University of Michigan Athletics

Web site: Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium)
Occasion: ReliaQuest Bowl
Rating: Michigan 19, #11 Alabama 13
Information: U-M (8-5), Alabama (9-4)
Attendance: 51,439
Subsequent U-M Occasion: Season Accomplished

TAMPA, Fla. — The College of Michigan soccer staff wrapped up its 2024 season with a 19-13 victory over No. 11-ranked Alabama within the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday (Dec. 31) at Raymond James Stadium. The Wolverines put collectively a valiant defensive efficiency to carry on in dramatic style for a second straight season in a bowl sport in opposition to the Crimson Tide.

Down six with 2:18 remaining, Alabama marched downfield, working into the crimson zone for less than the third time within the contest. U-M held pat, pressuring Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe and forcing a turnover on downs to safe the season-closing victory.

Michigan compelled a season-high three turnovers within the first quarter, a gap body wherein the Wolverines held Alabama to -2 whole yards and opened to a 16-0 lead. Regardless of being outscored over the rest of the competition, the Maize and Blue protection helped it maintain on, shutting out the Crimson Tide within the second half and permitting solely 97 whole yards.

Jordan Marshall led the staff offensively within the contest, dashing the ball 23 instances for a career-high 100 yards, whereas Fredrick Moore posted three catches (two first downs, one landing) totaling 37 yards. Key to the victory was Michigan’s management of the clock, possessing the ball 16 minutes greater than Alabama.

The Wolverines opened shortly, forcing two fumbles, one interception and a turnover on downs inside the sport’s first 13 minutes. These led to short-field alternatives and an early 16-0 U-M lead.

Derrick Moore‘s fourth-down sack on Alabama’s first drive compelled a turnover on downs and a 45-yard Dominic Zvada subject objective to open the sport. On the primary play following the kickoff, Moore got here up with a restoration on a fumbled Alabama snap. This arrange the Wolverines on the Crimson Tide’s 19-yard line, earlier than marking off three straight rushes within the sport’s early pouring rain and a 30-yard Zvada subject objective.

With Alabama again in possession offensively, Wesley Walker intercepted his first cross as a Wolverine alongside the Crimson Tide sideline and returned it to the 16-yard line to arrange the U-M offense with one other red-zone alternative. This time, the Wolverines capitalized with six factors as Warren related with Moore for a 13-yard landing and Zvada added the additional level to extend the U-M result in 13-0.

The early defensive onslaught continued as Aamir Corridor compelled a sack-fumble on the subsequent Alabama possession, recovered by Cameron Brandt and returned 5 yards to the Crimson Tide 11-yard line. Zvada transformed on his third subject objective of the primary quarter (21 yards) to maneuver the Wolverines forward 16-0 with 2:04 remaining within the first quarter.

The second quarter noticed Michigan possess the ball for 9:34, however the protection allowed two scores together with a 25-yard passing landing and a 24-yard subject objective stemming from a 90-yard drive inside the last minute of the primary half to shut the U-M result in 16-10.

Following a back-and-forth scoreless third quarter, the Wolverines compelled a turnover on downs on a Brandyn Hillman cross breakup within the fourth. U-M marched 9 performs for 47 yards, resulting in Zvada’s fourth subject objective (37 yards) to take a nine-point lead, 19-10, with 7:21 remaining within the contest.

Alabama narrowed its deficit to 6 factors with a subject objective with 4:38 remaining within the sport. The Crimson Tide got here up brief on their last drive, because the Wolverines managed a cease within the crimson zone on fourth all the way down to safe the 19-13 victory.

Michigan closed the season with three straight victories, together with two in opposition to ranked opponents (Ohio State, Alabama) to complete the 2024 marketing campaign with an 8-5 document.