A football game between Notre Dame and the University of Michigan is always going to be a quality confrontation (seeing as they're rivals), this game especially was going to be great before the opening kick-off. This game was the first ever night game to be played in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan's Big House stadium. With a record crowd in attendance the game was set to begin. The Fighting Irish started the game off strong with two drives in the first quarter to put them up by fourteen. These drives were led by Fighting Irish quarter back Tommy Rees, who looked strong in the first half of the contest. Finally, the Michigan Wolverines would inch their way back as with a forty-three yard pass from Wolverine football savior Denard Robinson, to lead wide receiver Ernest Hemingway, making the score 14-7. The Irish responded with a lackluster drive that ended in a field goal kicked by kicker David Ruffer to end the half with a score of 17-7. At halftime the game seemed close, but overall the Irish were outplaying, out hustling and out thinking the Wolverines. The third quarter seemed to have the same feel, the Irish put another score on the board; this time with a pass from Tommy Rees to wide receiver T.J. Jones. The rest of the quarter went without a score by both teams putting the Irish ahead 24-7 three-fourths through the game. Between the third and fourth quarter though something ticked within the U of M offense, and that "tick" was star quarterback Denard Robinson. U of M scored with three consecutive drives that brought the game back out of the clenches that the Irish had. The first drive concluded with a one yard rush from Robinson after a fumble to bring the game to a score of 24-14. The second drive ended with Robinson connecting with receiver Jeremy Gallon for 7 more points, putting the game back into reach at 24-21. The Wolverines took their first lead of the night after scoring once again with a pass from Robinson to receiver Vincent Smith to take their first lead of the night at 24-28. Tommy Rees responded, showing his leadership and composure in a stressful situation by leading his team down the field and finally finding receiver Theo Riddick to capture the lead once again, but this was short lived. Denard Robinson once again took control of the game by adding seven more points to the board, going through the air and connecting with receiver Roy Roundtree,with two seconds left in the game, to take the lead for the second time in the game, at 35-31 and consequently win the rivalry game with a hard-fought comeback that was rewarded the Wolverines with another "W" in the win column.
After the first half of this game though it obviously became "The Denard Robinson" show, like many Michigan games have in the past year. Robinson threw for 338 yards with 4 touchdown passes, rushed for 108 yards (as a quarterback) and had 3 interceptions. All in all, the game was not held up for Michigan to win, it was held up for Notre Dame to lose. The Irish offense and defense both "shut down" after the first half, basically handing the game over to Michigan (most notably Michigan wonder-boy Denard Robinson). We cannot discredit Notre Dame's leader and quarterback Tommy Rees. Rees passed for 315 yards with 3 touchdown passes, and didn't run the ball (like quarterbacks should) and had 2 interceptions. In conclusion, this game was a classic contest between Notre Dame and Michigan, it will be forever talked about as the game "Robinson saved".
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