Denard Robinson leads rally, hits Roy Roundtree with game-winner

Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31: Your comprehensive guide to coverage of Michigan's 35-31 victory against Notre Dame

By Rich Rezler Freelance Sports Reporter

Posted on Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 3:16 a.m.

Michigan Stadium was under the lights for the first time in its history on Saturday night.

Steve Pepple | AnnArbor.com

He did it again. And again.

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson -- who scored a game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left to beat Notre Dame in South Bend last season -- led the Wolverines on two late scoring drives in a 35-31 win over the Irish on Saturday night.

The first apparent game-winning touchdown pass, with 1:04 remaining in the game, ended up not being quite good enough. Notre Dame answered with a score of its own. So Robinson did, too, hitting Roy Roundtree with the actual game-winning, 16-yard score with 2 seconds left.

Robinson was asked if he felt bad about ripping the hearts from the Irish two years in row. He paused. He smiled. "I don’t know," he finally said, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "It’s why we play the game of football. Somebody’s gotta lose, somebody’s gotta win."

The late game madness -- the teams combined for 189 yards and three touchdowns in the final 136 seconds -- was a fitting end to a crazy day in Ann Arbor.

AnnArbor.com covered it all ... from Saturday's early-morning live national television broadcast at Ingalls Mall to the Sunday's early-morning revelry downtown and everything in between. Here's a roundup of what you can find on our site:

Post-Game Coverage

• Kyle Meinke's column: Denard Robinson's heroics have Ann Arbor, and country, buzzing about Michigan football.

• Nick Baumgardner's game story: Robinson leads 17-point rally as Michigan football team stuns Notre Dame, 35-31.

• Pete Cunningham writes that the game's crazy finish is the finishing touch to a special game atmosphere at Michigan Stadium.

• Roy Roundtree breaks down his game-winning catch.

• Michigan receivers made the most of limited opportunities in win over Notre Dame.

• Notebook: Michigan's defense continues to win the turnover battle and plenty more notes.

• Photo gallery: There are lots of great images -- in our nifty new photo gallery viewer -- from staff photographers Melanie Maxwell, Angela J. Cesere and Joseph Tobianski.

• Video: Brady Hoke's opening post-game comment: "Um, that was an exciting football game." Thanks, Coach.

• Police: 14 people arrested, 20 ejected during first Michigan football home night game.

• Boxscore

In-Game Coverage