The Fiesta Bowl was insanity from the start, as the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University were given little chance to win. The first play of the game reinforced that theme as Michigan reeled off an impressive 54-yard run from stud running back Donovan Edwards on the first offensive play. This is exactly what was expected from the powerful Wolverines, who figured to be able to bully the 3-3-5 defense of TCU. Come on! 3-3-5 defense? Air Raid offense? Don’t make us laugh, TCU!
Michigan continued to gain yards by giving the ball to Edwards and mixed in a nine-yard completion to Roman Wilson, but eventually wound up with fourth and goal from the two.
Here, however, Coach Jim Harbaugh displayed a lack of confidence in his power running game and elected to try an insane play that might be known as the Ann Arbor Special, similar to the Philly Special used in the Super Bowl 52 by the Eagles against the New England Patriots. This is the type of trick play that a team tries when they totally fear a superior opponent. Las Vegas, by the way, believed that Michigan was a -7.5 point favorite, but this play call is the type of call that makes sense for a +14 point underdog. Not surprisingly, the play blew up.
What more can be said? It looked nuts to an outsider, so maybe the simplest explanation is best. Fans, Harbaugh is one of the best in the business, but today he made some play calls that were just nuts.
In any case after a punt, the next possession was highlighted by a tricky Michigan sideline pass into double coverage which led to a TCU pick-six from J.J. McCarthy to Bud Clark of TCU. They just temporarily forgot about Donovan Edwards.
After a Michigan three and out, TCU went on a 12-play 76 yard drive capped by three straight runs by Max Duggan, finally pushing the pig over the goal line from the one.
Michigan finally got their act together in the second quarter with completions to Luke Schoonmaker for 32 yards, and Colston Loveland for 16 yards, allowing a 42 yard field goal from Jake Moody.
Later in the quarter, TCU put together another patient 10-play, 83 yard drive. The big play was a 32 yard pass to Quentin Johnston on third and two to score another touchdown. Taye Barber hauled in a six-yard pass from Duggan to score TCU’s third touchdown of the half.
Jake Moody hit a miraculous 59-yarder to narrow the margin to 21-6 at the half. It seemed as though TCU was dominant, but the truth was that Donovan Edwards was indeed dominant on the ground, with 90 yards on 14 carries, what the heck. J.J. McCarthy was 10-16 for 148 yards. With sane play calling, these numbers could translate to a winning performance.
In the second half, TCU appeared to be rattled, running into the punt returner for a penalty. On cue, Michigan launched a drive highlighted by a 43-yard catch by Ronnie Bell. However, TCU held, and Michigan had to settle for a chip shot field goal.
Michigan got back into it when Duggan was picked off by Mike Sainristil who returned the ball eight yds to the TCU 45. Then, after two Donovan Edwards runs to draw in some safety run support, Ronnie Bell hauled in a 34 yard McCarthy and suddenly the score was 21-16. Michigan was coming back!
But TCU answered immediately with a Max Duggan pass to Quentin Johnston for 46 yds to the Michigan 29. From there they ground it out and scored again with five straight runs by Emari Demercado, ultimately punching it in from the one.
McCarthy poured gasoline onto the fire by throwing another pick-six, this time to Dee Winters, making the score 34-16. Unfazed, in the ensuing possession he reeled off a 39-yard run, followed by a 20-yard run, making the score 34-22 (the two-point conversion failed). That drive lasted only 1:05.
Not to be outdone, Emari Demercado warmed up with an eight-yard run and then broke free for 69 yards. Duggan took it over from the one. Three plays, 58 seconds for that drive, 41-22.
Michigan kept pace. A 20-yard completion to Roman Wilson, followed by a 44-yard completion to Ronnie Bell and a one-yard run by linebacker-turned-fullback Kalel Mullings resulted in another Michigan touchdown. The two point conversion was good, and the score was 41-30.
Unbelievably, TCU’s Demercado promptly fumbled. Three plays later, Roman Wilson did his best imitation of John Elway and helicoptered into the endzone. This time J. McCarthy successfully passed to Ronnie Bell for the two-point conversion, making the score 41-38, and it was anyone’s ball game–again. For another 1:06, that is.
That is how long it took Duggan to answer to Quentin Johnston for 76 yards and another touchdown, making the score 48-38
Finally, there was a three-and-out, followed by a 31 yard return by Derius Davis to the Michigan 16. This led to a 13-point lead, 51-38 with 10:02 to go.
A five-yard touchdown grab by a wide open Roman Wilson on a blown coverage resulted in another score at 3:18, and once again six points separated the two teams, 51-45.
TCU could not close out the game on offense and was forced to punt, giving Michigan the ball at the 25 with less than a minute remaining. After a McCarthy scramble, and two incompletions, a botched snap ended Michigan’s dreams of a National Championship.
Incredible. Coach Sonny Dykes was the only TCU fan able to maintain a calm demeanor after the game. The rest of the fan base seemed to be experiencing an odd combination of delirious happiness and shell shock. Every year college football seems to deliver the most exciting football game of all time, replacing the previous year’s most exciting game of all time. Well, they did it to us again this year. The third quarter in particular, may well have been the most exciting and crazy 15 minutes of football we have ever seen. Once again it came down to the wire, but there was no doubt that the best team won, despite the pre-game expectation that it would be Michigan in a cake walk.