By Chris Gentilviso

The Daily Northwestern

With no rushing yards to speak of against Ohio State, Northwestern’s running backs prepared to take a greater load on their backs against Michigan.

In the first half it appeared the Cats were on their way to accomplishing that mission. At the end of the first quarter, Michigan running back and Heisman Trophy candidate Mike Hart had a mere 10 yards rushing. Career backup Omar Conteh eclipsed Hart with just one play – a 49-yard burst that put the Cats ahead and had the purple side of Ryan Field thinking big.

As the return of starting running back Tyrell Sutton remains largely absent from the offensive mindset, NU’s 28-16 loss to Michigan became more than breakout performance for Conteh. It was a confidence boost for an offense that had been relying heavily on the passing game in its last two losses.

“He did what he needed to,” senior offensive tackle Dylan Thiry said. “We needed a back to step up and be the back that we could go to.”

Conteh finished the game with 115 yards on 15 carries – the Cats’ first 100-yard rusher since Sutton gained 108 yards on the ground against Northeastern. While Ohio State was ranked first in the Big Ten in stopping the run, Michigan’s run defense was a step below, allowing 146.5 yards per contest.

But numbers aside, Conteh produced in a game that Thiry described as a coming-out party. It was a party discussed for several weeks by the junior and co-running back Brandon Roberson.

“Before each game, we always have our talks saying ‘it’s up to us,'” Conteh said. “We have to make sure the team runs.”

With 77 yards at the half, the run game gradually dissolved as Michigan mounted its comeback. Michigan’s defensive line swarmed quarterback C.J. Bach