ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Kyle Whittingham era has begun in Ann Arbor as the new-look Michigan Wolverines football team took the field for their annual Spring Game.
The Wolverines’ first public Spring Game was held at Ferry Field on May 14, 1925.
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But Saturday’s (April 18) game was the second-most anticipated scrimmage in the 101 years of its existence, as the new look offense and defense took their first snap with fans in attendance, led by Jason Beck and Jay Hill.
While Whittingham is the new signal caller, running backs coach Tony Alford was the head coach of the Blue Team, while Lewis Powell led the Maize Team in the rainy game inside the Big House.
There were whispers that many of the starters would not take the field, but all anyone was talking about leading up to the game was whether Sophomore Bryce Underwood would be under center, and he was, playing on both teams alongside Tommy Carr.
Carr was the leader under center as he showed off his arm and his legs during the scrimmage.
Chase Herbstreit entered the game in the fourth quarter and took a sack on a trick play, but the Wolverines’ offense was not seen in the 7-6 by the Maize Team.
Thomas O’Meara ran the ball in from the goal line to tie the game at 6-6 before Trey Butkowski made the extra point to win the game.
POSTGAME SOUND COMING
1st quarter
The Maize Team won the toss and decided to receive the football to start the game and Underwood handed the ball off to Bryson Kuzdzal for a short gain, before scrambling on second down, setting up a third down and six.
Underwood found Eli Owens and a chunk gain to move the sticks.
Kuzdzal got stopped for a short gain before Underwood threw an incomplete pass to the sideline.
On third down, Underwood went deep to Salesi Moa, but he couldn’t bring in the pass.
Instead of a punt, the Blue Team took the ball down at their own endzone, and Underwood handed the ball off to Jordan Marshall for back-to-back chunk runs to the amazement of the crowd.
With a new set of downs, Underwood got sacked before finding Marshall on a swing pass for four yards.
On third and six, Underwood, eluded the defender and scrambled for the first down as the running clock reached under four minutes to tplay.
On third and six, Underwood eluded the defender and scrambled for the first down as the running clock reached under four minutes to play.
Michigan ran a trick play to wide receiver Travis Johnson for a four-yard gain.
Marshall toted the rock for two yards, before hauling in a one-hand snag for a two-yard gain.
On fourth down and two, Marshall gained two yards to pick up the first down.
Michigan ran another trick play to tight end Jalen Hoffman, but it fell to the ground before he nearly threw an interception into triple coverage.
The Maize Team took the ball, and Underwood found Andrew Marsh for a chunk gain, but he took a big hit in the process by Nico Andrighetto.
They didn’t convert, as Underwood got sacked by Enow Etta.
The Blue Team took the ball and ended the first half with another chunk run by Marshall.
2nd quarter
Hunter Robinson stopped Savion Hiter in the backfield, setting up a third down and five, which was converted by Jamie Ffrench for a first down.
Hiter got stopped in the backfield again, before Travis Moten sacked Tommy Carr.
Carr picked up a chunk gain, moved the sticks, then handed the ball off to Hiter for a five-yard gain.
Hiter bounced off tacklers to pick up four yards, setting up a third down and one.
Hiter picked up the first down before carr hit Jacob Washington for a five-yard gain.
Hiter got stopped by Deyvid Palepale in the backfield before Jonathan Brown picked up the first down after a powerful run.
On first down and eight, Brown gained two yards before Carr showed his wheels and eluded tacklers for a two-yard gain before the two-minute stoppage.
Facing a third down and four, Carr threw a swing pass to Hiter for a one-yard loss, setting up a Stuart Blake field goal to take a 3-0 lead for the Blue Team.
The Maize Team took the field, and Carr scrambled for six yards and went out of bounds with 1:07 to play.
Carr scrambled again to move the sticks before finding Hogan Hansen for a massive gain.
Moa made an impressive one-handed snag to the amazement of the fans.
Carr picked up the first down with another scramble before throwing into double coverage to Jaylen Pile with two seconds to play before the half.
Trey Butkowski missed a game-tying field goal before the half as the Maize Team trailed 3-0.
Underwood finished the first half, completing three of nine for 22 yards, while Carr was six of eight for 39 yards in the first half .
3rd quarter
Carr brought the Blue Team out to start the second half and found Ffrench for a couple nice receptions, before Hiter moved the sticks on third down and one.
Hiter took the pigskin up the gut for a six-yard gain on first down before showing some wiggle, before Carr found Ffrench for another chunk gain to move the sticks.
The freshman took the handoff and trucked his defender on his way to an eight-yard gain.
Carr got sacked by Adam Bazzi for a four-yard loss, setting up a third and six before finding Deakon Tonielli for the first down, but he dropped the ball, setting up another field goal by Blake to take a 6-0 lead.
Moa took a swing pass for an eight-yard gain before picking up the first down on the next play.
Michigan gained five yards on the next play before Carr threaded the needle down the field to his receiver.
Thomas O’Meara ran out a tough run before Moa hauled in another catch before ending the quarter.
4th quarter
Carr returned to open the fourth quarter and found Owens for a short gain, setting up a third down and goal.
On third down and three, O’Meara ran the ball for two yards before getting stuffed by Bobby Kanka and Markel Dabney made the goal line stop to as the Maize Team trailed 6-0.
The Blue Team went three-and-out on the next possession before giving the Maize Team the ball at midfield.
Carr found Jamar Browder down the sideline for a walk-in touchdown, but he dropped the ball.
Jaylen Pile brought in a pass before Carr hit one of his receivers down the field to move the chains.
Carr used his legs to keep the drive alive.
He got sacked with under 3:30 to play, setting up a fourth and 10 from the 12-yard line.
On fourth down, Carr threw an incomplete pass out the back of the endzone, as the Maize Team came up short again.
Chase Herbstreit entered the game and handed the ball off for a three-yard gain before calling a timeout.
Herbstreit led a late-game drive for the Maize team, making some key throws in the game’s waning moments.
With the clock ticking under one minute, O’Meara punched the ball in from the goal line to tie the game at 6-6, before Butkowski drilled the game-winning extra point to take the 7-6 lead with 17 seconds to play.