Corum, McCarthy lead Michigan by Iowa
Hawkeyes defense can’t solve No. 4 Wolverines’ QB and RB
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Michigan was ready to play at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, right down to the pink towels.
The No. 4 Wolverines knew that five of the last six top 5 teams who played at the Hawkeyes’ home were beaten. Michigan was prepared.
Michigan scored on four of its first five possessions, then fought off a late Iowa rally for a 27-14 win on Saturday.
Blake Corum rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown, J.J. McCarthy threw for 155 yards and a touchdown and the Wolverines (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten Conference) were able to consistently move the ball against the Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1).
Iowa came into the game leading the nation in scoring defense and ranked sixth in total defense and rushing defense, but Michigan had 327 yards, including 172 rushing yards.
Michigan, playing its first road game of the season, wasn’t going to be bothered with the atmosphere, and it started before the game.
The visiting team’s locker room at Iowa is known for the pink paint on the walls and ceiling.
Several of the Wolverines countered the psychology by waving pink towels on the sideline before the opening kickoff.
“We wanted to embrace everything in front of us,” said Michigan defensive end Mike Morris.
Added McCarthy: “It let them know that we don’t care. Pink locker room, bring it out to the field. Doesn’t matter. Didn’t faze us.”
Ronnie Bell had a 16-yard touchdown run on the opening possession. Jake Moody’s two second-quarter field goals gave the Wolverines a 13-0 halftime lead, then McCarthy threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Edwards on Michigan’s opening possession of the third quarter.
Bell’s run finished an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock, a sign of how the Wolverines would control the game.
“That’s how you start a game,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “It was an impressive drive, and the game was impressive all around.”
“Right from the get-go, I knew we had the jump on them,” said tight end Luke Schoonmaker.
“They did a good job of setting the tone, making it very difficult for us,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.
Corum’s 20-yard touchdown run with 1:19 left in the game closed the scoring for the Wolverines.
It was the sixth 100-yard rushing game of Corum’s career. Corum, who had 29 carries, was coming off a career-high 243 yards in last weekend’s 34-27 victory over Maryland.
Michigan ran 66 plays, gaining an average of five yards per play.