Michigan's Fabulous Freshman Forcier Leads Wolverines to Victory

(Photo by Domenic Centofanti/Getty Images)

Tate Forcier told the press that he doesn't get nervous.  

Well, he stated his case in convincing fasion Saturday night, leading the Wolverines on a game-winning scoring drive with under two minutes to play in a back-and-fourth, heavy-weight bout against 18th-ranked Notre Dame.

Forcier, a true freshman, cause problems for Notre Dame throughout the entire game. Both his arm and his legs broke Notre Dame's backs time and time again. He broke a 31-yard run on a fourth down play to put Michigan up 31-20 in the fourth quarter, and totaled 70 yards on the ground for the game.

Forcier also threw for an astounding 240 yards on 33 attempts, with two touchdowns and one what looked to be costly interception with under five minutes to go.

Even though Forcier was lighting-up the Notre Dame defense all afternoon, Michigan still had problems stopping the Irish Aerial attack. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen racked up 335 yards through the air.

Receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd combined for 16 catches of 246 yards and three touchdowns. Notre Dame's receivers pretty much had their way with Michigan's defensive backs all game.

Corner backs Donovan Warren and Boubacar Cissoko managed to knock away two passes on Notre Dame's final drive, however, to give the offense the ball one last time. Cissoko was picked on all day by Clausen, but he was able to come up with one big stop on that last drive to prevent another Irish first down.

What a difference a year makes, huh? It was as good a game anyone could have asked for, but little things that last year would have haunted Michigan, now ended up hurting Notre Dame.

Penalties were the main achilles heel of Notre Dame. They had several big plays, including a long touchdown pass on a screen, called back because of holding or pre-snap penalties. While Michigan did comit six penalties of their own, Notre Dame's nine of 75 yards ended up costing them the game.

The win puts Michigan at 2-0, and gives Coach Rodriguez his first win over a hated-rival and top-25 team as the head coach of the Wolverines. The coach knew it was a big game, and he got all he could ask for and more from his team, but especially from his freshman quarterback.

Michigan scored first on a two-yard run by senior Brandon Minor, who returned from an ankle injury during practice two weeks ago. Minor carried the ball 16 times and accounted for 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground today for Michigan. After a Notre Dame field goal, Darryl Stonum returned the ensuing kick off 94 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

As excitment roared throughout the stadium, momentum shifted to the Irish, who scored 17 unanswered points. Jimmy Clausen threw touchdown passes to star wide outs Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, and a 41-yard field goal by Nick Tausch gave the Irish a 20-14 lead.

Fifth-year senior Jason Olesnavage knocked home a 39-yard field goal attempt for Michigan to cut the lead to 20-17 at half.

Michigan came out of the gates in the second half and took it right to the Irish. Forcier lead the Wolverines on a scoring drive which would give them the lead on a short touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Koger to give Michigan a 24-20 lead.

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