The Michigan Wolverines stayed in the Orange Bowl hunt late in the fourth quarter thanks to a huge touchdown catch by Khalid Hill
After essentially three quarters (or more) of looking highly ineffective, the Michigan Wolverines offense needed life against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2016 Orange Bowl. Trailing 27-15 slightly beyond midway through the fourth quarter, they needed a boost. With Jake Butt leaving and Jabrill Peppers sitting out, though, that left the door open for someone else to come in and make a play. As it turns out, the king of the 1-yard touchdown, fullback Khalid Hill, was that guy.
Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight finally came alive long enough to drive the ball downfield. After FSU starting safety Trey Marshall was ejected for targeting, Speight went after the hole. He attacked the middle of the field and moved the ball with ease. Once down in the red zone, though, he played calm, smart football.
Sitting eight yards out from the goal line, Speight dropped back and again looked to the middle of the field. However, there was nothing there as he went through his progression. What was there, though, was the fullback Hill—who was spread out to the right—open in the flat. Speight hit him with a quick throw and the big fella did the rest, muscling through arm tackles for the huge touchdown:
Considering how poor the Wolverines offense had been throughout, you can’t discount how huge a play like this was for Michigan. Not only did it give life to Speight, but confidence to the entire offense.
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If you need any indication of that, the Wolverines came out and stifled Florida State with a big defensive stop. They then got the ball back and took the lead with a monstrous 30-yard touchdown run to go ahead, 30-27.