By John Raffel

Ann Arbor, MI, United States

No. 19 Michigan scored on all of its six possessions in the first half for a 38-0 lead and went on to a 58-0 victory over Minnesota in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams at Michigan Stadium Saturday.

It marked undefeated Michigan's first shutout of the season. Outside of a 35-31 win over Notre Dame the second week of the season, the Wolverines have outscored their other four opponents 151-20.

Michigan is 5-0 while Minnesota is 1-4. The game was also the battle for the Little Brown Jug, which belongs to Michigan ever since the Wolverines defeated Minnesota 29-6 in 2008, the last time the two teams met. The trophy has existed since 1903.

The Wolverines marched 80 yards on the first drive of the game to paydirt in seven plays with Vincent Smith running it in from three yards out.

Smith also threw for a TD and caught a touchdown.

On their next possession, the Wolverines drove 75 yards on six plays with quarterback Denard Robinson scampering to the end zone from nine yards out.

On the first play of the second quarter, Smith, from his running back position, passed the ball to Drew Dileo 17 yards for the touchdown.

On their next drive, the Wolverines went 69 yards with Robinson passing to Smith for the 28-yard touchdown.

On Michigan's fifth drive, the Wolverines settled for a 25-yard field goal from Brendan Gibbons.

Robinson passed to Kevin Koger 18 yards for another Michigan touchdown on the Wolverines' sixth and final drive of the half.

Michigan wasn't forced to punt until the third quarter. Midway in the quarter, the Wolverines scored on a 1-yard run by Fitzgerald Toussaint. Gibbons kicked a 32-yard field goal later in the quarter. He also booted a 38-yarder in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota had a 96-yard touchdown return on a kickoff by Marcus Jones nullified by a holding penalty late in the third.

Michigan's Courtney Avery returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Robinson was 15-of-19 for 169 yards passing and rushed for 51 yards for Michigan. Toussaint gained 108 yards on the ground.

Max Shortell passed for 86 yards to lead Minnesota.

Saturday's game attracted 111,106 fans.

 

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Michigan Marches On: Undefeated Wolverines Roar Past Minnesota