8A — Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Sports
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

T E A M S T A T S

 

MICH
OPP

Points/Game
46.6
11.6

First Downs/Game
23.9
12.1

Rush Yards/Game
249.0
111.1

 Yards/Rush
5.4
3.3

 Rushing TDs
31
3

Passing Yards/Game
228.1
120.1

 Completion %
63.9%
41.7%

 Yards/Pass
8.0
5.0

 Passing TDs
14
8

 Interceptions
3
8

Offensive Plays/Game
74.8
58.1

Total Offense
477.1
231.2

3rd-down Conversions
47.7%
15.5%

4th-down Conversions
66.7%
35.3%

Sacks/Game
3.4
1.4

Kick return average
17.2
20.7

Punt return average
17.9
8.8

Punting average
42.1
38.1

Field Goals-Attempts
9-14
3-7

Fumbles/Lost
8/3
12/5

Penalty Yards/Game
43.4
46.0

Time of Poss
33:48
26:13

I N D I V I D U A L S T A T S

PASSING

Player
Cmp
Att
Yds
TD
INT

Speight
130
207
1691
13
3

O’Korn
11
15
89
1
0

Morris
4
5
45
0
0

TOTALS
145
227
1825
14
3

RUSHING

Player
Att
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD

Smith, D.
90
450
5.0
42
5

Evans
53
424
8.0
57
3

Higdon
53
403
7.6
45
6

Isaac
66
348
5.3
34
4

McDoom
12
138
11.5
33
0

Peppers
15
131
8.7
63
3

Chesson
9
47
5.2
17
1

Hill
19
33
1.7
4
8

Henderson
4
29
7.2
13
1

Morris
3
19
6.3
14
0

Davis
2
17
8.5
10
0

Crawford
3
15
5.0
11
0

O’Korn
6
12
2.0
3
0

Hirsch
1
2
2.0
2
0

Wilson
1
1
1.0
1
0

Beneducci
1
1
1.0
1
0

Hewlett
2
-1
-0.5
0
0

Gedeon
1
-2
-2.0
0
0

Allen
1
-11
-11.0
0
0

TEAM
10
-15
-1.5
0
0

Speight
19
-49
-2.6
10
0

TOTALS
371
1992
5.4
63
31

RECEIVING

Player
No.
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD

Darboh
38
664
17.5
46
5

Butt
29
345
11.9
26
4

Chesson
20
304
15.2
35
1

Perry
6
114
19.0
54
1

Hill
10
75
7.5
15
1

McDoom
4
53
13.3
33
0

Poggi
5
33
6.6
15
0

Evans
4
28
7.0
14
0

Wheatley
2
27
13.5
21
1

Ways
2
24
12.0
22
0

Henderson
1
23
23.0
23
0

Smith, D.
10
21
2.1
9
0

Isaac
1
21
21.0
21
0

Asiasi
2
18
9.0
15
1

Crawford
1
18
18.0
18
0

Hirsch
1
15
15.0
15
0

Jocz
1
12
12.0
12
0

McKeon
2
10
5.0
5
0

Harris
1
7
7.0
7
0

Bunting
2
6
3.0
4
0

Johnson, N.
1
4
4.0
4
0

Peppers
2
3
1.5
5
0

TOTALS
145
1825
12.6
54
14

 

PUNT RETURNS

Player
No.
Yds
Avg. Long
TD

Peppers
15
257
17.1
54
1

Jocz
1
27
27.0
0
0

Evans
1
15
15.0
15
0

Perry
0
6
--
6
1

TOTALS
17
305
17.9
54
2

INTERCEPTION RETURNS

Player
No.
Yds
Avg. Long
TD

Stribling
3
60
20.0
51
1

Hill, D.
1
27
27.0
27
1

McCray
1
22
22.0
22
0

Thomas
1
4
4.0
4
0

Lewis
2
0
0.0
0
0

TOTALS
8
113
14.1
51
2

FUMBLE RETURNS

Player
No.
Yds
Avg. Long
TD

Hill, L.
1
9
9.0
9
0

TOTALS
1
9
9.0
9
0

KICKOFF RETURNS

Player
No.
Yds
Avg. Long
TD

Peppers
6
168
28.0
55
0

Lewis
3
34
11.3
18
0

Henderson
2
28
14.0
15
0

Hudson
1
6
6.0
6
0

Hill, K.
2
5
2.5
5
0

TOTALS
14
241
17.2
55
0

KICKOFFS

Player
No.
Yds
Avg.
TB

Allen
53
3392
64.0
28

Foug
8
460
57.5
2

Tice
3
189
63.0
0

TOTALS
64
4041
63.1
30

PUNTING

Player
No.
Yds
Avg.
Lg

Allen
27
1138
42.1
56

TOTALS
27
1138
42.1
56

FIELD GOALS

Player
FG
Pct.
1-19 20-29 30-3940-49 50+ Lg

Allen
9-13 69.2% 0-0 5-5 3-5
1-3 0-0 45

Tice
0-1 0.0% 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-0 0

LEADING TACKLERS

Player
Solo Ast
Tot
TFL
SK
PBU

Gedeon
22
39
61
8.5
3.0
2

Peppers
31
17
48
12.5
3.5
-

McCray
18
25
43
8.0
3.5
4

Thomas
18
16
34
-
-
4

Hill, D.
20
10
30
2.0
-
2

Winovich
6
20
26
5.5
2.0
-

Glasgow, R.
5
21
26
4.0
1.0
1

Wormley
9
13
22
5.5
4.0
-

Gary
7
15
22
5.0
1.0
-

Hurst
9
11
20
6.5
3.0
-

Godin
7
13
20
2.0
1.0
-

Charlton
7
12
19
4.5
4.0
-

Lewis
11
5
16
2.5
-
3

Stribling
7
8
15
1.0
-
7

Kinnel
6
4
10
-
-
-

Clark
6
4
10
-
-
3

Watson
6
4
10
-
-
-

Metellus
6
2
8
1.0
1.0
-

Glasgow, J.
5
3
8
-
-
-

Hudson
3
5
8
0.5
-
1

Bush
3
5
8
0.5
-
-

Pearson
2
4
6
-
-
-

TOTALS
232 280 512
71
27
28

2016 SCHEDULE

HAWAII (4-5)

W, 63-3 (1-0)

UCF (4-4)
COLORADO (6-2)
PENN ST. (6-2)
WISCONSIN (6-2) at RUTGERS (2-6)
ILLINOIS (2-6)
at MICH. ST. (2-6) MARYLAND (5-3)

3:30 p.m., Michigan Stadium

at IOWA (5-3)

8 p.m., Iowa City, Iowa

INDIANA (4-4)

Michigan Stadium

at OHIO ST. (7-1)

Noon, Columbus, Ohio

9/3
9/10
9/17
9/24
10/1
10/8
10/22
10/29
11/5
11/12
11/19
11/26

W, 51-14 (2-0) W, 45-28 (3-0) W, 49-10 (4-0) W, 14-7 (5-0) W, 78-0 (6-0) W, 41-8 (7-0) W, 32-23 (8-0)

Michigan turns to Bens to carry O-line’s left side

One of the Bens on the left 

side of Michigan’s offensive 
line is a fifth-year senior, and 
the other is a true freshman, 
but the similarities between 
them outweigh the differences.

Ben Braden, a fifth-year 

senior from Rockford, Mich., 
will make his 32nd career start 
on the Wolverines’ offensive 
line 
this 
weekend 
against 

Maryland. Ben Bredeson, a 
true freshman from Hartland, 
Wisc., will likely make his 
fourth.

The two lived next to each 

other for the duration of fall 
camp, and now they play next 
to each other, Braden at left 
tackle, Bredeson at left guard. 
In addition to their dorm this 
summer and their first name, 
they also share a meeting room, 
a heritage from the Upper 
Midwest and a love of hockey.

Michigan made the change 

during its bye week to start both 
of them against Illinois on Oct. 
22 and against Michigan State 
on Saturday. After starting left 
tackle Grant Newsome suffered 
a season-ending knee injury Oct. 
1, the Wolverines gave redshirt 
sophomore 
Juwann 
Bushell-

Beatty the nod at that position 
the next week against Rutgers. 
They also started Bredeson 
in place of Braden — who has 
battled injuries for most of the 
season — at left guard.

Michigan then emerged from 

its bye week in a new alignment, 
starting Braden at left tackle 
for the first time in his career. 
It was not a drastic change, nor 
did it respond to a significant 
need. But when the Wolverines 
tested different arrangements 
during their week off, they 
found success with Braden and 
Bredeson on the left side, and 
so the two Bens it was.

“We were constantly fluid, 

changing things up all the 
time,” Bredeson said. “You 

just have to stay ready, and 
that’s what I did. That’s what 
everyone on the line does. We 
all have to be ready to go when 
our number gets called.”

That wasn’t always the case. 

Michigan started the same 
five offensive linemen in the 
same five spots for all 13 games 
last season. Newsome, who 
occasionally played as a sixth 
offensive lineman, was the only 
other one to play significant 
snaps.

This year, the Wolverines 

have 
used 
four 
different 

combinations, with all of the 
changes coming on the left 
side. Part of the fluctuation is 
because of Newsome’s injury, 
and another part is depth 

— Michigan did not have 
Bredeson last year, and Bushell-
Beatty played sparingly until 
last month.

The unit also appears to 

be more versatile this season. 
Junior 
center 
Mason 
Cole 

started at left tackle for two 
years. Bredeson often draws 
comparisons to him for his 
ability to move around. And 
until Braden went in at left 
tackle during the bye week, he 
had not practiced there since 
fall camp.

Among Michigan’s group, 

Bredeson steps into a group 
with three fifth-year seniors 
and another three-year starter 
in Cole. He seems to have built 
a particularly strong rapport 

with Braden.

When he first spoke to 

media in late September before 
the Wisconsin game, he said 
Braden had mentored him “a lot 
more than you can imagine.” 
The two also room together in 
the team hotel the night before 
each game.

“He’s helped me with plays, 

protections, pregame tests, life, 
basically everything,” Bredeson 
said in September. “… He has 
gone far out of his way to help 
me, mentally and physically, 
with the game.”

Braden 
gives 
similarly 

complimentary remarks about 
Bredeson, who backed him 
up at left guard before both 
cracked the starting lineup and 

who appears to be the future of 
the offensive line.

“Bredeson’s a good kid,” 

Braden said. “He works really 
hard. Smart guy, great attitude, 
great character. … I’ve really 
enjoyed getting to know him, 
and I definitely see myself 
growing with our friendship 
even 
when 
I’m 
not 
here 

anymore.”

As 
for 
the 
roommate 

assignment 
that 
sparked 
a 

particularly close friendship, 
Bredeson isn’t sure how that 
came about.

“I couldn’t tell you,” he said. 

“They just decided to make 
it confusing and put the two 
guys with the closest names 
together.”

JAKE LOURIM

Managing Sports Editor

AMANDA ALLEN/Daily

Fifth-year senior offensive lineman Ben Braden and freshman offensive lineman Ben Bredeson (74) have settled into their positions on the left side of the line.

Cole plays through sickness for standout game

Monday, 
Michigan 
coach 

Jim Harbaugh said that his 
youngsters would have to start 
drinking more whole milk. He 
wasn’t talking about his growing 
children, though.

Instead, it was his response 

to senior tight end Jake Butt 
and junior center Mason Cole, 
who were battling sicknesses 
last week. Both were still able to 
see the field and had a hand in 
defeating Michigan State, 32-23, 
and Cole even received high 
praise from Harbaugh.

“Mason Cole, there’s a guy,” 

Harbaugh said. “And I’ve always 
said this, too, but (I) experienced 
playing some of my best games 
with 
a 
temperature. 
There’s 

something that makes you focus 
more during a game. Mason was 
our offensive lineman of the 
week. I thought he had the best 
performance of our offensive 
line.”

Harbaugh 
also 
suggested 

doing more push-ups and using 
hand sanitizer to combat illness, 
though Cole’s sickness didn’t 
seem to have much of a negative 
impact on his game.

While he doesn’t necessarily 

agree with Harbaugh’s belief that 
being sick can set up for a great 
game, he understands where his 
coach is coming from.

“I can see what he’s saying,” 

Cole said. “When you’re not 
feeling right, you just focus on 
you. You kind of put everything 
else aside and you have to focus 
on you 100 percent to do your 
job.”

Nothing was going to detract 

from playing his in-state rival, 
and at no point did he anticipate 
being absent from the Michigan 
State game. 

“(My illness) really wasn’t that 

big of a deal,” Cole said. “There’s 

not much that can take you away 
from playing in that kind of an 
environment. You’ve gotta go 
there and perform and in that 
rivalry game and you just gotta do 
what you gotta do. It wasn’t bad — 
it wasn’t as bad as people made it 
sound.”

He attributed his illness to the 

changing seasons and said that 
people everywhere are working 
through the same thing. Luckily 
for the Wolverines, Cole is back 
to feeling healthy. He may have 
been physically unavailable for 
practice last week, but he said 
that he was there mentally.

As 
a 
three-year 
starter, 

Cole’s absence would be felt 
immediately. After two years at 
left tackle, Cole switched to the 
center position, which is a role 
he feels completely comfortable 
in. Despite spending more time 
at tackle, he now likes playing at 
center more.

Cole held Michigan State’s 

star defensive lineman Malik 
McDowell — who leads the 
Spartans 
with 
seven 
tackles 

for loss on the season — to just 
two tackles last weekend. Cole 
thought he played fairly well, 
despite missing some practice. 
The rest of his team wasn’t quite 
there though.

Michigan’s offense was prolific 

in the first half, scoring 27 points, 
but production slowed in the 
second. One of the offense’s most 
disappointing 
performances 

came during the fourth quarter, 
when Michigan went 2-for-7 
on third down and had just 16 
rushing yards.

“I think you’d like to see us go 

out there and see us get a few first 
downs and close out the game, 
but we didn’t,” Cole said. “But our 
defense came up big, our special 
teams came up big … they saved 
us, but it’s a team effort, and they 
covered us that time.”

Regardless of the changes that 

are occurring on the offensive 
line — with sophomore Grant 
Newsome out for the season and 
freshman Ben Bredeson earning a 
starting role — Cole has emerged 
as Michigan’s rock up in the 
middle.

“I mean, he’s moving people 

and getting his job done down 
after down, playing low and 
fast and physical,” Harbaugh 
said. “He’s really developing 
as a center, there’s no question 
about it. … (I) feel great that this 
is his position. He is an ideal, 
prototypical center and doing 
a great job. Just gotta boost his 
immune system.”

KELLY HALL

Daily Sports Editor

GRANT HARDY/Daily

Junior center Mason Cole played through an unspecified illness when the Wolverines beat Michigan State, 32-23, at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.

