Wolverines Come Up Two Points Short at Rutgers

Saturday, October 4

Piscataway, N.J.

7:00 PM

Michigan

2-4 , 0-2

Rutgers

5-1 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Rutgers

Devin Gardner

10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Derek Satterfield, Zach Eisendrath

Site: Piscataway, N.J. (High Point Solutions Stadium)
Score: Rutgers 26, Michigan 24
Records: U-M (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten), RU (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 11 -- vs. Penn State (Michigan Stadium), 7 p.m. ET (TV: ESPN2)

• Postgame Feature: Michigan's Comeback Effort Blocked by Scarlet Knights

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The University of Michigan football team had a long, go-ahead field goal try blocked and fell at Rutgers on Saturday night by a score of 26-24 under the lights at High Point Solutions Stadium. Devin Gardner (Detroit, Mich./Inkster) threw for 178 yards and rushed for 40 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough, as Rutgers' Gary Nova passed for 404 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Scarlet Knights to victory at home.

The Wolverines scored on the opening possession of the game, as Matt Wile (San Diego, Calif./Francis Parker) connected a 39-yard field goal. Derrick Green (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) ripped off a 26-yard run to begin the drive, and Gardner extended it with a 23-yard completion to Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) on a third-and-nine situation. Rutgers responded with a field goal of their own, tying the score at 3-3. After forcing a Michigan punt, the Scarlet Knights took a 6-3 lead on a 45-yard field goal with 1:32 left in the first quarter.

U-M scored on its next possession, marching 75 yards down the field for a score. The drive was highlighted by a one-handed catch by Jake Butt (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North) that set up a four-yard rushing touchdown for Gardner, who ran around the outside and into the end zone to give Michigan a 10-6 lead just 50 seconds into the second quarter.

After forcing another Wolverine punt, Gary Nova found Andrew Turzilli downfield for an 80-yard touchdown pass. Maurice Hurst Jr. (Westwood, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt, holding the Scarlet Knights' lead at 12-10 with 7:23 to play in the first half. Rutgers failed on an attempted fake punt, which gave Michigan the ball on Rutgers' 43-yard line with a little more than four minutes left in the half. This led to a one-yard touchdown rush by De'Veon Smith (Warren, Ohio/Howland), giving U-M a 17-12 advantage. The home team charged back, though, and Nova found John Tsimis in the end zone to give Rutgers a 19-17 lead going into halftime.

After another touchdown pass by Nova that increased the Scarlet Knight lead to 26-17, the Maize and Blue answered with another rushing touchdown by Gardner. This time a 19-yard scamper into the end zone, cutting the deficit to 26-24.

Michigan forced a punt on Rutgers' next possession and got the ball on its own 14-yard line with less than six minutes left in the game. The Wolverines drove down the field and attempted a 56-yard field goal with three minutes to go, but it was blocked by Kemoko Turay, sealing the victory for the Scarlet Knights.

Green led all rushers with 74 yards on 12 carries, and Funchess caught five passes for 71 yards. Turzilli led all receivers with 94 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wolverines return home next Saturday (Oct. 11) to take on Penn State under the lights at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.