Rutgers, at least through one half, looked like a team not just hungry, but capable of pulling off a massive upset as 26-point underdogs against No. 5 Michigan.
Then, in a span of 100 seconds, reality hit hard.
The Wolverines scored three touchdowns in less than two minutes, capitalizing on two Gavin Wimsatt interceptions, early in the third quarter to turn a 17-14 Rutgers lead into a 35-17 lead, setting the table for a 52-17 rout.
Michigan started fast with a 35-yard completion to Ronnie Bell on the Wolverines’ first play from scrimmage, and three plays later, a Blake Corum touchdown run was called back due to an illegal formation penalty, but J.J.
McCarthy scrambled for a 12-yard gain and a first down on the next play to extend the drive for Michigan.
The Scarlet Knights defense nearly held strong later in the drive, stuffing Michigan three straight times on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, but Corum leaped over a pile on fourth-and-goal to put the Wolverines ahead 7-0 with 8:47 left in the opening quarter.
Rutgers answered back behind another blocked punt by Max Melton, his third of the season, at the Michigan 35-yard line. Timmy Ward scooped up the loose ball and ran it in for the game-tying score with 5:04 left in the opening quarter.
The upset-hungry Scarlet Knights tried to sneak in an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Michigan was able to recover. The Wolverines made them pay, yet again punching it in on fourth and goal to take a 14-7 lead.
Rutgers again had a response, marching down the field before settling for a 32-yard field goal by Jude McAtamney cut the Michigan lead to 14-10 in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
After Michigan missed a 50-yard field goal, the Scarlet Knights busted out a big gain with a 48-yard completion from Gavin Wimsatt to Chris Long, who finessed his way to the Michigan 18-yard line. The drive nearly stalled, but Greg Schiano opted to go for it on 4th down with three yards needed for a first, and Wimsatt hit Aaron Cruickshank for a crucial first down, then hit Sean Ryan in the end zone from three yards out to put Rutgers ahead 17-14 with 1:44 left in the half.
A costly roughing the passer penalty and a big third-down gain helped Michigan get in field goal range in the final seconds of the half, but the Wolverines missed another field goal attempt to give RU a halftime lead. But it was short lived, as McCarthy marched Michigan down the field on their first drive of the second half, and found Donovan Edwards for a 14-yard touchdown strike to put the Wolverines in front 21-17.
Michigan continued to seize momentum when Wimsatt was picked off by Michael Barrett, who ran it back to the Rutgers 31-yard line, and the Wolverines punched it in two plays later to extend the lead to 28-17 with two touchdowns in under two minutes.
On Rutgers’ next play from scrimmage, Wimsatt was picked off again by Barrett, who ran it to the house to put the game away seemingly moments after Rutgers was threatening to pull off a major upset.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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