Michigan
5-6 , 3-4
Maryland
7-4 , 4-3
Michigan Drops Home Finale to Maryland
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Maryland 23, Michigan 16
Records: U-M (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten), Maryland (6-5, 4-3 Big Ten)
Attendance: 101,717
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 29 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), Noon
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Missed Opportunities Cost Wolverines in Loss to Maryland
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite rolling up nearly 400 yards of total offense -- including 292 yards on the ground -- the University of Michigan football team could not hold a second-half lead, falling to Maryland, 23-16, on Senior Day (Saturday, Nov. 22) at Michigan Stadium.
In his final home game, graduate student quarterback Devin Gardner accounted for 188 yards of total offense (106 passing, 82 rushing) and one touchdown. Junior/sophomore running back Drake Johnson led the team in rushing with 94 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Joe Bolden and Jake Ryan were monsters, each recording 14 tackles.
Neither team found the end zone in the first half, which left all the scoring to the kickers. The Wolverines got their first points of the half thanks to some trickery by the punting unit, as senior Joe Kerridge took a fake punt attempt 52 yards all the way to Maryland's eight-yard line. Four plays later, senior Matt Wile converted the first of his three first-half field goals, hitting from 22 yards out. His other two attempts were good from 33 and 26 yards, respectively.
He was equaled by Maryland kicker Brad Craddock, who converted from 38, 41 and 21 yards, and the two teams were tied at halftime, 9-9.
The Wolverines got the ball to start the second half and promptly marched down the field, capping off a 10-play, 66-yard drive for the first touchdown of the game to go back in front, 16-9. The drive was finished by Gardner, who ran it into the end zone from 15 yards out. The Wolverines nearly added to its advantage, but a punt return for a touchdown by junior Dennis Norfleet was nullified due to a block-in-the-back penalty.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Craddock hit another field goal, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty on Michigan gave the Terrapins an automatic first down. Those penalties proved costly, as Maryland scored on the next play, an eight-yard run by quarterback CJ Brown to tie the game at 16-16. The Wolverines had a chance to retake the lead on the next possession, but Wile missed left from 39 yards. Following the miss, Maryland went 78 yards in 10 plays, taking the 23-16 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Brown.
The Wolverines had one final possession to tie the game but turned it over on downs near midfield with 4:16 to play. Michigan did not get the ball back, and Maryland ran out the clock to seal the victory.
Michigan looks to become bowl eligible as it wraps up the regular season against rival Ohio State next Saturday (Nov. 29) in Columbus, Ohio. The game will kick off at noon at Ohio Stadium, with ABC televising the game.
Team Stats
UMD 0, MICH 3
MICH - Wile, Matt 22 yd field goal 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:50
UMD 3, MICH 3
UMD - Craddock 38 yd field goal 5 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:36
UMD 3, MICH 6
MICH - Wile, Matt 33 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 5:58
UMD 6, MICH 6
UMD - Craddock 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 4:09
UMD 9, MICH 6
UMD - Craddock 21 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 0:59
UMD 9, MICH 9
MICH - Wile, Matt 26 yd field goal 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:50
UMD 9, MICH 16
MICH - Gardner, Devin 15 yd run (Wile, Matt kick), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:35
UMD 16, MICH 16
UMD - Brown 8 yd run (Craddock kick), 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:22
UMD 23, MICH 16
UMD - Brown,W. 1 yd run (Craddock kick), 10 plays, 78 yards, TOP 3:14
