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    • Michigan holds off Minnesota 27-24
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    Michigan holds off Minnesota 27-24

    Seren Anwen Posted on

    Final: Michigan 27, Minnesota 24

    Well, that was close.

    Minnesota made a real play in the second half and Michigan didn’t really respond well.

    But in the end, the Little Brown Jug will stay in Michigan after the Wolverines held off the Golden Gophers’ second-half push 27-24.

    “I’m not very happy with the performance,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told FOX Sports on the field after the game. “We have a lot of cleaning to do.”

    Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer completed 27 of 40 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Darius Taylor, a former Walled Lake Western star, had 13 carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 10 receptions for 52 yards.

    Michigan quarterback Alex Orji was 10 of 18 passing for 86 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had nine carries for 12 yards. Kalel Mullings finished the game with 24 carries for 111 yards and two scores and Donovan Edwards had nine carries for 34 yards.

    “Honestly, we just need to finish better,” Mullings told FOX Sports. “We saw it last week, we saw it again this week. Hats off to Minnesota, they fought all four quarters and kept pushing us. Luckily we were able to get a win, but obviously it’s not the way we like it.”

    Michigan tight end Colston Loveland returned after missing a game and had four receptions for 41 yards.

    Minnesota outscored Michigan 21-6 in the second half.

    “They came out with a lot of energy, we didn’t. I have confidence in that,” said Moore. “Of course we won the game, which we are happy about, but we have to do better.”

    Michigan has now won 33 straight games against unranked opponents.

    1:37 4Q: Minnesota scores another touchdown, cutting Michigan’s lead to 27-24

    It doesn’t help that Will Johnson is banged up and not playing.

    Max Brosmer just hit Daniel Jackson for a 12-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to three.

    The Golden Gophers almost recovered the onside kick, but it was ruled offside.

    4:33 4Q: Michigan kicks FG, Minnesota lead now 27-17

    Michigan really needed to have points on that final drive.

    Although a touchdown would have been better, they still got a 35-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada and took their time.

    11:05 4Q: Another touchdown from Minnesota; Michigan’s lead is now 24-17

    Just like the Wolverines got some great plays from their defense, their special teams and their defense in the first half, the Golden Gophers are now getting those breaks.

    First, Minnesota intercepted Alex Orji and then went on a long touchdown drive.

    Then Koi Perich had a 60-yard punt return at Michigan’s 17-yard line.

    That led to Darius Taylor’s second touchdown of the game, this time from 4 yards out.

    14:01 4Q: Minnesota scores first touchdown, cutting Michigan’s lead to 24-10

    Minnesota finally got its first touchdown of the game.

    On fourth-and-11, Max Brosmer threw an incomplete pass, but Mason Graham was called for a personal foul, giving the Golden Gophers new life.

    Darius Taylor capped the 12-play, 76-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

    End of 3Q: Michigan 24, Minnesota 3

    It wasn’t the best quarter for Michigan, but the Wolverines still hold a 21-point lead.

    Alex Orji threw his first interception of the season.

    The Golden Gophers are driving and have the ball at Michigan’s 35-yard line.

    4:00 3Q: Orji throws INT; Michigan still leads 24-3

    One of the main reasons Davis Warren lost the starting job was because he threw too many interceptions.

    Alex Orji, more of a running threat, just threw his first interception of the season, a pass intended for Colston Loveland.

    7:36 3Q: Zvada kicks FG; Michigan leads 24-3

    It was a 13-play, 40-yard drive that lasted 7:26 minutes and ended with Dominic Zvada kicking a 53-yard field goal.

    It’s still early in the season, but Zvada has a new record.

    Halftime: Michigan leads Minnesota 21-3

    Regardless of this last strange sequence, Michigan’s defense should be very pleased with its performance.

    But Max Brosmer hit Nick Kallerup for 44 yards to the 1-yard line.

    The Golden Gophers had just enough time to shut down the Field Gopher unit and Dragan Kesich kicked a 20-yard field goal for Minnesota’s first points.

    Brosmer is 11 of 17 passes for 114 yards and one interception.

    Michigan’s Alex Orji is 4 of 8 for 36 yards and a touchdown. He also had six carries for 13 yards.

    Kalel Mullings has eight carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan Edwards had four carries for 13 yards.

    Mason Graham had two sacks, Kenneth Grant had one and Rayshaun Benny and Derrick Moore each had half a sack for the Wolverines.

    3:41 2Q: Michigan with an interception; Lead still 21-0

    It’s another good play by the Michigan defense.

    This time it was Jyaire Hill who took out Max Brosmer.

    3:48 2Q: Another TD after a blocked punt; Michigan leads 21-0

    The defense set up Michigan’s final touchdown and this time it was the special teams that took action.

    The Wolverines blocked the punt and it was recovered by Christian Boivin.

    Then Alex Orji connected with Tyler Morris for the 11-yard touchdown. Morris was originally ruled out at the 1-yard line, but review determined he had the ball inside the pylon.

    8:59 2Q: Mullings again; Michigan leads 14-0

    The Golden Gophers were deep in their own territory and after a completion, Zeke Berry simply took the football away.

    That gave the Wolverines the ball at the Minnesota 16-yard line, meaning it was time for Kalel Mullings to get to work.

    Three plays later, Mullings ran one yard for his second touchdown.

    End 1Q: Michigan 7, Minnesota 0

    Despite missing some players on defense, most notably Josaiah Stewart, who was listed as questionable, the Wolverines were good.

    Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer is 4 of 6 for 19 yards; Jaren Mangham only has one carry, but it’s for 16 yards.

    Alex Orji is 2 of 3 for 15 yards and has two carries for 18 yards. Kalel Mullings has a 27-yard touchdown.

    2:06 1Q: Minnesota misses FG, Michigan leads 7-0

    The Golden Gophers had a pretty good drive and reached Michigan’s 34-yard line.

    But the defense held on third down and dropped Daniel Jackson on a reception for a 3-yard loss.

    That made it a 55-yard field goal attempt for Dragan Kesich, which he hit with his right hand.

    6:34 1Q: Mullings in the end zone, Michigan leads Minnesota 7-0

    Well, who else would it be?

    Kalel Mullings picked up where he left off last Saturday as he had 17 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns and ran 27 yards for Michigan’s first score.

    Big plays on the drive included Alex Orji’s 15-yard run on 3rd-and-9.

    The Golden Gophers also hurt themselves with an egregious facemask penalty.

    Availability report

    Here’s today’s availability report, courtesy of beat writer Angelique Chengelis:

    Of note, tight end Colston Loveland is available today.

    The Michigan Wolverines celebrated their success last week on site, especially with Kalel Mullings.

    Alex Orji didn’t pass much at all, but he didn’t turn the ball over either.

    Tight end Colston Loveland, who missed last week’s win against USC, is a game-time decision.

    Meanwhile, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are looking to avoid an 0-2 start in the Big Ten.

    Follow here for live updates from Detroit News staff writer Dana Wakiji.

    Minnesota in Michigan

    ▶ Start: Saturday noon, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

    ▶ TV/Radio: FOX/104.3 FM, 950 AM

    ▶ Line: Michigan at 11½

    ▶ Records: Minnesota 2-2, 0-1 Big Ten; No. 12 Michigan 3-1, 1-0 Big Ten

    ▶ Series: Michigan leads 76-25-3 (Last game: October 7, 2023 – Michigan 52, (at) Minnesota 10)

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    Seren Anwen
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