3 takeaways from Michigan football’s trap game win at Maryland

Win number 1,000 for the most prestigious program in college football was unattractive, but they are all systems go for the behemoth game in Ann Arbor next Saturday.

For the first quarter or so, Michigan football scored at will on Maryland. Blake Corum broke the plane for six, followed by a scoop and score by Derrick Moore. Then the special teams blocked a punt for a safety and it was 16-3 by the end of one. Corum found paydirt again in the second and it looked like it was going to be a walk in the park for the maize and blue.

Maryland’s offense got within two scores before the half by getting in the zone. The Wolverines were driving to respond, but J.J. McCarthy forced an inadvertent throw toward Colston Loveland, which became his fourth interception of the year. It turned the outlook of the game in Maryland’s favor for the second half ahead.

Coming out of the tunnel the Terps were able to cut it to six by getting in the endzone on their first series in the third period. Michigan’s defense found themselves in a precarious position. The offense regained some momentum in the third by feeding Semaj Morgan. Like we’ve seen before though, Maryland would not submit.

The Terps answered with another quarterback sneak for a touchdown, its third such conversion. Michigan’s offense went cold and had to piggyback off of the defense to stay undefeated. Tommy Doman placed a perfect punt at the one-yard line and two plays later Taulia Tagovailoa was penalized for intentional grounding. Maryland never touched the ball again offensively.

Here are three of the takeaways from the Michigan football win.