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University of Michigan Athletics

Saturday, November 21
Piscataway, N.J.
7:30 PM

Michigan

48
at
42

Rutgers

Hassan Haskins (USATSI)

Wolverines Snap Losing Streak in Three-Overtime Thriller Over Rutgers

11/21/2020 11:58:00 PM | Football

Site: Piscataway, N.J. (SHI Stadium)
Score: Michigan 48, Rutgers 42 (OT)
Records: U-M (2-3, 2-3 Big Ten), Rutgers (1-4, 1-4 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 28 -- vs. Penn State (Michigan Stadium), Noon (TV: ABC)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team got back in the win column in dramatic fashion on Saturday night (Nov. 21), emerging victorious, 48-42, over Rutgers in three overtimes at SHI Stadium to snap a three-game losing streak.

Tied at 42 after two overtime periods, Michigan started the third OT with the ball.  On second-and-18, quarterback Cade McNamara attempt a pass to Cornelius Johnson that was broken up, but on third down, pass interference was called against Rutgers as McNamara's intended target Giles Jackson was knocked down in the end zone to set up first-and-goal at the Rutgers seven-yard line. Hassan Haskins rushed for two and four yards on consecutive plays to set up the Wolverines at the Rutgers one-yard line. McNamara was denied at the goal line on a quarterback keeper, bringing about fourth down.

For the third time on the evening, which had now become Sunday morning, the Wolverines converted on fourth down as Haskins leaped over the line of scrimmage and a pile of bodies into the end zone for a one-yard scoring run, his second of the game. Required by rule to attempt the two-point conversion in the third overtime period and beyond, the Wolverines were unable to find the end zone, giving them a six-point lead, 48-42, heading into Rutgers' possession.

The Michigan defense saved its biggest stand of the night for the final possession, as Rutgers was forced into a fourth-and-nine situation. Defensive back Daxton Hill ended the game with an interception in the end zone.

After the Wolverines fell into a 17-0 hole partway through the second quarter, McNamara entered the game and provided the spark the Michigan offense was looking for with four passing touchdown passes and 260 yards on 27-for-36 passing, plus an overtime rushing score, as the two teams waged a hard-fought battle throughout the second half that could not be settled in regulation time.

Sparked by McNamara and bolstered by big games from Haskins with 110 yards and a touchdown, and wide receiver Giles Jackson with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, the Wolverines' 17-point comeback was the third-largest deficit they have overcome to win in program history, and the second-largest in a road contest.

The Wolverines got off to a slow start in the first quarter, fumbling on one possesion and turning the ball over on downs on another. Rutgers took advantage of the latter, breaking through for the first score of the game on a three-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead with 4:33 to go in the quarter.

After a big third-and-10 conversion moments into the second quarter, as starting quarterback Joe Milton connected with Jackson for a 31-yard strike, the Wolverines looked poised to flip the momentum. A Rutgers penalty and a pair of short rushes put Michigan in position to put points on the board with a 49-yard field goal attempt by kicker Quinn Nordin. The attempt went wide right with 12 minutes left until the half.

Rutgers would extend its lead, 14-0, on the ensuing drive, marching 69 yards on nine plays before punching in a one-yard score with 8:45 to go in the second quarter. The Scarlet Knights added three more points with a 38-yard field goal on their next possession as the Wolverines' deficit grew to 17 points with 4:23 remaining before halftime.

Following the Rutgers field goal, McNamara took over at quarterback in hopes of kickstarting the offense. It took just three plays as McNamara found Johnson streaking wide open down the middle of the field for a 46-yard touchdown pass -- career-longs for both men. The Nordin point-after attempt brought the Wolverines to within 10 points, 17-7, with 3:26 left in the half.

The Michigan defense forced a quick Rutgers punt and gave McNamara the ball back with two minutes left on the second-quarter clock. McNamara guided the offense down the field with eight completions on 10 attempts, including a crucial 11-yard completion to running back Blake Corum in a third-and-10 situation and a 16-yard connection with wide receiver Mike Sainristil that set up a 53-yard field-goal attempt for Nordin with one second left on the clock. The attempt went wide left, leaving the Wolverines trailing by 10 points at the half, 17-7, but with some wind in their sails as they were set to start the third quarter with the ball.

Michigan set the tone immediately to start the second half. Jackson fielded the opening kickoff and took off in a sprint along the left sideline, getting some key blocks to facilitate a 95-yard dash to the end zone and pull the Wolverines within three points, 17-14, just 11 seconds into the third quarter.

The kickoff return touchdown was the second of Jackson's career, joining a 97-yard return against Maryland in 2019.

Rutgers responded on its opening drive with a 61-yard touchdown pass reminiscent of McNamara's scoring strike at the end of the first half, regaining a double-digit lead, 24-14, only a minute later.

Michigan's offense answered the call in its first appearance of the half, delayed by Jackson's return. McNamara converted a key third-and-12 with a 14-yard pass that threaded the needle to tight end Erick All, followed immediately by a 25-yard run up the middle of the field by Haskins that advanced the Wolverines to the Rutgers 10-yard line.

After a two-yard rush from Haskins, McNamara faked a handoff and lofted a pass off his back foot to tight end Nick Eubanks in the end zone to pull Michigan back to within three points, 24-21, with 10:07 to go in the third quarter. The touchdown catch was the first of the season for Eubanks.

With Rutgers on the Michigan 24-yard line threatening to once again reclaim a double-digit edge, defensive backs Hill and Hunter Reynolds broke up a would-be touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone on third down. The Scarlet Knights settled for a 42-yard field goal and a six-point lead, 27-21, with 6:00 remaining in the third.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the quarter, but the Wolverines entered the fourth quarter facing a critical fourth-and-five situation at the Rutgers 37-yard line. McNamara found running back Chris Evans, who turned up the field for a 21-yard gain into the red zone.

Wide receiver Ronnie Bell caught a pass from McNamara at the six-yard line to set up first-and-goal, and Bell delivered a crucial block for Sainristil two plays later as he snagged a pass from McNamara on a slant route for a six-yard score to tie the game at 27.

Nordin nailed the PAT to give Michigan its first lead of the game, 28-27, with 13:38 remaining in regulation.

The Wolverine defense preserved the lead on its subsequent appearance, in large part due to a sack by linebacker Josh Ross that resulted in an 11-yard loss. The Scarlet Knights were forced to punt the ball away.

Despite starting at its own 15-yard line, the Wolverine offense would not be denied. McNamara connected with four different receivers and the running game came alive with three first-down runs, including a patient 12-yard run from Haskins to set up first-and-goal at the Rutgers nine-yard line. From there, McNamara notched his fourth touchdown pass of the game when he hit Johnson out wide and he avoided a shoestring tackle. Johnson got a key block from Bell and was able to tiptoe along the sideline and into the end zone before the Scarlet Knight defense could push him out of bounds.

With a successful PAT from Nordin, Michigan extended its lead to eight points, 35-27, with 5:07 left in the fourth quarter. Not only did the drive add to the Wolverine advantage, it ate more than six minutes off the clock and left the Scarlet Knights less time to respond.

Still only a one-score game -- a touchdown and a two-point conversion from Rutgers would tie it up -- the Scarlet Knight offense fought all the way down into the red zone with less than a minute remaining, setting up first-and-10 at the 11-yard line.

The Wolverine defense kept Rutgers out of the end zone for three of those downs, but the Scarlet Knights converted on a fourth-down, scrambling 11-yard touchdown pass to pull within two points, 35-33. Rutgers converted the two-point try on a quarterback draw to tie the game at 35 with 27 seconds remaining in regulation.

Nothing came of the final Michigan drive in regulation, setting up overtime between the two teams.

Rutgers won the overtime coin toss, electing to play defense and setting Michigan up with the ball first at the Rutgers 25-yard line. The Wolverines could not muster a first down on their drive, setting up a 35-yard Nordin field goal that narrowly missed to the outside of the right upright.

Needing to keep Rutgers off the scoreboard to remain alive, the Michigan defense delivered. The Wolverines forced yardage losses on second and third down to force a 45-yard field goal attempt that, in a mirror of the Nordin kick moments earlier, went wide left.

Rutgers started off the second overtime period with the ball and needed only one play to add seven points to their score. Under pressure, the Rutgers quarterback aired out a pass to a receiver that he ran up the left side of the field into the end zone. The point after was good, giving the Scarlet Knights a 42-35 advantage.

On Michigan's ensuing possession, McNamara hit Jackson for a 17-yard pass to the Rutgers eight-yard line. Haskins was stopped for a one-yard loss on the next play, but a Rutgers facemask penalty gave the Wolverines another first down, this time from the four yard line. Haskins ran around the right edge on the next play and dove down to the two-yard line, where McNamara finished off the drive with a two-yard QB keeper dive into the end zone. Nordin hit the point-after attempt to tie the game at 42, heading into the third overtime period.

Michigan returns to Ann Arbor to welcome Penn State to the Big House next Saturday (Nov. 28). The noon game will be televised by ABC.