Michigan-Toledo Football Live Blog

By Dan Feldman, written on Oct. 11, 2008

The Michigan football team is set to take on Toledo at noon, and we’ll be providing live updates all game.

Junior defensive end Brandon Graham is not dressed. Wednesday, Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Graham was questionable with a leg infection. Graham has been a disruptive pass rusher, tallying five sacks.

The other notable players not dressed are expected — sophomore wide receiver Junior Hemingway and senior linebacker Austin Panter.

Freshman wide receiver Darryl Stonum (ZACHARY MEISNER/Daily)

Warmups: Freshman wide receiver Darryl Stonum is dressed after serving a one-game suspension last week for a violation of team rules. Rodriguez announced he will play. My guess is he won’t start.

Freshman Justin Feagin, originally recruited as a quarterback, is taking reps with the slot receivers.

Motown Bowltown: We were just handed brochures about the Motor City Bowl. Quite a different feel this year for Michigan.

Motor City Bowl: Who has the most appearances in the game?

Answer: Marshall with four.

Lineup: Redshirt freshman Ryan Van Bergen will start in place of Graham at defensive end.

Sophomore Toney Clemons will start at slot receiver in place of freshman Martavious Odoms, who is a bit banged up.

Redshirt junior LaTerryal Savoy is starting at receiver opposite junior Greg Mathews. Looks like I’m right on Stonum, but the announced starters don’t alway correspond on the field.

Coin toss: John Thompson, Shakir Edwards, Jason Olesnavage and Terrance Taylor are Michigan’s captains. Toledo won the toss and deffered.

The student section is about two-thirds full.

13:44 The kickoff went out bounds so Michigan took over at their own 40-yard line. But two Sam McGuffie runs for a loss and an incomplete pass led to a Zoltan Mesko punt. The Rockets will have to take over at their own four.

Freshman Boubacar Cissoko is starting in place of sophomore Donovan Warren. And Zion Babb started over Stonum.

9:22 Toledo gained a few first downs, but its drive stalled at its own 49-yard line. The Rocket snap on the punt was bad and Michigan will take over at the Rocket 33.

6:05 Michigan ran exclusively, with McGuffie and redshirt junior Kevin Grady, to get to the five-yard line. On the Wolverines first pass of the drive, Tyrrell Herbert intercepted the ball in the end zone. His 100-yard return for a touchdown was the longest in Michigan Stadium and Toledo history. The Rockets lead 7-0.

Stonum appeared on this drive. So did Carson Butler

6:00 James Rogers field the squib kick and took it 24 yard to the Michigan 49

3:33 After Michigan picked up a first down, Steven Threet overthrew Kevin Koger over the middle on third-and-10 from the Toledo 39. Koger made nice play to break up Threet’s potential second pick.

1:59 Toledo took a timeout before the Michigan punt. Toledo fair caught at the 13-yard line.

Michigan forced a three-and-out.

The punt took a Michigan bounce, and the Wolverines will take over at their own 45.

:23 After a Mark Moundros run for a first down, Threet hit Clemons downfield to take the Wolverines to the 27. Threet hit Brandon Minor over the middle for a touchdown on the next play. Minor coughed the ball up as he crossed the goal line, but it was ruled a touchdown. The play is being reviewed.

Brandon Minor in the end zone (ZACHARY MEISNER/Daily)

The play stands. Michigan and Toledo are tied 7-7.

End of first quarter After the kickoff, Toledo took over at its own 32. After Brandon Harrison stuffed a short pass, the firs quarter ended.

Michigan’s offense has looked progressively better, but only by baby steps. The defense seems to be tightening up, but it has a ways to go. Toledo hasn’t faced much pressure on offense.

13:45 The Rockets had a chop block, which led to another three-and-out. They interfered with with the punt return, giving Michigan the ball at its own 46-yard line. The 30 yards in penalties are just four short of Michigan’s rushing total.

11:36 McGuffie was stuffed on on off-tackle run left on a fourth-and-inches play at the Toledo 44. After bringing out the sticks, it was called a first down.

Threet dropped back to pass, and saw only running room in front of him. He took off for 12 yards, and was hit late, tacking on another 12, taking the Wolverines to 16.

Shaw had his first carry of the game on the drive on the next play, and Toledo took a timeout.

10:22 K.C. Lopata kicked a 26-yard field goal to give Michigan a 10-7 lead.

10:15 Toledo dropped the kickoff, but picked it up and ran with it. Ian Robinson’s bold prediction is looking good.

5:28 Cissoko was tested on a deep pass along the right sideline, and he met the challenge - following the receiver step for step and breaking up the pass.

But the Rockets moved the ball downfield on their next couple of passes. Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt has had plenty of time to throw. Michigan is missing Graham.

Doug Dutch and Charles Stewart missed key tackles on the drive. And Stevie Brown picked up a late hit to helop the Rocket drive more.

Michigan was confused on third-and-goal from the three and took a timeout.

5:19 A fade try was overthrown, and Toledo missed a 21-yard field to leave the score 10-7 Michigan.

3:35 Michigan went three-and-out, and Mesko’s punt was fair caught at the Toledo 39.

1:50 Toledo’s drive stalled at the Michigan 42, and Michigan called a timeout.

1:42 Michigan will take over at its own 17-yard line. Let’s see if they try to drive downfield. Rodriguez did against Utah late in the first, and an interception set up a Ute touchdown.

:00 A pair of McGuffie runs took the Wolverines to their own 38. On the next play, Threet missed an open Moundros streaking down the right sideline.

Rodriguez went back to McGuffie, and he ran to the Toledo 38. But a Stephen Schilling holding penalty, negated the run.

A McGuffie run for nothing ends the half.

Halftime: Michigan 10, Toledo 7

Entering the game, you knew you wouldn’t learn a lot about Michigan today, unless it lost. And, boy, haven’t you.

Both team have put together a few nice plays on both sides of the ball, but never in any consistent fashion.

Michigan’s pass rush has been weak, but Graham isn’t playing. The Wolverines’ tackling isn’t too crisp, either. But the defense hasn’t allowed a Toledo score. It has been unimpressive, yet effective enough.

Threet has continued to look scatter-armed on downfield passes. McGuffie has been up and down. The offensive line hasn’t been too impressive, but has opened some holes.

And all this against a MAC team. This game hasn’t told much about Michigan’s chances going forward. All that can be said is the Wolverines need the win to help their bowl hopes.

Crowd: The announced attendance is 107,267.

Redshirt freshman Steven Threet (ZACHARY MEISNER/Daily)

8:57 On Toledo’s first play, Terrance Taylor had a good push to stuff a run. But on third-and-12, the Wolverines had no pressure, allowing a first-down pass over the middle.

Several pass plays moved the ball downfield with relative ease, but the Rocket drive stalled at the 11-yard line. The 18-yard field goal was good, tying the game at 10.

Michigan rarely had pressure, and it’s defensive backs were allowing catches and immediate tackles.

8:53 Sheridan is in at quarterback. He had runs of eight and 10 yards on the drive, but took a sack to end the drive.  Greg Mathews picked up a personal foul after play.

Threet didn’t seem to do anything wrong, but he hadn’t done much right. Story of the game for all phases for Michigan.

5:22 Michael Williams chased down Mesko’s solid punt to keep it from bouncing into the end zone. Long-snapper Sean Griffin downed the ball at four. Might be Michigan’s most impressive play of the game.

1:14 Toledo marched downfield to the Michigan 44. The Wolverine defense looked out of position on a number of play. It’s probably a combination of not knowing schemes and not being athletic enough to implement them correctly. A couple errant passes by Opelt (under minimal pressure) ended the drive. Michigan takes over at its own 7-yard line, and it looks like Sheridan will still be the quarterback.

:00 McGuffie had a few nice runs, but an Ortmann hold negated one of them. Michigan has second-and-17 on its own 25.

14:55 Sheridan slung a pass to Clemons, he tipped it up and Toledo intercepted. The Rockets take over at the Michigan 40. The pass hit Clemons in the hands, but was a touch wide.

11:46 Michael Williams hit Opelt from the blind side on a third-down blitz. The 48-yard hit the cross bar and bounced over. The Toledo sideline pretty pumped. Toledo leads 13-10.

Rocket receiver Nick Moore now has 17 catches, a record for Toledo and any Michigan opponent. Maybe the Wolverines should go to the nickel and dime a bit more.

11:41 Avery Horn had a nice return to the 40, but Jordan Reilly pushed a Toledo player after the play, drawing a 15-yard penalty. Michigan may be losing its composure. It’s fans are definitely growing restless.

10:34 Sheridan threw an incompletion while scrambling and short pass to McGuffie on third down. I’d put Threet back in. Michigan will have to punt after Toledo’s injury timeout. Odoms just ran alone to the tunnel.

10:32 Mesko just had a nice punt with a nice roll that pinned Toledo at its 8. He’s easily having Michigan’s best game. Now let’s see if the Wolverines cover Moore.

7:26 Moore had two catches on the drive, but dropped a low pass on third down. The Rockets will punt.

7:14 Michigan takes over at the 13 after Greg Mathews lets the ball bounce. Sheridan will be back in. The Wolverines have no bounce in their step at all. The players on the sideline are just swaying aimlessly.

Sheridan hit Clemons on third-and-four for 12 yards and a first down. Michigan picked up another first down on runs by Sheridan and McGuffie.

A pass interference call on a pass to Mathews added another first down. But Clemons dropped another pass leading to an interception on third down. The Rockets take over at their 27.

We’re heading down to the field. Check MichiganDaily.com later today and Monday for more coverage of today’s game.