Mike Hart Leads Michigan Past Eastern Michigan 33-22

By Sean · Sunday, October 7, 2007 · 2:42 PM |  Share | 1 Comment 

Michigan doesn’t usually blow out cupcake opponents, or at least they haven’t recently, but it is getting to the point where they are playing close games against teams that aren’t nearly as talented. We all saw what happened in the season opener, but yesterday against Eastern Michigan, who probably isn’t even as good as Appalachian State, the game was still undecided in the third quarter, meaning the Eagles were right there in the thick of things. It’s one thing to have trouble against a team or to struggle through a game, but it’s another to do this against a team like Eastern Michigan when you are Michigan. Heck, if it wasn’t for Mike Hart, who knows how this game would’ve ended up. Although the Maize and Blue did come out on top 33-22, it was a very ugly win.

The Michigan defense did have a few rough drives, but for the most part, they did their job. That was evident on the game’s first drive when Jamar Adams picked off a pass as Eastern started to get their offense going. The INT led to a Michigan field goal, which was kicked by K.C. Lopata, who takes over the kicking job after Jason Gingell’s struggles continued last week.

With only a 3-0 lead, Michigan did stop EMU on their next possession, but a perfect punt by the Eagles put U-M on their own 1-yard line. Needing some breathing room, Michigan put the ball in the hands of Mike Hart. From the 1, Hart ran the ball 20 yards to give the offense some room to work with. After a pass on the following play, it was Hart again on the ground, this time running for 14 yards and a new Michigan record. Hart became the all-time leading rusher in Michigan football history with that 14-yard run, hitting a milestone that is more than well-deserved. Thanks to those rushes, Michigan got into the endzone later on the drive via a 31-yard TD pass from Chad Henne to Adrian Arrington.

Trailing 10-0, Eastern needed a break and got one on the proceeding kickoff. The Eagles took the kick all the way back to the Michigan 13-yard line, which was the first of many special teams mistakes by the Wolverines. The return only led to a field goal, but it still killed some of the momentum Michigan had going in its favor.

Looking to get the blowout started, Michigan shifted to the passing game on the next drive. It worked well until Chad Henne tried to go to the endzone, because then he was picked off on a pass that came out bad because he was hit on the throw. With the ball back, EMU didn’t get anything going, so when it went back to Michigan, it was time to just give the ball to Mike Hart. After 6 carries, Hart ended up in the endzone from 4 yards out to put the Wolverines ahead by two touchdowns. The extra point was actually blocked and returned by Eastern Michigan for 2 points. It’s not something you see very often, but EMU was able to get the 2 points to cut the lead down to 16-5 in another momentum-killing way. On the proceeding drive, using that momentum, the Eagles kicked a field goal to bring the score to 16-8 at the half.

Clearly being in the game, Eastern Michigan would need to do something tricky to play catch-up as they kicked off to start the second half. With that being said, Eastern kicked an onside to open the half and their kicker actually recovered the ball. That was completely unexpected and worked to perfection for the Eagles, leaving them with great starting field position and a chance to tie the game. Eastern moved the ball on the Maize and Blue defense and ended up getting down deep into Michigan territory. The drive ended when EMU QB Andy Schmitt ran the ball into the endzone for 10 yards on a great fake. Michigan blocked the extra point, so the score was 16-14 Wolverines.

Needing to get things moving, Michigan combined the pass and run game on the following drive to get into the endzone. It was Mike Hart again, this time from 24 yards out on a nifty run to put U-M on top 23-14. Following a 3 and out by Eastern, Michigan got the ball back and K.C. Lopata kicked a 36-yard field goal after Mike Hart had a 61-yard run, making the score 26-14. That would change quickly as EMU had a big miscue on the kickoff following the field goal. The Eagles’ returner bobbled the kickoff and kicked it forward, and somehow nobody recovered it until Michigan’s James Rogers got down the field to fall on the ball. On the very next play, Mike Hart ran for 17 yards to score a TD and to put Eastern Michigan away.

The final score would end up being 33-22 after a TD was scored by Eastern against the backups. Really, this game could’ve ended up being a big blowout had it not been for a few key mistakes by the Wolverines, but at the same time, Eastern might have had a shot at pulling off an upset had they not made a mistake here and there. Regardless, the Wolverines go the “W” to improve to 4-2 on the season. As I said earlier, it wasn’t pretty, but a win is all that matters at the end of the day.

Mike Hart’s 22 carries for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns in this game puts him at the top of the “rush yards” category in all of Division I-A. His near 1,000 yards through 6 games is an amazing stat and hopefully it will continue in the season’s next 6 games. Without Mike Hart, this team would be lost, so it is vital that his success continues. That will especially be true next week as Michigan hosts Purdue on Homecoming in Ann Arbor. A win keeps Michigan’s Big Ten title hopes alive for the time being, so all has to be left on the field. Check back here for a recap and Go Blue!