Michigan's offense has done very, very little through the first three quarters of Tuesday night's Sugar Bowl, and what it has done has hardly been by design: All 17 of the Wolverines' points going into the final quarter have come via awkward, ad-libbed receptions that looked at least as likely to be picked off as completed.
The first big play came on a desperate, third-and-17 heave by Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson in the general vicinity of Junior Hemingway, who plucked the jump ball away from a Virginia Tech defender, spun into the open field and took it in for a 45-yard touchdown with less than a minute to go before the half. The second came a few seconds later, when the Wolverines attempted to extend the momentum of a Hokie fumble on the ensuing kickoff by attempting a fake field goal; the subsequent pass from holder Drew Dileo was tipped into the air by two Virginia Tech defenders, and proceeded to fall gently into the hands of Michigan long snapper Jareth Glanda for a Wolverine first down. That set up a short field goal, putting Michigan up 10-6 at the half.
The third came late in the third quarter, when Robinson — two plays removed from having an interception overturned on a borderline pass interference penalty against the Hokies — served up another off-balance prayer to Hemingway, who once again out-jumped the defender for a touchdown in the back of the end zone. The PAT put the Wolverines up 17-6, with nothing resembling a sustained scoring drive on the night.
As I write, there's still a full quarter to go for the Wolverines' luck to run out. Given Michigan's extensive experience in these matters, though, Hokie fans probably shouldn't hold their breath.
- - -
Matt Hinton is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.