BTN.com staff, September 17, 2011
(AP) Denard Robinson ran for 198 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, leading Michigan to a 31-3 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines (3-0) started poorly on both sides of the ball, trailing early in the second quarter, and finished strong. Robinson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to give Michigan a 28-3 lead late in the third quarter. The Eagles (2-1) drove into Michigan territory on their first five possessions, but came away with just a field goal. They fumbled, got stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1, threw an interception and punted in a half filled with missed opportunities. Read the full AP recap, check out the box score and see our Big Ten scoreboard.
Check out our quarter-by-quarter recap, powered by Narrative Science:
FINAL: Denard Robinson broke out against Eastern Michigan, piling up 198 rushing yards and scoring one touchdown to lead Michigan to a 31-3 victory on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan's (3-0) offense dominated, ripping off huge chunks of yardage. The Wolverines burned Eastern Michigan's (2-1) defense for four plays of more than 20 yards. With 13:11 to go in the second quarter, Robinson ran 52 yards, Michigan's biggest gain of the game. Later in the drive, Robinson found Kevin Koger open for a nine-yard touchdown pass, which gave the Wolverines a 7-3 lead. Michigan racked up 471 total yards. In addition to Robinson's efforts through the air, the Wolverines also rushed 50 times for 376 yards. Michigan's Robinson was good for 95 yards during the game, completing seven of 18 passes. Robinson tossed two touchdowns and one interception. Alex Gillett threw for 29 yards while going 3-5 for the Eagles. He threw no interceptions. Gillett also ran for 61 yards on 11 attempts. Eastern Michigan's offense finished the game having gained 236 yards, including 29 passing yards on three completions. The Eagles also moved the ball on the ground, earning 207 yards on 46 attempts.
FOURTH QUARTER: Michigan finished off its blowout of Eastern Michigan with a strong fourth quarter and won 31-3. The Wolverines made their lead 31-3 when Brendan Gibbons drilled a 21-yard field goal on the last play of a 13-play, 84-yard drive.
THIRD QUARTER: Michigan rushed for 120 yards in the third quarter and the Wolverines now lead 28-3. Michigan held Eastern Michigan to 12 total yards in the quarter. The Wolverines opened up a lead, 21-3, after Fitzgerald Toussaint pounded in a one-yard touchdown run to end a 13-play, 83-yard drive. Michigan kept the ball on the ground during the drive, throwing only two passes. The Wolverines added to their advantage when Denard Robinson tossed a 19-yard touchdown to Drew Dileo, capping off an 11-play, 75-yard drive to give Michigan the lead, 28-3. The Eagles have the ball on their 44-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
SECOND QUARTER: Michigan racked up 165 rushing yards in the second quarter and the Wolverines now lead 14-3. Eastern Michigan took the game's first lead after Kody Fulkerson kicked a 21-yard field goal on the last play of a seven-play, 20-yard drive to give the Eagles the advantage, 3-0. Eastern Michigan started in good field position at the Michigan 24-yard line thanks to Marlon Pollard's punt return. The ground game accounted for every yard. Denard Robinson's nine-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Koger put Michigan on top 7-3 after capping a six-play, 97-yard drive. The Wolverines went to the air just two times. Michigan made its lead 14-3 when Robinson turned a handoff into an 11-yard touchdown on the last play of a six-play, 87-yard drive. The rushing attack provided every yard for the Wolverines. SMichigan will get the ball to start the second half.
FIRST QUARTER: The first quarter saw both teams combine for no points and two turnovers and the game is tied 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. Eastern Michigan has the ball on Michigan's four-yard line to begin the second quarter. It is about to attempt a short field goal.
