Michigan Football: Highlights, recap from rout of Northern Illinois

It’s hard to judge off just a few games but Michigan football’s running game looks elite and it could be as good as any in the country.

Michigan football was elite on offense Saturday against Northern Illinois. Actually, perfect would be a better adjective as the Wolverines scored touchdowns on their first nine possessions.

One of those was a long touchdown pass, 87 yards to be precise, as Cade McNamara connected with Cornelius Johnson on a score right before the half.

Yet, the game was well in hand by that point. Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins, and the offensive line saw to that.

The Wolverines scored 35 points in the first half and had four rushing touchdowns. Then, in the third quarter, Michigan football broke the will of Northern Illinois, well, whatever will NIU had left.

Blake Corum, who could be the skill guy Michigan football has been waiting for, scored two more times in the third, including once on a 51-yarder where he tip-toed down the sideline.

Donovan Edwards also found the end zone for the first time as a Michigan football player. His first score was from four yards out, yet he hit paydirt again on a 58-yard run, which put the Wolverines in front 63-3.

Combined, McNamara and J.J. McCarthy went 12-for-17 for 223 yards and a score. They didn’t have an interception. The offense didn’t have a turnover, while the defense forced once as Gemon Green picked off a Rocky Lombardi pass in the third quarter.

Lombardi, who threw three touchdown passes a year ago against Michigan for the Spartans, was held out of the end zone until garbage time. Before the fourth quarter, he didn’t have 30 yards passing, so thankfully for his numbers, NIU fell behind so much the backups came in.

Corum finished with 125 yards and three touchdowns while Johnson caught three passes for 117 yards to lead the way for the receivers. It was the third straight game with over 300 yards rushing as the Wolverines wound up with 373 (606 total)

Yes, it was Northern Illinois, but Michigan football has dominated each of its non-conference opponents and the Wolverines couldn’t have looked better prior to the start of Big Ten play next week against Rutgers.

There’s a long way to go, but so far, Jim Harbaugh’s reset appears to be working.