MORE: Michigan wakes up in second half, crushes Rutgers to reach 9-0
Michigan trailed at halftime, but you wouldn’t know that by watching the final score. Michigan took advantage of three interceptions in the second half to eliminate Rutgers, 52-17.
Rutgers returned a blocked punt for a first-quarter touchdown, and freshman QB Gavin Wimsatt looked ready in the first half as he led Michigan 17-14 at halftime. But the second half was a whole different story.
Wimsatt threw three picks and Michigan ran away with them. He is now 9-0 and will likely be in the top four of next week’s CFP standings thanks to losses to Tennessee and Clemson.
FINAL: Michigan 52, Rutgers 17
Gash scores his first career TD
-Q4 3:23: Isaiah Gash executes it from a few yards for his first career TD. 52-17.
-Q4 7:34: This game has become a three-party festival. Seriously. Look at something else.
-Q4 8:32: Now Michigan goes to three. Game 6 of the World Series is on. Look at this instead.
-Q4 9:20: Rutgers makes a triple again.
Michigan adds placement
-Q4 11:18: Moody scores his first field goal of the evening to bring the score to 45-17. Again, running clock.
-Q4 14:42: Rutgers makes a three and goes out. I say we go to a running clock.
End of the third quarter: Michigan leads 42-17
Michigan takes full control
-Q3 0:23: McCarthy to Cornelius Johnson for the touchdown. It’s 42-17.
Michigan gets the third INT of the half
-Q3 1:27: Wimsatt throws his third INT of the half, this time it’s Will Johnson who invents it.
-Q3 2:28: 3 and 3 from Michigan.
-Q3 3:23: Wimsatt is sacked on third down and Rutgers has to push him away.
Michael Barrett Picks Six
-Q3 6:42: Another INT, and it’s Barrett again. He takes her home this time. What a turn of events. 35-17.
Michigan capitalizes on turnover
-Q3 6:53: Corum hits a few punches later. Michigan scores two touchdowns in 1:31 as they now lead 28-17.
Michigan gets a big INT
-Q3 7:40: Michael Barrett knocks out Gavin Wimsatt for huge turnover.
Michigan takes the lead
-Q3 8:24: JJ McCarthy hits Donovan Edwards in the back of the end zone to put Michigan back on top. 21-17.
-Q3 12:17: The Michigan defense leaves the field after a holding penalty erases a 3rd conversion for Rutgers.
Second half in progress
Rutgers win the ball to start the second half.
Halftime: Rutgers 17, Michigan 14
Moody misses another 50 yards. Rutgers leads 17-14 at halftime.
Rutgers take their first lead
-Q2 1:44: Rutgers takes the lead. Gavin Wimsatt to Sean Ryan in the end zone. They are ahead 17-14
-Q2 4:42: Jake Moody with a rare missed field goal. Rutgers takes over.
-Q2 10:06: Rutgers out three and out again.
-Q2 11:38: Michigan’s drive stops as McCarthy’s pass is denied on third down. This time they get the punt.
Rutgers add an FG
-Q2 13:33: Rutgers gets its first offensive points tonight – a 32-yard FG to make it 14-10.
End of the 1st quarter: Michigan leads Rutgers 14-7
Michigan hits it
-Q1 1:46: Michigan responds. Set up by a 43-yard run from Blake Corum, it again took four tries on the goal line, but McCarthy scores on a QB sneak. 14-7
Rutgers partners with a special teams TD
-Q1 5:04: Michigan gets a first down, then the drive stops. Then the punt is blocked by Rutgers and returned for a touchdown. It was an unexpected turn. We are tied at 7.
-Q1 8:03: Rutgers three-and-out on their first possession.
Michigan Strikes First
-Q1 8:47: Michigan scores twice in its first possession. The only difference is that the second was not erased by a penalty. It took four tries from the one-yard line, but Corum executes it for his 15th TD of the season. 7-0
To start up
Rutgers wins the toss and postpones until the second half. Michigan offense first.
Injury designations
WR Roman Wilson, OL Ryan Hayes and Trente Jones, DB Makari Paige and Ja’Den McBurrows and LB Jaylen Harrell did not travel with the team this week.
Pregame
After a big win over their in-state rival, Michigan hits the road to take on Rutgers. It will be the team’s second consecutive prime-time game and third this season.
On paper, this should be another easy win. Rutgers is Rutgers, after all. Some people were high on the Scarlet Knights this season, but at 4-4 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play, that didn’t really materialize.
Michigan was ranked No. 5 in the first college football playoff rankings this season, narrowly missing out on the top four. All he can do to try and move up the leaderboard is keep winning games.
Follow live updates from Detroit News contributor Matthew Scheidel here.
Michigan at Rutgers
▶ To start up: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
▶ TV/Radio: BTN/950 AM
▶ Recordings: Michigan 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten); Rutgers 4-4 (1-4 Big Ten)
▶ Line: Michigan by 25½
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