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No. 19 Michigan holds off Air Force

Sep 9, 2012 - 2:18 AM Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) - Even a lost right shoe wasn't going to slow down Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson on Saturday.

Robinson ran for 218 yards and two touchdowns and added 208 yards through the air with two scores in No. 19 Michigan's 31-25 win over Air Force.

"We came out and played ball today, and played it pretty well, I think," Robinson said. "We have to keep moving forward and progress on everything we do. That's how I look at it."

Wolverines defensive end Jake Ryan batted down Connor Dietz's pass attempt on 4th-and-16 with 1:28 remaining to seal the win.

Devin Funchess caught four balls for 106 yards and a touchdown, while Devin Gardner hauled in five passes for 63 yards and a score for Michigan (1-1), which was coming off a 41-14 loss to Alabama in its opener.

Cody Getz carried the ball 26 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons (1-1), who defeated Idaho State last week. Dietz completed 10-of-19 passes for 127 yards and added 61 yards on the ground on 14 rushes.

"I've always had a great deal of respect for how they play football," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said of Air Force. "I think the option gives you some nightmares and a lot of problems."

Robinson scampered for a 58-yard touchdown run on the Wolverines' first offensive play of the second half. He took a quarterback draw off the left edge and cut across the field while eluding a shoelace tackle attempt by linebacker Austin Niklas.

Although his shoe came off around midfield, Robinson was still able to break free down the right sideline and into the end zone, which made it 21-10.

Getz ran it in from a yard out to cap a 14-play, 88-yard drive on Air Force's ensuing series, but Michigan countered when Robinson found Gardner for a 7- yard score and a 28-17 Wolverines advantage midway through the third.

After Tucker Tipton was unable to get in on a 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line on Air Force's next trek, the Falcons regained possession following a Michigan three-and-out.

Getz concluded a 10-play, 39-yard march with an 8-yard TD scamper and Dietz found Marcus Hendricks for the two-point conversion, which cut the deficit to 28-25.

Brendan Gibbons nailed a 31-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to increase the margin to 31-25 and Jameel Black and James Ross combined to stop Getz for no gain along the right edge on a 4th-and-3, which gave the ball back to Michigan with 4:30 to play.

But on a 3rd-and-6, Robinson bootlegged out to the left and threw low to Gardner, who was unable to corral the pass before it hit the ground.

Air Force regained possession at its own 20-yard line following a touchback with 2:45 to play, but the Falcons were unable to convert on 4th-and-16.

Earlier, after Parker Herrington missed a 36-yard field goal, Robinson took Michigan's second play from scrimmage 79 yards for a score.

A Herrington 22-yard field goal and Getz 5-yard TD scamper, sandwiched around a Funchess 30-yard TD catch, made it 14-10 in favor of the Wolverines late in the second quarter.

Game Notes

Michigan moved to 110-18-2 all-time in home openers ... The Wolverines have won 16 straight home games in September ... Air Force fell to 16-72-4 all-time against ranked teams ... Michigan beat Air Force, 24-7, in their only previous meeting in 1964.