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    • Michigan saved its 27:24 win with a controversial onside kick
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    Michigan saved its 27:24 win with a controversial onside kick

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

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    The state of Michigan may only own the state of Minnesota.

    After the Detroit Tigers’ thrilling run over the past two months in which they overcame a 10-game deficit against the Minnesota Twins and secured a spot in the MLB postseason, the Michigan football team continued its run against the Minnesota Golden Gophers continued – supported by a In the final minutes, the Golden Gophers had crucial offside situations.

    The Wolverines opened with a dominant running offense, turned the day around with a game-changing special teams game and leaned on defense all afternoon as they earned and held on to a 27-24 victory over the Golden Gophers late into the night could Little Brown Jug on a wet, gray afternoon in Ann Arbor.

    “I’m not very happy with the performance,” coach Sherrone Moore said in his on-field interview after the game.

    INJURIES: Will Johnson out against Minnesota, Colston Loveland in

    For the second week in a row, it looked like it was going to be a blowout, as Michigan led by 21 points midway through the third quarter. But a costly interception by Alex Orji gave the Gophers life. They responded with a 12-play, 72-yard touchdown drive to get back into the game early in the fourth quarter, and after Michigan’s offense went three-and-out (for the fifth time), Minnesota’s Koi Perich hit the punt from 60 yards back the UM 16.

    Three plays later, Walled Lake Western graduate Darius Taylor plowed into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-17. But like last week, the Wolverines had an answer. Michigan got the ball back and leaned on Mullings. The offensive star opened the drive with three straight runs to move the sticks before Orji Colston found Loveland on a 15-yard route across midfield.

    After another Mullings first down, UM got into the Gophers’ red zone as it mounted a 14-play, 58-yard drive with more than 6:30 left to play that helped Michigan take a two-possession lead .

    But the Gophers weren’t done yet. They drove 75 yards and scored on a 12-yard pass to Daniel Jackson to make it a three-point play with 1:40 left. The Gophers then executed an onside kick to win the ball back – but the recovery was negated by an offside decision.

    Alex Orji is off to a good start

    The passing attack looked better compared to Orji’s first start a week ago, but remains an issue. The junior had more passing yards at halftime (36) than he did in the entire game against USC (32), completing 10 of 18 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. But his third-quarter interception, when he waited too long to target a wide-open Loveland on a seam route, was exactly what he thought couldn’t happen.

    Loveland’s return helped: He caught a team-high four passes for 41 yards. Tyler Morris also got into the end zone with an 11-yard play-action catch for his first score of the season, but there was only one completion that went more than 10 air yards downfield.

    The Wolverines largely used their rushing attack to carry the load, led again by Mullings, who had 24 carries for 111 yards and two scores, while Orji (eight carries for 23 yards) and Donovan Edwards (nine carries for 34 yards) led his performance added loading.

    The defense was outstanding most of the day – Wink Martindale’s unit forced five punts and held Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer to 27-for-47 passing for 258 yards and the entire Gophers team to just 38 rushing yards on 25 attempts – but UM won because of its ability to play complementary football.

    There were 15 total possessions in the first half as Michigan extended its lead, although the Gophers outscored Michigan 130-107 at the break, Michigan was ahead by 18 points on the scoreboard. Why? Starting position. Michigan averaged 48 in the first half, while Minnesota averaged 23.

    Big plays early

    Michigan made a statement as it marched seven plays and 79 yards (Orji completed two passes for 15 yards) before Mullings completed a 27-yard touchdown rush for its first score with 6:34 left in the first quarter.

    The offense went three-and-out on the next two possessions, but the defense turned the game around when Zeke Berry ripped the ball out of Jackson’s arms and returned it to the Gophers’ 16. Mullings then pushed his way in from a yard out and three plays later gave UM a 14-0 lead.

    Then, after Michigan’s defense forced its fourth straight drive that lasted three plays or less, Christian Boivin came through in the fourth and beat the Gophers’ punt attempt to send Michigan’s offense into the Minnesota red zone for the second time in the quarter bring to.

    This time it only took one play for Orji Morris to give Morris a 21-0 lead.

    At this point, the defense was able to prick up its ears and attack Brosmer. By halftime, UM had already had eight tackles for loss (including four sacks), two pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception. Martindale spoke earlier this week about applying less pressure and proved that early on. He sent all kinds of simulated pressures, like on the first series when he brought TJ Guy into coverage and brought Ernest Hausmann to the line of scrimmage like he was in a blitz, only for him to shadow the running back and the Ball was able to end the opening series with a tackle for defeat.

    Jyaire Hill, again having a great game, ended the next series with a tackle for loss when he botched a screen pass, forcing Minnesota to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which was of no use. It was a theme of the day when Rayshaun Benny changed the next drive with a batted ball before Berry had the stripe on the following drive. Brandyn Hillman then came up with consecutive plays to force a three-and-out on the next series, and Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham came up with consecutive sacks the next time Minnesota had the ball to set up Boivin’s blocked punt.

    On the first play after UM scored its third touchdown of the game, Hill made an acrobatic interception, jumped to grab the ball and just managed to get his foot on the ball.

    Wait a long time

    Minnesota finished with a 44-yard Hail Mary to get to the UM 1 and kick a field goal as time expired in the first half, but after that the Wolverines were only too happy to just throw the game away.

    They completed a 13-play, 40-yard drive that took up half of the third quarter and ended with a Dominic Zvada field goal. After UM forced a three-and-out for Minnesota, it looked like it was going to be another long drive. But Orji had his first career changeup late in the third to keep the Gophers going.

    On the 11th play of Minnesota’s next drive, Michigan appeared to have escaped with a fourth-and-11 stop, but Graham was cited for illegal hand strikes to the face, extending the drive. Two plays later, Darius Taylor hit a 4-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 24-10.

    Minnesota made it 24-17 after a 60-yard punt return set up a Taylor touchdown, but Michigan pulled away on its ensuing drive when Dominic Zvada kicked a 35-yard field goal with 4:33 left .

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    Eira Gwyneth
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