One Grand Victory: U-M Earns 1000th Win With Hard-Fought ...

• Feature: Winningest Program Michigan Celebrates 1,000th Win

Site: College Park, Md. (SECU Stadium)Score: #2 Michigan 31, Maryland 24Records: U-M (11-0, 8-0 B1G), Maryland (6-5, 4-5 B1G)Attendance: 49,546Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 25 -- vs. Ohio State (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: Fox)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team recorded the program's 1,000th victory with a hard-fought 31-24 win at Maryland on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 18) at SECU Stadium.

To secure the victory in the back-and-forth contest, the Michigan defense made several key plays in a fourth quarter during which it held Maryland without points and to negative yardage. Defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant recorded sacks deep in Maryland territory, defensive back Mike Sainristil picked off a pass at midfield -- his second interception of the game and fifth of the season -- and the Wolverines forced their second safety of the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.

All told, the Wolverines defense held the Terrapins to just 15 rushing yards while recording a fumble recovery, two interceptions, a blocked punt, two safeties, four sacks and six tackles for loss and contributed 10 points of its own.

Offensively, U-M relied on the ground game for a second straight week, totaling 150 rushing yards. Running back Blake Corum ran for 94 yards on 28 carries and found the end zone twice in the win.

Early on, the Michigan rushing attack was on display, carrying the ball seven straight times and finding the end zone on its second drive. Corum ran the ball six times for 39 yards on the drive, including the two-yard score.

Corum added another score one quarter later, capping a drive of 7:33 with a one-yard touchdown -- his 20th of the season, tying Hassan Haskins' 2021 program record for most rushing touchdowns in a season.

After the Terrapins completed five-of-five passes for 41 yards on their first drive, the Michigan defense held Maryland to a field goal en route to a substantial first-half performance.

With two minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Wolverines found the end zone on a four-yard scoop-and-score by edge rusher Derrick Moore -- the first touchdown of his career. The ball was jarred loose on a sack by linebacker Michael Barrett -- his third forced fumble of the season.

After backing the Terrapins up to their own goal line on the next drive, the special teams unit got in on the scoring. A blocked punt by Christian Boivin turned into a safety when the Maryland punter kicked the ball out of the back of his own end zone.

The first half closed with a share of Maryland momentum as the Terrapins added a fourth-down, one-yard rushing touchdown and intercepted J.J. McCarthy with 11 seconds remaining and the Wolverines were held without points to go into halftime with a 23-10 lead.

After the Terps scored on a one-yard rush to cut the U-M lead to 23-17 to begin the second half, the Wolverines shifted the momentum back in their direction. Sainristil picked off his first pass of the game on Maryland's second drive, leading to a 13-yard jet sweep touchdown by wide receiver Semaj Morgan -- his second such play in three weeks. Michigan's two-point conversion attempt was no good and it led 29-17.

It took less than three minutes for Maryland to respond with a touchdown of its own, a third one-yard rushing score in as many drives. The scoring play brought the Terrapins to within five points of the Wolverines, 29-24, at the end of the third quarter.

From that point, Michigan clinched the game by winning the field position battle in the fourth quarter. In doing so, the Maize and Blue held Maryland scoreless in the final frame and secured their 1,000th victory with a 31-24 win.

Michigan heads home to conclude its regular-season schedule next Saturday (Nov. 25) against No. 3-ranked Ohio State at Michigan Stadium. "The Game" is scheduled for a noon kickoff and will be broadcast live on Fox.