Michigan pummeled UTEP on Saturday, winning 52-17, as the passing offense found a new gear and the defense dominated in the second half.
And Mitten Football again is happy to bring another gallery from the lens of Rachel Leggett, who was capturing great shots from all the action on Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding has had to navigate some injuries in his room early this season. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And defensive coordinator Jay Hill marshaled his troops after a 10-point performance from Oklahoma against the Wolverines last week. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Defensive line coach Larry Black had his group ready to play again, as the Wolverines were dominant at the line of scrimmage for much of Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marching band color guard struts across the 50 yard line during pregame festivities. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Wolverines run out and touch the banner, as is tradition. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan running back Jordan Marshall finished with a rushing touchdown and 59 yards on Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The UTEP team came to play, going up 7-0 and then 14-7, and celebrated a takeaway here. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Fumbles did prove to cost Michigan in the first half, with two lost. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Tavorous Jones led UTEP with nine carries and 34 rushing yards. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Dom Nichols (No. 8) and the Michigan defense had another strong performance on Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But not before UTEP struck first, as Carver Cheeks got behind the defense for a 45 yard touchdown to open the scoring as the Miners converted a tricky play in short yardage. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)UTEP's defense also played solidly through the first quarter, shutting out Michigan in the opening 15 minutes. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng continues to get more playing time. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs gets his group ready to take the field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Owusu-Boatend and fellow linebacker Troy Bowles celebrate a defensive play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)UTEP DB Justin Content got blocked here, but had 10 tackles on the day. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Content also had a pass breakup on the afternoon, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Kyle Whittingham is now 3-0 as Michigan's head coach, but it's been an eventful few weeks to start. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Bryce Underwood wasn't nearly as utilized as a runner, but had one of his best days as a passer for Michigan. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Getting wideout Andrew Marsh more involved was a goal on Saturday, and he delivered with 10 catches, 105 yards and a touchdown. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But his acrobatic toe-tapping catch on the sideline was his best, by far. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)True freshman running back Savion Hiter also found the end zone for the first time in his career — then again later for a two touchdown day. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Hiter did have a key fumble in the first half, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which was more cause for celebration on the visitors sideline. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Oh, and Carver Cheeks has a brother: Tight end Cash Cheeks. A week after Michigan faced Oklahoma's Rocky Beers. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)It was a relatively clean game, with each team getting flagged four times. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)JJ Buchanan also found the end zone, and finished second on the team in receiving behind Marsh on Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Buchanan made sure to get some adulation from the crowd, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Buchanan and Marsh combined for 197 yards and two touchdowns. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan made good use of Marsh by getting him the ball quick on the perimeter and letting him work. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Enow Etta (No. 17) and Michigan's defensive front came up with a gaudy 11 tackles for loss. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Underwood could enjoy his day, rushing six times for 22 yards and going 19-of-15 for 223 yards and two touchdowns passing. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marshall only finished with 59 yards, but also battled some bumps and bruises along the way. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)UTEP managed to move the ball OK for much of the day, but life got quite difficult after halftime as Michigan's defense smothered. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Dom Nichols (No. 8) finished with one of Michigan's 11 tackles for loss. And the defense, more generally, swarmed in the second half. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Owusu-Boateng celebrates a defensive play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan wideout Travis Johnson and Content get busy at the catch point. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Hiter rumbles into the end zone for his second touchdown. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And gets to celebrating. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And there was plenty of love for him on the sideline, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Then Michigan's defense got back to work against an increasingly hapless UTEP offense. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But it did mean celebrations both individual.... (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)....and together. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Hiter signals for a first down after a carry. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Defensive lineman Jonah Lea'ea gets his hands on a short pass for an interception he'd take back for a short pick six. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's defense meets at the quarterback, after UTEP put a backup in. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the hits kept coming even as Michigan's reserve cycled into the lineup. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Max Alford, nephew to running backs coach Tony Alford, celebrates a punishing blow just delivered. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And even Michigan's backups played with plenty of strain and effort. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Eventually backup QB Tommy Carr got in to the game, and the grandson of Lloyd Carr made good on his snaps. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr ran the ball well. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But his highlight was a spot-perfect touchdown pass to Salesi Moa. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)It was a perfect throw and catch, and had the Michigan sideline ecstatic. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Including one Bryce Underwood. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)All that was left was for the defensive reserves to play out the string. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And then the Wolverines, after a few hours in the drizzle and 52 points later, celebrated getting to 3-0.
