Dispatches from the Half: Michigan 14 - Air Force 10

This just in: I hate playing option teams.

Air Force came out just as we all thought they would and broke off a grueling four yards per carry on over 100 yards in the first quarter and looked to have built up a bit of offensive momentum. However, the first two drives ended in a missed field goal, then a made one.

Michigan, meanwhile, needed little time to jump out to a lead. The first two plays were: Robinson two yard run, Robinson 78 yard touchdown run.

In the second quarter Michigan's defense began to clamp down, holding Air Force to two straight three-and-outs to start the quarter.

All it took was a Denard Robinson interception off the hands of Vincent Smith to turn the tables and give Air Force the ball near Michigan territory. Eleven plays and 55 yards later, Air Force was back in the game. Michigan couldn't answer on the ensuing drive and thus goes into the locker room with a 14-10 lead.

Overall, this is the kind of first half that Air Force needed to put together to hope to win this game. The Michigan offense is out of sync and the defense is hit or miss when it comes to stopping the Falcon option attack. Looks like things will stay interesting for a while.

Other thoughts:

- Coming into the game most thought that it would be Devin Gardner asserting himself as the big play wide receiver, but it has thus far been a different Devin doing just that. True freshman Devin Funchess already has 80 yards on three catches with a touchdown. Not a bad outing for the true freshman.

- Fitzgerald Toussaint, on the other hand, has struggled. Just six rushes for seven yards thus far in the half.

- Robinson has looked good passing hte ball, as even his interception was mostly on Vincent Smith for the drop. nine for 13, 136 yards and one touchdown, one interception.

- The defense -- understandably -- alternated good plays and missed assignments in an up and down first half. When Michigan let Air Force get on a roll, the Falcons moved the ball with ease on drives of 10, 12, and 14 plays for 55, 61 and 76 yards.

- However, in three red-zone trips Michigan was able to hold Air Force to two field goals (one missed) and a touchdown. Either very good or very fortunate, depending on your perspective.