Michigan holds off ND behind Gardner (4 TDs)

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Final

(17) Michigan 41

(2-0, 2-0 home)

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Coverage: ESPN

8:00 PM ET, September 7, 2013

Michigan Stadium, ANN ARBOR, MI

		1	2	3	4	T
#14	ND	7	6	7	10	30
#17	MICH	10	17	7	7	41

Top Performers

Passing: D. Gardner (MICH) - 294 YDS, 4 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: D. Gardner (MICH) - 13 CAR, 82 YDS, 1 TD

Receiving: J. Gallon (MICH) - 8 REC, 184 YDS, 3 TD

Host Michigan bests Notre Dame before record crowd of 115,109

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Associated Press

Michigan Holds Off ND At The Big House

Wearing No. 98 to honor Michigan legend Tom Harmon, Devin Gardner combined for over 370 yards of offense and five touchdowns in the Wolverines' 41-30 win over the Fighting Irish.Tags: Devin Gardner, Michigan, Notre Dame

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Michigan Holds Off ND At The Big House

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- When it was over, Michigan took one last swipe at Notre Dame before the Fighting Irish said goodbye to the Big House -- at least for a while.

Devin Gardner, wearing No. 98 to honor Michigan great Tom Harmon, threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the 17th-ranked Wolverines to a 41-30 win over the 14th-ranked Fighting Irish.

Rittenberg: Michigan Quiets The Echoes

Unlike in recent years, Devin Gardner and Michigan weathered the pressure and are focusing on bigger goals, Adam Rittenberg writes. Story

• Instant Analysis | Michigan blog
• Big Ten blog | Notre Dame blog

Soon after Gardner took the final snap, the "Chicken Dance" blared over the stadium sound system, and the Michigan fans who made up most of the NCAA-record crowd of 115,109 celebrated.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke said Notre Dame was "chickening out" of the series four months ago, drawing laughs at a luncheon. The Irish opted out of their contract with the Wolverines and made next year's game in South Bend, Ind., the last guaranteed matchup in a series that dates to 1887 and cancelling three previously scheduled games.

Hoke insisted he didn't tell his team that Irish coach Brian Kelly kicked off the week by saying the series was "a big regional game" even though it features teams with the top winning percentages in college football. Hoke would acknowledge, though, that he and his players were pretty fired up to face the Irish.

"There's certain games that you get very excited about," Hoke said.

Michigan has won four straight at home against the Irish.

That winning streak will stand for a while because the two storied programs won't play at the Big House again anytime soon.

The Irish likely will be among next year's opponents hoping Gardner doesn't return for his final season of eligibility.

[+] Enlarge

Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports

Devin Gardner (right) celebrates Saturday night's win with safety Thomas Gordon.

Gardner sealed the victory with a 4-yard TD pass to Drew Dileo with 4:18 left and ran for 14 yards to convert the final third down in the final seconds to set off a celebration.

Gardner was 21 of 33 for 294 yards. His one interception was costly, though. Trying to avoid a sack in the end zone, he flipped a pass to no one in particular that defensive end Stephon Tuitt came up with to give Notre Dame hope.

Gardner also ran 13 times for 82 yards and a score.

He traded in his No. 12 for a unique number for a quarterback these days, sporting No. 98 with a Michigan Football Legend patch. Harmon became Michigan's first Heisman Trophy winner in 1940.

"It's an amazing feeling to wear that number," Gardner said. "I knew about all the great things that he did on the field, but there are all the other things he did. He played two years of basketball, he fought for his country and he was a great human being. It's an honor to know that his family felt I deserved to wear that jersey."

The Wolverines (2-0) had a pair of 14-point leads, but the Fighting Irish (1-1) refused to be routed.

Notre Dame pulled within a TD early in the fourth quarter when Tuitt made a diving interception in the end zone -- a few snaps after the Irish turned the ball over on downs -- on a pass Gardner was trying to throw away to avoid a safety.

"I made a horrible decision," Gardner said. "But the defense gave me a place to stand. They told me they believed in me and I finished it."

No Luck For Irish

Brian Kelly is the fourth straight Notre Dame coach with a losing record at Michigan. Here's a look at how the last five have fared:

Coach	W-L
Brian Kelly	0-2
Charlie Weis	1-2
Tyrone Willingham	0-1
Bob Davie	0-2
Lou Holtz	3-1
-- All games since 1987 -- ESPN Stats & Information

Kyle Brindza made a 40-yard field goal with 9:15 left to pull Notre Dame within four points.

The Irish were called for pass interference twice -- once on a questionable call when Bennett Jackson intercepted Gardner's pass deep in Notre Dame territory -- on the ensuing drive and Gardner later took advantage by accounting for a fifth TD.

Tommy Rees threw a second interception with 1:29 left.

"We came up just short on some key plays," Kelly said.

Michigan's Jeremy Gallon had career highs with three TDs and 184 yards receiving.

"I can't even imagine having a game like this," he said. "My teammates made this happen, not me."

Fitzgerald Toussaint gave the Wolverines just enough of a running game, gaining 71 yards on 22 carries and he also turned a short pass into a 31-yard catch on the final scoring drive.

Rees was 29 of 51 for 314 yards with two TDs and two interceptions -- both to Blake Countess. The first pick helped Michigan take a 27-13 lead at halftime.

"I'd like to have that one throw right before the half back," Kelly said.

That was one of many passes Rees lamented.

"I take accountability for some of those throws and missed opportunities," Rees said.

TJ Jones had nine receptions for 94 yards and a TD. Amir Carlisle ran for 64 yards on 12 attempts for the Irish.

The attendance record beat the one set two years ago when the Wolverines beat Notre Dame 35-31 -- a game with three lead changes in the last 1:12 -- that captivated 114,804 at Michigan Stadium.

Team Stat Comparison

	ND	MICH
1st Downs	23	25
Total Yards	410	460
Passing	314	294
Rushing	96	166
Penalties	4-33	6-50
3rd Down Conversions	8-15	6-12
4th Down Conversions	0-2	0-0
Turnovers	2	1
Possession	25:56	34:04

Passing Leaders


Notre Dame	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Rees	29/51	314	6.2	2	2

Michigan	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Gardner	21/33	294	8.9	4	1

Rushing Leaders


Notre Dame	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
Carlisle	12	64	5.3	0	14
Atkinson III	5	37	7.4	0	16

Michigan	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
Gardner	13	82	6.3	1	35
Toussaint	22	71	3.2	0	22

Receiving Leaders


Notre Dame	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
Jones	9	94	10.4	1	23
Niklas	6	76	12.7	1	21

Michigan	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LG
Gallon	8	184	23.0	3	61
Toussaint	1	31	31.0	0	31

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER				ND	MICH
	FG	09:00	Brendan Gibbons 44 Yd Watch Highlight	0	3
	TD	05:35	Jeremy Gallon 61 Yd Pass From Devin Gardner (Brendan Gibbons Kick) Watch Highlight	0	10
	TD	02:01	TJ Jones 4 Yd Pass From Tommy Rees (Kyle Brindza Kick) Watch Highlight	7	10
SECOND QUARTER				ND	MICH
	FG	14:05	Kyle Brindza 44 Yd Watch Highlight	10	10
	TD	08:43	Devin Gardner 2 Yd Run (Brendan Gibbons Kick) Watch Highlight	10	17
	FG	05:49	Kyle Brindza 24 Yd Watch Highlight	13	17
	FG	01:56	Brendan Gibbons 38 Yd Watch Highlight	13	20
	TD	01:09	Jeremy Gallon 12 Yd Pass From Devin Gardner (Brendan Gibbons Kick) Watch Highlight	13	27
THIRD QUARTER				ND	MICH
	TD	04:55	Troy Niklas 20 Yd Pass From Tommy Rees (Kyle Brindza Kick) Watch Highlight	20	27
	TD	01:54	Jeremy Gallon 13 Yd Pass From Devin Gardner (Brendan Gibbons Kick) Watch Highlight	20	34
FOURTH QUARTER				ND	MICH
	TD	12:06	Stephon Tuitt 0 Yd Interception Return (Kyle Brindza Kick) Watch Highlight	27	34
	FG	09:15	Kyle Brindza 40 Yd Watch Highlight	30	34
	TD	04:18	Drew Dileo 4 Yd Pass From Devin Gardner (Brendan Gibbons Kick) Watch Highlight	30	41

Research Notes

NEXT LEVEL: Devin Gardner made the Fighting Irish pay when they brought four or fewer pass rushers, completing more than 80% of passes against a standard pass rush. His go-to receiver was Jeremy Gallon, who had 143 of his career-high 184 yards in those situations. When the Irish did blitz, Gardner committed his only turnover of the game and completed less than 50% of his passes.

[+]

NEXT LEVEL: Michigan scored a touchdown on all four of its red-zone trips on Saturday, with Devin Gardner accounting for every score. The Wolverines have scored a touchdown on 23-of-27 red-zone trips with Gardner at quarterback in his seven career starts. Gardner has accounted for 19 of those touchdowns, and has not committing a single turnover.

[+]

Brendan Gibbons has now made 15 straight field goals, setting the Michigan record for consecutive FG made. Previous record was 14 set by Remy Hamilton in 1996.

NEXT LEVEL: After completing 56% of his passes thrown 15 yards or longer last week against Temple, Tommy Rees struggled on such throws Saturday against Michigan. Rees barely completed 30% of such throws against Michigan, including going 0-for-5 in second half.

[+]

Stephen Tuitt's 0-yard interception return touchdown was rare. There have been four 0-yard interception return touchdowns in the last 10 seasons with the most recent before Saturday recorded by UCLA's Akeem Ayers against Oregon in 2009.

[+]

Michigan and Notre Dame is a rivalry that dates back to 1887, just 2 years after the first gas automobile was developed. It's also the same year that Hall of Fame hurler Walter Johnson was born, and that first meeting happened 2 years before the Eiffel Tower opened. Idaho was also 3 years away from being named a state.

[+]

ESPN Stats & Information

ESPN College Football

(14) Notre Dame 30

(17) Michigan 41

Host Michigan bests Notre Dame before record crowd of 115,109

Michigan Holds Off ND At The Big House

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Michigan Holds Off ND At The Big House

Rittenberg: Michigan Quiets The Echoes

No Luck For Irish

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Top 25 Overview

Team Stat Comparison

Passing Leaders

Rushing Leaders

Receiving Leaders

Scoring Summary