Fundraising and fun at the Big House

The University of Michigan football team took the field for the annual Mott Spring Game presented by PNC Bank in April. Nearly 18,000 fans got an early glimpse of Team 134, and for the fourth consecutive year, the game raised money for U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The offense sported the home blue jerseys, and the defense played in Michigan’s road white uniforms, while the quarterbacks wore orange non-contact jerseys. The event raised nearly $90,000 for the hospital.

Spring Game Highlights

• Video Recap
• Press Conference
• Photo Gallery
• Quotes
• Learn more at mgoblue.com.

Senior/junior quarterback Devin Gardner (Detroit, Mich./Inkster) completed 11-of-16 pass attempts for 142 yards and one touchdown. Gardner opened the scrimmage with a 33-yard completion to sophomore receiver Amara Darboh (West Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) down the sideline and later connected on a 35-yard pass to sophomore tight end Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison). Gardner’s lone touchdown came on a 12-yard strike to freshman tight end Jake Butt (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North). Michigan’s next touchdown came on the very next play when sophomore/freshman Brian Cleary (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Jesuit) hit fifth-year senior wideout Joe Reynolds (Rochester, Mich./Rochester Adams) on a 14-yard strike.

Junior running back Thomas Rawls (Flint, Mich./Flint Northern) scored the scrimmage’s first touchdown on a 14-yard run down the left sideline. Rawls led the Wolverines with six carries for 32 yards. Meawhile, senior Jeremy Gallon (Apopka, Fla./Apopka) had four receptions for 30 yards, while Funchess finished with two catches for 38 yards.The Wolverine defense earned four sacks—from senior Jibreel Black (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wyoming), junior Frank Clark (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville), sophomore Mario Ojemudia (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison), and freshman Taco Charlton (Pickerington, Ohio/Central).

Sophomore linebacker James Ross III (Orchard Lake, Mich./Saint Mary’s Prep) led the team in tackles with eight, earning snaps from the first series to the scrimmage’s conclusion. He also had two tackles for loss.The game was preceded by the annual Alumni Flag Football game between the Maize and Blue teams, comprised of more than 75 former Wolverines. BJ Dickey quarterbacked the Blue team to a late comeback to seal a 36-29 victory and took home the MVP honors as well as the 11-foot trophy.

Michigan’s next action will be the 2013 regular-season opener on Saturday, Aug. 31, vs. Central Michigan at the Big House.