent leg injury. He returned in the third quarter for one carry for five yards, but had to leave the game and would not return. He finished with 18 carries for 108 yards and a score and two catches for 39 yards.

His departure seemingly sucked the juice from the stadium.

To make matters worse, Corum fumbled on the carry on which he was injured, for his first fumble of the year, deep into Illini territory in the final two minutes of the first half.

In the second half, Illinois scored on an 8-yard run by Chase Brown — the first second-half touchdown allowed by the Wolverines since Oct. 1. Michigan dropped a potential go-ahead touchdown on fourth down on its next trip and the Illini needed just three plays to score their second touchdown of the day, again by Brown, and put the Wolverines in a 17-10 hole.

Brown, the nation's leading rusher, had temporarily stolen the show in Ann Arbor, running 29 times for 140 yards and two scores against the top-ranked run defense in the country.

But the Wolverines didn't fold on defense, and after three stops of the Illini, they put the ball in the hands — or rather, on the foot — of Jake Moody, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's best college kicker.

He delivered three kicks in the fourth quarter despite frigid temperatures and gusty winds (though they were at his back in the final stanza). His final boot, good from 35 yards propeled Michigan (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) past Illinois (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) and into its de facto Big Ten East championship game still undefeated.

The final drive

Trailing by one, Michigan got the ball back with 2:15 left in the game and no timeouts remaining. After a quick out-route to Cornelius Johnson gained 3, quarterback J.J. McCarthy kept for a gain of four. Tavierre Dunlap was stuffed for no gain on the next play, bringing up fourth-and-3 with a running clock and the game on the line.

McCarthy found fourth-string running back Isaiah Gash on a flat route behind a blocking Colston Loveland to pick up the first down. McCarthy targeted Ronnie Bell on the next pass, which fell incomplete, but the Illini were flagged for pass interference.

Michigan gained five more yards on its next three plays, before an incompletion set Moody up with his final try.

When Illinois stole the momentum

For a long time in this second half, it looked as if the Wolverines were going to fall victim to the classic trap game. Michigan has dominated second halves for the better part of two months, out-scoring opponents 117-3 in the third and fourth quarters over the past five games, but that wasn't the case Saturday.

After forcing a three-and-out on the Illini's opening possession, Michigan took over near mid-field and couldn't take full advantage of the field position. After a 14-yard first down pass to Johnson, the drive fizzled and they settled for a 45-yard Jake Moody field goal through the swirling wind.

Illinois went to work on its next drive. After Brown ripped off a gain of 11, Michigan was flagged for 12 men on the field which moved the ball into Wolverine territory. A gain of 17 from Tommy DeVito to Michael Marchese got Illinois inside the red zone for the first time on the day, before Brown ripped off an 8-yard score on third-and-2.

Michigan would pick up two first downs on its next drive, both on third-down conversions. The first, a nine-yard run by stokes on third-and-5. The next, a 20-yard pass to Isaiah Gash on a screen pass on third-and-10.

The Wolverines faced fourth-and-7 from the Illinois 37 when coach Jim Harbaugh left his offense on the field. McCarthy lofted a ball deep down the left sideline to Andrel Anthony, but the ball bounced off his hands on the could-be touchdown, and fell incomplete for the turnover on downs.

Illinois' next three plays: DeVito to Casey Washington for 16, DeVito to Brown for 10 and then Brown for 37 up the right sideline for the score and just like that, Michigan trailed by a touchdown for the first time all season.

Wolverines claw back

After a three-and-out by the offense, boo birds came out at the Big House as Michigan was in actual trouble for the first time all season.

It might not have been their doing, but Michigan's defense did make a play, when DeVito fumbled the snap on the ensuing third-and-8 and forced an Illinois punt.

Ronnie Bell, on special teams in place of the injured A.J. Henning who didn't dress Saturday, made an electric play, breaking two tackles and scampering up the right sideline 39 yards to get into Illinois territory. The stagnant offense managed just one first down and had to settle for another Moody field goal, which he hit from 41 yards out to make it 17-13.

Illinois looked to put the game away, going 42 yards to into Michigan territory, but DJ Turner dropped Devito when he scrambled on fourth-and-seven to get the ball back for the offense.

Michigan made a number of big plays from there. McCarthy, picked up a fumbled snap, rolled right and completed a pass to Johnson on third-and-9 from the Illinois 41. Four plays later, he hit Roman Wilson, who went in motion on the play, for a gain of nine on fourth-and-four.

Isaiah Gash dropped a potential touchdown pass on a check down, then McCarthy over-threw a wide-open Lovland on another play that could've scored. Michigan settled for a 33-yard field goal from Moody to make it 17-16 with 3:14 to play.

Michigan forced a three-and-out to give the offense − erm, Moody − one last chance.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football kicks its way to 19-17 win over Illinois