Michigan vs. Notre Dame final score: Series ends in a rout

Michigan will have to wear this loss for awhile.

In the final scheduled meeting in the rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the foreseeable future, the Fighting Irish handed the Wolverines their first shutout in the 42-game series Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium.

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Notre Dame (2-0) took advantage of four turnovers by Michigan (1-1) to shut out the Wolverines 31-0.

Quarterback Devin Gardner threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown on the final play—before it was wiped out by a penalty when Notre Dame’s Max Redfield lit up Gardner while teammate Elijah Shumate was sprinting down the sidelines for an apparent score.

Notre Dame got on the board first on Cam McDaniel’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:50 to go in the first quarter after Michigan’s Matt Wile missed a 46-yard field goal.

Wile wasn’t done missing—he missed from 48 yards early in the second quarter. After the teams traded punts, Notre Dame put together an 80-yard drive, going down the field in 13 plays before Everett Golson threw his first touchdown pass of the day, a 1-yarder to Amir Carlisle, to make it a 14-0 Notre Dame lead with 3:58 to go.

The Irish then grabbed the game by the throat after holding Michigan to a three-and-out. Golson moved the offense 56 yards in six plays and just 50 seconds, hitting William Fuller with a 24-yard touchdown pass with just 34 seconds left in the half.

The turnover parade began in the second half. Redfield picked off Gardner to end Michigan’s opening possession of the second half. Notre Dame made it 28-0 on Golson’s 12-yard pitch to Carlisle with 3:02 left in the third quarter. The Wolverines got the ball into Notre Dame territory on their ensuing possession, which ended when Gardner coughed the ball up when he was hit by Joe Schmidt. Isaac Rochell recovered for the Irish.

Early in the fourth quarter, Gardner threw his second pick, this one by cornerback Cody Riggs on a first-and-10 from the Michigan 20. Notre Dame settled for a 43-yard field goal by Kyle Brindza that capped the scoring.

Michigan actually outgained Notre Dame 289-280, but the four turnovers by the Wolverines were the difference. Notre Dame didn’t turn the ball over at all.

Golson finished 23-for-34 for 226 yards and threw three touchdowns, improving to 12-1 as a starter for the Irish. Gardner went 19-for-32 for 189 yards and was limping by the end of the game. His favorite target, Devin Funchess, left the game early in the fourth quarter with a leg injury after catching nine passes for 107 yards.

Fuller was Golson’s favorite target, catching nine balls for 89 yards.

Notre Dame didn’t run the ball well, gaining just 54 yards on 31 carries. Michigan had 100 yards rushing, led by De’Veon Smith, who picked up 30 yards on seven carries.

Michigan will try to rebound at home next Saturday when it hosts Miami (Ohio) at the Big House at 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, heads to Indianapolis for an in-state showdown with Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

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Michigan vs. Notre Dame final score: Fighting Irish rout Wolverines, 31-0

By Phil Watson | Sep 7, 2014