How Zvada's Become Difference-Maker for Wolverines with Field Goal Distance, Accuracy

Junior transfer from Arkansas State made 53- and 35-yard kicks in 27-24 win Saturday over Minnesota, helping Michigan overcome second-half collapse. Moore on Zvada: 'He's a monster.'

Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography

Wolverine place-kicker Dominic Zvada puts his toe to the 35-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that provided the scoring difference in the game. Punter Tommy Doman is holding, while Minnesota’s Ethan Robinson is blocked attempting to come around the edge.

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – There are many ways to analyze No. 12 Michigan’s 27-24 win over Minnesota here Saturday afternoon.

What comes to mind first is the “tale of two halves” syndrome Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore addressed. His team went from dominating in the first half to surviving in the second half for the second consecutive game – which ended with Michigan on top by the exact same score as the Southern Cal victory.

Then there’s the question about whether or not Moore considered early-season starter Davis Warren getting another shot after Alex Orji showed some signs of improvement but threw for only 86 yards with a momentum-changing interception in his second start.

However, for me, this game came down to what Moore had in his back pocket.

He had placekicker Dominic Zvada ready to send onto the field and save the day.

Zvada, a junior transfer from Arkansas State, made a 53-yarder in the third quarter to push the margin back up to 21 points. Then he nailed the 35-yarder the Wolverines absolutely, positively had to have with 4:33 remaining in the game.

Golden Gopher kicker Dragan Kesich made a 20-yarder but narrowly missed a 55-yarder.

And, to put the game into its simplest form, that was the difference.

“I mean he’s a monster,” Moore said of Zvada. “As soon as we cross the 50, it feels like we’re in range. He’ll say, ‘I’m good.’ “

Moore said he then tells Zvada that he’s trying to score a touchdown first, and Zvada informs Moore that he just wants his coach to know he can already make it.

“He’s awesome,” Moore said. “He’s done this throughout [pre-season] camp with 50- and 60-yarders.”

Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham added, “We see him every day in practice – he’s kicking 50-, 60-yarders just casually. So, I know Coach Moore always enjoys it. But it’s pretty cool relying on a guy kind of like Jake Moody was. I kind of compare him to him. You just know you’re going to get those three points at the end of the day when he’s kicking it.”

The Wolverines have been truly blessed at placekicker in recent years – first with current San Francisco 49ers kicker Moody (who became Michigan’s career leader with both 355 points and 69 field goals) and then, last year, with James Turner, who made 18-of-21 kicks including a 50-yarder in the Big Ten championship game.

Enter Zvada, who has made all seven field goal attempts while becoming the first Wolverine to get four from 50 yards or longer in one season. His makes from 52, 53 (twice) and 55 yards also tied Michigan’s career record of four from 50 shared by Hayden Epstein (1998-2001), Quinn Nordin (2017-20) and Moody (2018-22).

Moore knew what he had when Zvada, from Chandler, Ariz., transferred. He was four-for-four on field goal attempts at Ohio State as an Arkansas State freshman in 2022, when he made a career-long 56-yarder. Zvada made 34 of 40 attempts for the Red Wolves.

How long did it take Moore to realize Zvada’s full capabilities?

“It might have took a week,” said a smiling Moore, who added him after spring football practices. “Pretty quick when he started banging 60-yard field goals in the indoor [facility] just out of nowhere.

“You knew you had something special, but you have to see it continue happening and being consistent over time, and he did. And it’s pretty easy to see.”

Zvada, a Lou Groza Award candidate as the nation’s top placekicker, still has another season of eligibility. So, Michigan’s set at PK through 2025.

‘Tale of Two Halves’

Michigan outscored USC and Minnesota, 35-6, in the first halves of the last two games. However, the Wolverines were outscored, 42-19, in the second halves of those games.

“Like I told the team in the locker room, it’s really a tale of two halves for us,” said Moore. “We played really well in the first half and not as good in the second half. And the energy we had, but the execution wasn’t there. So, me as a coach, I’ve got to make sure I do a good job of turning that thing up in the second half for them to make sure that they’re ready to go.”

Graham added: “First half, we were executing on a very high level with DBs giving us the chance to make plays up front [with their tight pass coverage]. It all goes hand in hand. So, we just have to make plays when we can and execute as good as possible.”

Orji’s Passing

Orji completed 10-of-18 passes for 86 yards with a long completion of 16 yards and the interception that came when tight end Loveland had his man beat deep. However, Orji under threw the big, fleet tight end.

And with that pick-off by Ethan Robinson, the game turned. The 24-3 Michigan lead dwindled until Zvada added those late three points to stave off an upset.

“I think we all have to get better,” said Moore, when asked about Orji. “So, he thinks he has to get better. We think we have to get better as a group.”

And, “no,” he didn’t consider bringing in Warren, who threw for 444 yards in three starts but had six interceptions to only two touchdown passes. Warren did warm up, along with freshman Jadyn Davis, just as they did last week.