Another Comeback Attempt Falls Short!!

ANN ARBOR, MI–
What started out as a beautiful November day, turned out to be another self-destructing performance by the Wolverines. The Purdue offense did come at the Wolverines with a well balanced attack.  Quarterback Joey Elliott passed for 367 yards and 2 scores. Runningback Ralph Bolden racked up 98 yards and 2 scores as well.   Brandon Minor led the Michigan offense by piling up 152 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Roy Roundtree, who chose Michigan over Purdue on signing day, came up big as a replacement for the injured Martavious Odoms.  Roundtree caught 11 balls for 143 yards and a touchdown.

Michigan was in control of this game until a sequence of events, featuring 2 touchdowns and a play where Purdue recovered a suprise onside kick,  completely changed the momentum.  After Bolden scored on a ten yard run, Purdue recovered the onside kick. 9 seconds later Cortez Smith caught a 54 yard pass to give Purdue a one point lead.  A Joey Elliott 8 yard touchdown run put the Boilermakers up 8.   Michigan had an opportunity late to tie the game after Minor punched one in from the 1.  A 2pt conversion attempt was stopped when pressure from the Purdue defensive line kept Tate Forcier from seeing Roy Roundtree coming across the middle with nobody around him. Purdue held on to win 38-36, ending a 43 year drought in the Big House.

Todays defensive performance was best described by the littlest member of my gameday crew.  My dad tells 3 year old Drew, “Michigan’s defense stinks Drew.” Drew replies, “no they dont (pause for dramatic effect) yes they do.”.  The loss keeps the Wolverines from winning their 6th game, leaving a road game at Wisconsin and the annual showdown with the Buckeyes as Michigan’s only opportunities to qualify for a bowl game.

by Matthew Bott

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