‘Heroes’ assist No. 3 Michigan previous Illinois to stay unbeaten

ANN Arbor, Mich. — Michigan discovered itself down 17-16 in opposition to Illinois within the fourth quarter with solely 9 seconds to go, when senior kicker Jake Moody ran onto the sphere for what can be the final kick of his faculty profession at Michigan Stadium.

Moody had by no means kicked a game-winning discipline purpose in his complete profession, however he lined up for the 35-yard discipline purpose from the precise hash and put it straight by way of the uprights to maintain Michigan’s undefeated season alive with a 19-17 win. It was Moody’s fourth discipline purpose of the sport, however he mentioned there hasn’t been one other kick he is had that compares to this one in opposition to Illinois.

“For it to be in my ultimate recreation on the Huge Home, it was fairly magical,” Moody mentioned. “I am simply glad we might ship out the seniors on a very good be aware.”

Moody received the Lou Groza Award final season, awarded to the nation’s greatest kicker, and had made 25 of 30 discipline targets prior to creating all 4 in opposition to Illinois.

After his staff gutted out a win within the ultimate seconds, Jim Harbaugh mentioned he has a locker room “filled with heroes,” which included Moody and his heroics on the day. There had solely been one different top-five Faculty Soccer Playoff staff to beat a last-minute deficit coming into Saturday, when Alabama beat LSU in 2014, and Harbaugh’s staff had achieved the identical on the foot of his star kicker.

Harbaugh highlighted most of his gamers, however spent practically three minutes discussing Moody and the efficiency he placed on to maintain the No. 3 Wolverines’ playoff hopes in-tact.

“I do not know if any of us actually fairly comprehend what that feeling’s like that he skilled as we speak,” Harbaugh mentioned. “When he got here into the locker room, each man was chanting his title. It was an incredible celebration.”

Even though quarterback J.J. McCarthy accomplished simply 53 p.c of his passes and the staff noticed star operating again Blake Corum endure an obvious knee damage late within the second quarter, Harbaugh solely centered on the positives and describing this season as a cheerful journey with a staff of heroes.

Harbaugh wasn’t involved in regards to the damage to Corum or defensive finish Mike Morris or tight finish Luke Schoonmaker, saying that whoever is on the perimeter will possible play within the ultimate contest in opposition to Ohio State. Corum’s x-rays got here again damaging and the one replace Harbaugh did give was that there wasn’t something significantly injured structurally.

Harbaugh introduced the dialog proper again to his kicker, although, and described intimately every of the 4 kicks from Moody and the way spectacular it was with chilly and windy circumstances.

He in contrast the late comeback to the competition Michigan had with Penn State within the 2021 season when Michigan was trailing the Nittany Lions by 4 factors within the fourth quarter. Tight finish Erick All caught a cross from quarterback Cade McNamara and ran it in for a 47-yard landing to place the Wolverines forward and provides his staff the win.

The passing recreation had its struggles this time round and the staff was with out its greatest operating again, trying to its most constant participant to carry dwelling the win in Moody. He famous he wasn’t any extra nervous than he can be for some other discipline purpose, however Moody famous he understood what this kick meant for his staff.

He lined up, with the wind at his again, and put three factors on the board to ship his staff to Columbus, Ohio, undefeated and an opportunity at extending their season.

“Legend. I have been watching Michigan soccer since I used to be a child, fairly first rate historian of Michigan soccer,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I’m nominating him for legendary standing on the college.”