Michigan Falls to Utah in Storm-Ridden Game

Saturday, September 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:30 PM

Michigan

2-2

Utah

3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Utah

Michigan

Michigan's defense celebrates Willie Henry's interception return for a touchdown

9/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football

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By: Derek Satterfield, Zach Eisendrath

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Utah 26, Michigan 10
Records: U-M (2-2), Utah (3-0)
Attendance: 103,890
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 27 -- vs. Minnesota (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m. (TV: ABC)

• Postgame Feature: Turnovers Put Brakes on Wolverine Offense in Defeat to Utah

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite leading in total yards and time of possession, the University of Michigan football team dropped a home contest to Utah, 26-10, on Saturday (Sept. 20) inside Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines outgained Utah, 308-287, and held the Utes to only 82 yards rushing but turned the ball over four times during the contest. Individual statistical leaders included graduate student quarterback Devin Gardner (Detroit, Mich./Inkster), who completed 14-of-26 attempts for 148 yards and junior wide receiver Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison), who had four receptions for 82 yards. On defense, fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) led the way with 13 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss.

All the scoring the two teams mustered in the first quarter was a field goal each. Michigan got on the board first, courtesy of a 42-yard field goal by senior kicker Matt Wile (San Diego, Calif./Francis Parker). The Wolverines did not get any points on their next drive but managed to pin Utah deep after a punt by fifth-year senior Will Hagerup (Milwaukee, Wis./Whitefish Bay) was downed at the three-yard line. The Utes quickly erased that, though, knotting up the score at 3-3 after a 35-yard field goal by Andy Phillips, which was set up largely due to a 67-yard screen pass from quarterback Travis Wilson to running back Bubba Poole on third down. Poole would have likely scored on the play if not for a touchdown-saving tackle by Michigan sophomore defensive back Jourdan Lewis (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical).

On the second play of the second quarter, Utah's Kaelin Clay returned Hagerup's punt 66 yards for a touchdown to stake the road squad a 10-3 lead.

The teams traded punts on each of their next two possessions, before Michigan was driving on the third, making it all the way to Utah's 25-yard line, until Gardner's intended pass for Funchess was intercepted by Ute defensive back Brian Blechen. On the ensuing drive, Utah's backup quarterback Kendal Thompson, who was in the game after Wilson was exited earlier in the quarter, threw an interception deep in his own territory directly to Michigan junior/sophomore defensive tackle Willie Henry (Cleveland, Ohio/Glenville), who ran it back a short seven yards for the touchdown.

Utah's Phillips connected on a 38-yard field goal at the end of a 16-play drive to cap the scoring in the first half, giving the Utes a 13-10 lead going into the break.

Utah added to its lead early in the second half. First, in the opening two minutes of the third quarter, Wilson found Dres Anderson for a 28-yard touchdown to make the score 20-10. Then, in the fourth quarter, Phillips added two more field goals, from 48 and 50 yards, respectively, to increase the lead to 26-10.

Due to severe weather, the game was then suspended for nearly two-and-a-half hours, but neither team scored again.

The Wolverines conclude their three-game homestand next Saturday (Sept. 27), hosting rival Minnesota in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug. The game will begin at 3:30 p.m. and be televised on ABC.