Michigan pulled off a wild 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, but you gotta talk about how it went down. This was a controversial Hail Mary finish, the kind of game that gets talked about all week. Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s quarterback, said he just wanted to “give my guys an opportunity, and that’s what I did.” No kidding.
Underwood’s Trust and the Hail Mary Prep
Underwood made it clear this wasn’t some fluke play. He told reporters, “Excitement, we built a lot of trust over the last eight or nine months.” That trust paid off big. What’s even crazier? Underwood actually revealed they practiced Hail Marys several times in the week leading up to this game. Talk about preparation meeting opportunity! With just seven seconds left in the fourth quarter, Michigan trailed 12-7 and had the ball at Western Michigan’s 47-yard line.
One Second, Two Chances, and Pure Relief
The first Hail Mary attempt from Underwood sailed past the back of the end zone, looking like the game was over. But wait, there’s a review. Officials put one second back on the clock, giving Michigan a shocking second chance. That’s when the real drama unfolded. On Michigan’s second Hail Mary, JJ Buchanan hauled in a deep pass from Underwood for the game-winning touchdown. Buchanan was honest after the catch, saying, “I don’t know what I saw. I just saw the ball, and I attacked it.” He added, “The team needed a play, and there’s not too much practice that goes into that, you just run down and see the ball. When I caught it, it was just relief.”
That’s the kind of finish that kicks off a season with a bang, whether you agree with the controversial call or not. This game is going to be replayed and debated for a long, long time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply