J.J. McCarthy was far from perfect in the first half of the Rose Bowl, but he made a massive play against Alabama that indirectly led to a touchdown.

On a first-down trick play featuring a backwards lateral, McCarthy hauled in a one-handed catch of an airmailed pass from running back Donovan Edwards. He then spun, reset his feet and — with consensus All-American Dallas Turner bearing down on him — delivered a pass to Roman Wilson off his back foot for a first down before getting run down by Turner.

McCarthy was shaken up on the play, but it got Michigan 20 yards into Alabama territory.

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The description doesn't really do the play justice:

It's the kind of play where a throwaway would have been impressive. To complete it for 20 yards is ridiculous on McCarthy's part.

Michigan would score three plays later on a crossing route from McCarthy to Tyler Morris, giving Michigan the lead for the first time in the game (though, after a botched punt on the PAT, it was 13-7). McCarthy's athleticism set the touchdown up, but it was his timing on a third down crossing route that finished the drive.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's J.J. McCarthy saves trick play from disaster, suffers hard hit