The No. 14 Michigan Wolverines absolutely destroyed the No. 19 Florida Gators offensively and defensively to win the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on New Years Day in Orlando, Florida. In the 41-7 victory, Jake Rudock led the way with 278 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing. 

"I would say this was the best game we've played all year," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I don't think I've ever seen our offense play better. Our defense was magnificent. ... The three and outs, the stops, the play on third down, everybody playing great team defense. It was really good."

Michigan got the first turnover of the game as Channing Stribling picked off Johnny Townsend on fourth-and-seven at the 20-yard line of Michigan. The Gators (10-4) were in field goal position, but went for a fake and it did not play off as the holder tossed the ball into the hands of Stribling. Neil MacInnes, a pre-dental student who got the kicking job via an open tryout in the middle of the season, was forced into duties because Austin Hardin and Jorge Powell were injured for the bowl game. Since MacInnes had not kicked since high school, the Gators had to try a fake field goal, which obviously was not the best option. 

The Wolverines (10-3) struck first on a four-yard carry into the end zone. Drake Johnson broke to the outside and scampered in for six. Kenny Allen kicked the extra point to put Michigan ahead by seven with 5:54 to play in the first quarter. 

Treon Harris, who was forced into the starting role for the Gators after Will Grier was suspended on October 13, 2015, scored on a two-yard reception from Antonio Callaway. It was a trick play which put the receiver into the position of a quarterback and the quarterback into the position of a receiver. Ultimately, the trick play worked for the Gators and tied the game. 

Harris, the quarterback, caught the only touchdown of the game. The receiving game, however, was led by Callaway with five receptions for 75 yards. The rest of the offense combined for five acquisitions on the afternoon. 

The Maize and Blue scored 34 unanswered points the rest of the way starting with 8:49 to play in the half. Rudock connected with Jehu Chesson for a 31-yard gain into the end zone to take a 14-7 lead. Just before the half ended, Kenny Allen cashed in on a 21-yard field goal to travel into the locker room with a 10-point cushion. 

Allen's field goal was set up by an interception by Jarrod Wilson inside the end zone. Harris was looking to get Florida on the board, but he tossed a weak pass and Wilson was able to bring it down and continue the defensive momentum for Michigan. 

Grant Perry caught a three-yard pass from Rudock and then later in the third quarter with 3:48 to play, Sione Houma, the fullback, pushed through the defensive line of Florida for six points and a 31-7 lead in the Citrus Bowl. 

Houma scored the touchdown, but De'Veon Smith led the game for the Wolverines with 25 carries for 109 yards, while Johnson chipped in 58 rushing and 10 receiving yards. 

"We just came out there and competed today. It just shows that hard work pays off," Smith said.

In the fourth quarter, Johnson scored his second of the game, but not with his legs. This time, Johnson caught a pass from Rudock for a 38-7 lead with 12:32 left in the contest. With 6:42 until both teams shook hands, Allen nailed a 25-yard field goal to push the Wolverines to 41-7 over the Gators, which stuck until the final whistle. 

Rudock led the way for Michigan with 20 completions for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He scampered out of the pocket four times for a gain of 29 total yards. When passing, Rudock found Chesson five times for 118 yards, while Jake Butt added 34 yards. Surprisingly enough, Perry added 51 yards and a touchdown on five receptions to give him a grand total of 128 yards on his freshman season. 

"We understood how they played -- they play fast and they play physical," Rudock said. "I had an easy job. I just had to get it out there to them."

On the final drive for Florida, Josh Grady took over under center for Harris. Grady is a 6-foot-1 senior from Tampa, Florida and was the third-string quarterback at the start of the season. He completed one-of-two attempts for seven yards. Harris, the starter, completed eight-of-21 passes for 146 yards and an interception, but he led the run game with 55 yards on 11 carries and caught a touchdown early in the Citrus Bowl. Kelvin Taylor chipped in 50 yards on the ground. 

"It was a case of getting your rump kicked in. That's' what it was," Florida coach Jim McElwain said. "They really took it to us on both sides of the ball."

In the first season as the head coach for the Wolverines, Harbaugh compiled an outstanding 10-3 season, which included a 6-2 record in the Big Ten Conference. Michigan lost 24-17 against the Utah Utes in the first game of the season, but bounced back. The only other losses were against the Michigan State Spartans on a fluke missed punt and a blowout loss to the Ohio State Buckeys in the last game of the regular season. 

The Gators, however, looked good early, but struggled late under McElwain. Their first loss came in Week 7 against the Louisiana State Tigers and then dropped the last two regular season games to the Florida State Seminoles and Alabama Crimso Tide. Those losses coming just before the huge blowout loss against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Florida finished the season with a 10-4 record. 

The future is bright for Michigan and Harbaugh, who will open the 2016 regular season against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on September 3, 2016. Meanwhile, Florida will kick things off against the Massachusetts Minutemen on the same day. 

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About the author
Evan Petzold
Evan Petzold is a Detroit-based journalist with expertise in covering the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. A member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) and Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DBSA), he brings a unique skill set in reporting and broadcasting to the table.