INSTANT RECAP: Rutgers squanders first half lead, falls to Michigan in 3OT
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Rutgers football team led by 17 points in the points in the first half, but the Scarlet Knights couldn't finish and fell to the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night, 48-42, in triple-overtime at SHI Stadium.
Quarterback Johnny Langan ran in two short touchdowns from his special package of plays and kicker Valentino Ambrosio made a 38-yard field as Rutgers led 17-0 in the second quarter.
Cade McNamara then came in at QB for a struggling Joe Milton and immediately provided a spark tossing a long touchdown to Cornelius Johnson.
To start the second half, Giles Johnson brought back the third quarter kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to cut Michigan's deficit to 17-14.
Rutgers responded with a quick three-play, 75 yard scoring drive as QB Noah Vedral found WR Bo Melton for a 61-yard touchdown through the air.
McNamara came back later in the frame with an 8-yard score to Nick Eubanks despite good coverage from Rutgers LB Tyshon Fogg.
Ambrosio, for minutes later, made another field goal to make 28-21.
But Michigan took its first lead, 28-27, on a McNamara touchdown pass, his third, to Mike Sainristil from six yards away, and he tossed another 9-yard score to Johnson in which Johnson broke a tackle out wide and was able to run it in. The Wolverines, which had 17 yards rushing at the half, also got the ground game going, especially in the fourth quarter, finishing with over 110 yards.
Rutgers didn't quit, though, going on a 16-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game with 27 seconds remaining. On fourth down, Vedral stepped up and lobbed a touchdown to WR Aron Cruickshank, who made a tough grab through traffic. Moments later, after a few timeouts called by both teams, Vedral ran in a draw for the two-point conversion.
In overtime, Rutgers won the toss, deferred to defense, and stopped Michigan. Quinn Nordin missed his third field goal of the day.
Rutgers then ran the ball on first down, got cute for a screen on the outside and lost yards on second down, and Vedral ran to the middle of the field, losing distance, on third to set up a field goal. To be the hero, Ambrosio missed a 45-yard field goal just right.
Back on offense, Rutgers opened its bag of tricks really for the first time and Vedral scrambled to his right and threw way back across the field to his left TE Jovani Haskins for a 25-yard touchdown and Ambrosio's extra point was good.
On Michigan's ensuing possession, the McNamara ran in a short 2-yard score on a read option.
The Wolverines would then punch in a short a TD by Hassan Haskins and Rutgers failed to score minutes later. A pass interference call in the end zone occurred on Rutgers CB Avery Young.
Vedral threw an interception on the game's final play and Michgian escape with a victory.
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RUTGERS PLAYER OF THE GAME: LB Olakunle Fatukasi
THE SKINNY: Olakunle Fatukasi, or '03' as they call him, was all over the field and in the Michigan backfield all night long. The Big Ten's leading tackler racked up 16 tackles including 2.5 for loss and two sacks. The hard hitter provided pressure play after play.
WR Shameen Jones had a big game offensively, showing strong hands and catching seven passes for 127 yards on 10 targets, and Noah Vedral played a clean, smart, good game overall as well, throwing for 378 yards and three touchdowns. His one interception came on the last play of the game in 3OT.
RFOOTBALL PLAY OF THE GAME: QB Noah Vedral's scramble touchdown pass to WR Aron Cruickshank with 27 seconds left followed by two-point conversion run by Vedral.
THE SKINNY: With the game on the line on fourth down, Vedral stepped up in the pocket to avoid the edge rushers and tossed a touchdown to Cruickshank to make it 25-33. He then ran it in on a draw to tie the game and eventually force overtime.
UP NEXT: Next up, Rutgers hits the road next Saturday against Purdue at 4:00 p.m. The contest will be televised on FS1.
More to come...
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