Michigan football holds off late scare from Iowa Hawkeyes to stay unbeaten, 27-14
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ten months ago, when Michigan football met Iowa in the Big Ten championship game, the Wolverines led by two touchdowns before 10 minutes melted off the clock. And at that point — against a Hawkeyes offense that finished the year ranked 121st in yards per game — head coach Jim Harbaugh’s team already had the win secured. U-M coasted to a 42-3 blowout.
On Saturday, when Michigan met Iowa for its first road game in 2022, the Wolverines marched 75 yards on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead, capped with a 16-yard end around by wide receiver Ronnie Bell. And at that point — against a Hawkeyes offense that entered the weekend ranked last nationally in yards per game — reporters in the press box wondered if a single touchdown was already enough to win.
More than three full quarters elapsed before Iowa’s hapless offense found the end zone on a two-yard rush by tailback Kaleb Johnson, at which point the Wolverines led by 20. The margin proved more than enough for Michigan to preserve a 27-14 win when tailback Blake Corum added a 20-yard score in the closing moments. A measured, controlled performance gave U-M its first win at Kinnick Stadium since 2005.
Corum carried 29 times for 133 yards and a touchdown on an afternoon when McCarthy was steady if unspectacular: 18-of-24 for 155 yards and a score.
The defense pummeled Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras with five hits, four sacks and consistent pressure in the second half. Edge rusher Mike Morris was the standout player with two sacks and an unrelenting presence in the Hawkeyes’ backfield. Petras finished 21-of-31 for 246 yards and one touchdown.
Fourth-down stand
The flicker of momentum Iowa felt in the fourth quarter was built during a 13-play, 78-yard drive that brought the Kinnick Stadium crowd to life — albeit briefly.
Petras guided the offense from his own 17-yard line to the Michigan 8, incorporating a series of short passes on crossing routes and one beautifully thrown ball up the seam to tight end Luke Lachey for 34 yards.
But the U-M defense awoke when the Hawkeyes threatened to pull within a single score in the closing minutes. Safety Rod Moore made a beautiful tackle on tight end Sam LaPorta in the flat for no gain on second-and-4. Then linebacker Michael Barrett and edge rusher Eyabi Okie stoned tailback LeShon Williams on a 2-yard gain up the middle.
The drive was extinguished when Petras threw low and behind LaPorta on fourth down to hand possession to Michigan.
Dominant in the trenches
For an offensive line that was largely untested through the first four games, Michigan’s group arrived in Iowa City expecting a hellacious test from the Hawkeyes, who led the country in scoring defense entering Week 5. They had allowed just 5.8 points per game in the month of September.
Whatever tenacity Iowa possessed quickly eroded on U-M’s opening drive — a poised, methodical, 11-play trek that covered 75 yards while facing a single third down. Center Olu Oluwatimi spearheaded an onslaught in the trenches as the Wolverines’ linemen exploded off the line of scrimmage to knock Iowa’s defenders back on what seemed like every play.
The Hawkeyes’ meager allowance of 2.21 yards per carry through their first four games felt comical when Corum and Donovan Edwards powered ahead for gains of four, seven, six and 10 with little resistance. Bell was hardly touched when he looped around the formation from right to left on the eventual 16-yard score.
A week after setting new career highs in carries (30) and rushing yards (243), Corum remained the focal point for co-offensive coordinators Sherrone Moore and Matt Weiss. They gave him eight carries in the first quarter and eight more in the second, chipping away at the Hawkeyes for incremental gains that extended drives.
Two field goals from kicker Jake Moody pushed the lead to 13-0 by halftime, at which point Michigan had run 25 more plays than the Hawkeyes and doubled Iowa’s time of possession.
The Wolverines finished with 172 rushing yards on 42 carries.
Injury report
Special teams ace Caden Kolesar exited the game with a heavy limp after covering a punt in the fourth quarter. He went directly to the medical tent and did not return.
Michigan played without starting tight end Erick All (undisclosed/back) for the second consecutive week. All did not travel to Iowa City as he deals with an undisclosed injury.
The Free Press reported last week that All’s absence is likely linked to renewed discussions about undergoing back surgery to address a problem dating to last season. The Wolverines have not shared any details about All’s injury.
Edwards (leg injury) returned after missing the previous two games. Left guard Trevor Keegan (undisclosed injury) also returned after missing last week’s game against Maryland. Saturday marked just the second time U-M has had its preferred offensive line intact.
Contact Michael Cohen at mcohen@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Cohen13.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football holds off late scare from Iowa, 27-14
