Denard's Completions
| Receiver | Yds | Result | Qtr | Time* | Down | ToGo | Spot | M | ND |
| Smith | 5 | 4th | 1 | 9:05 | 3rd | 7 | M 26 | 0 | 7 |
| Hemingway | 43 | TD | 2 | 14:04 | 1st | 10 | ND43 | 6 | 14 |
| Koger | 11 | 1st | 3 | 7:36 | 3rd | 7 | M32 | 7 | 17 |
| Hemingway | 77 | 1st | 3 | 2:13 | 1st | 10 | M17 | 7 | 24 |
| McColgan | 15 | 1st | 4 | 13:22 | 2nd | 15 | ND45 | 14 | 24 |
| Gallon | 14 | TD | 4 | 13:22 | 2nd | 7 | ND14 | 20 | 24 |
| Hemingway | 45 | 1st | 4 | 6:08 | 2nd | 9 | M10 | 21 | 24 |
| Grady | 27 | 1st | 4 | 2:16 | 1st | 10 | ND48 | 21 | 24 |
| Smith | 21 | TD | 4 | 2:16 | 1st | 10 | ND21 | 27 | 24 |
| Gallon | 64 | 1st | 4 | 0:30 | 2nd | 10 | M20 | 28 | 31 |
| Roundtree | 16 | TD | 4 | 0:30 | 1st | 10 | ND16 | 34 | 31 |
| Total | 338 | ||||||||
| Average | 31 |
*Time at start of drive per ESPN http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/playbyplay?gameId=312530130&period=4
Incredible
September 11th, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
to lull ND into complacency and unleash Denard's true passing ability in the end.
Sort of like how Odysseus returns to Ithaka disguised as a beggar and then reveals his true identity at the last minute, when he strings his bow and proceeds to kill all of Penelope's suitors.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
That's an analogy for a Sunday morning.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
The only reason I have any idea what the hell you're talking about right now is because of watching Wishbone.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
Chances anyone on RCMB understood that one?
September 11th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
I don't think Spartans know anything about Ithica.
September 11th, 2011 at 1:17 PM ^
Can someone explain what RCMB is?
I know it's some other message board because I see it referred to here sometimes, but I've never bothered to check it out.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:28 PM ^
The Red Cedar Message Board. It's an MSU site (with a lot of classic "brah" types).
September 11th, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
September 11th, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^
Yeah the rope-a-dope may not have been the strategy except by necessity. Great playmakers will eventually make great plays though, and Denard is one for ages. What I like is that both the first go-ahead score from Smith as well as Tree's epic grabdown were Borges plays from under center. We have eaten some of the fusion cuisine now. It is scrumptuous.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
Denard's 30.7 yards per completion set a new Michigan record, besting the record he had set last year against Illinois of 30.5 yards per completion. See page 125 of the Michigan Record Book.
Also, his four touchdown passes tied the Michigan record.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
It's funny. The record of four TD passes has now been set in 18 games. When is someone going to finally throw five?
September 11th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^
Only one of his completions (the first one) didn't result in either a first down or a touchdown... now that's something. I kept wondering why we didn't work in some shorter stuff to help him iron out his accuracy, but I guess it worked out in the end.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:52 PM ^
3 play drive that Denard said Borges "had them practicing all summer" was fantastic!
September 11th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
This time next year he will be unreal. Year 2 in the system and he will be making much better decisions and be much more consistent, I am thinking along the lines of a faster Troy Smith.
September 11th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^
Agreed. That is what I thought most of the first half when Denard looked like he was drowning in his thoughts and reads. He was thinking, not playing... not to mention that there was enough adrenaline in his blood stream would have powered the Big House for the next ten years.
Once he calmed down, got hit a few times... he started to make plays, taking what the defense gave him. This happened to be a monster passing game in the second half.
If you think of the transition Denard made between RR Year 1 and 2... and then translate that to what he will do with Borges between Year 1 and 2 == Frightening! Especially with most of the line not named Molk returning, having Stonum, Gallon and Roundtree to throw to, and a stable of backs who are experienced in the system.
September 11th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
Michigan State message board, notable den of iniquity
September 11th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
Denards passing stats are straight out of a 13 yr old kid playing ncaa 12. Less than 50% passing but still 30+ a completion, 3 INTs but also 4 passing TDs. More than half of Denards passes were either a INT or a TD.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
It's called finding a way to win - which means this is the type of game we would have normally lost but Denard reached deep inside for the fortitude to get the job done against tremendous odds. Of course Denard did not win this game alone, as all our guys contributed in a huge way to make it a team effort in coming from behind to win with little time left.