A bizarre debut for new Michigan head coach Brady Hoke ended with a weather-shortened 34-10 victory over Western Michigan.
The game was stopped twice in the third quarter due to severe weather, and officials decided to call the game with Michigan winning 34-10. There was just over a minute left in the third quarter.
Hoke’s debut got off to a rocky start when Western ate up the first seven minutes on the game’s opening drive, a 76-yard march that ended in a 1-yard touchdown by Antoin Scriven.
Michigan answered with an eight minute drive, ending with a one yard plunge by Fitzgerald Toussaint that tied the game at 7-7.
The game quickly turned into the Brandon Herron Show after that. The Michigan linebacker intercepted WMU quarterback Alex Carder at the 6-yard line and romped 94 yards for a 14-7 Michigan lead with just under seven minutes left in the first half. It was a school record for an interception return.
Another short touchdown by Toussaint and a WMU field goal in the final minute led to a 20-10 halftime lead for Michigan.
Weather then struck just a minute into the third quarter, delaying the game a half hour. When play resumed, so did Herron. Safety Jordan Kovacs drilled Carder on WMU’s first possession out of the delay, forcing a fumble that Herron scooped up for a 29-yard score.
The Michigan offense got in on the action after the defense forced a punt on WMU’s next drive. Toussaint rumbled 43-yards on the first play to the WMU 44, and two plays later Michael Shaw busted free for a 44-yard score to put Michigan ahead 34-10.
Carder drove Western to the Michigan 25-yard line on the ensuing possession, but he was hit by Ryan Van Bergen and fumbled again, with Van Bergen also recovering the ball. Michigan drove down to the WMU 26, but the weather turned foul again, forcing the game to be called.
It was the first time in Michigan history a game was canceled.
Final Stats
Passing
Robinson, UM: 9/13, 98 yards
Carder, WMU: 22/31, 183 yards, interception, 2 fumbles
Rushing
Toussaint, UM: 11 carries, 80 yards, 2 touchdowns
Shaw, UM: 4 carries, 54 yards, touchdown
Robinson, UM: 8 carries, 46 yards
Tevin Drake, WMU: 10 carries, 65 yards
Receiving
Jordan White, WMU: 12 catches, 119 yards
Junior Hemmingway, UM: 1 catch, 37 yards