2013 Week 3

#1 Michigan hosted #20 Mississippi State 1 week after upsetting Notre Dame and they appeared to still be hungover most of the game. Max's players came to the Big House with their helmets strapped on very tightly. This game was a bit of a defensive struggle featuring two teams with very similar styles (they combined for 72 rushes and only 22 passes). MSU punted on their 1st drive. Michigan's 1st drive featured a beautiful 49 yard rush by QB Mark Charles to the 1 yard line. Fitz Toussaint would punch it in from there. On MSU's next possession they were forced to 3rd and 5. Michigan brought the blitz and All-Everything DE Craig Roh nearly got to the QB but he flew right by him. The QB would then hit WR Gilbert who had gotten behind the cover 0 defense for a 67 yard TD.

In the 2nd quarter both defenses flexed their muscles and held the other team to only a FG. Michigan's offense continued to sputter throughout the 3rd quarter as they went scoreless. On a 3rd and 2 MSU HB Conner got much more than that as he broke off a 49 yard TD to give MSU the lead by 7 with 4 minutes left in the 3rd. After another Michigan punt MSU got conservative on offense and ran the clock out as best they could.

They were able to eat the clock down to 5:30 remaining in the 4th quarter and had a gorgeous punt that pinned Michigan inside their own 10 yard line. Mark Charles, who had been rather lack luster throughout the game) then wrote a new chapter to his legacy. He led Michigan on a 4:50, 92 yard drive which he capped off with a 4yd TD run.

In OT, Michigan's defense stepped up and forced 3 and out and a FG by MSU. Michigan, who had the momentum by now would rumble on 5 running plays in a row for a TD and the victory.

This was an excellent gameplan by coach Max as coach Jello felt completely helpless at times while on both offense and defense. Nothing he tried could stop the potent Bulldog rushing attack and for the 2 middle quarters, Michigan's offense just couldn't seem to get anything working at all.

Things don't get any easier for Michigan as they will next face Army. Michigan has never faced a flexbone team so coach Jello has his work cut out for him as he tries to find some way to stop the potent flexbone attack. Hopefully after 3 games against a straight up pro style team, a straight up spread team, and flexbone team Michigan's defense will be prepared for anything.

Mark Charles and Michigan just barely played well enough to pull off the victory