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    • Michigan was saved by a controversial call on onside kick in a 27-24 victory
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    Michigan was saved by a controversial call on onside kick in a 27-24 victory

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    The state of Michigan might just own the state of Minnesota.

    After the Detroit Tigers’ thrilling run over the past two months, erasing a 10-game deficit against the Minnesota Twins and clinching a spot in the MLB postseason, the Michigan Football team continued its run against the Minnesota Golden Gophers – aided by a crucial offside situation for the Golden Gophers in the closing minutes.

    The Wolverines opened with a dominant run offense, turned the day around with a game-changing special teams play and leaned on defense all afternoon as they were able to hold on late for a 27-24 victory over the Golden Gophers and maintain the lead. Little Brown Jug on a wet, gray afternoon in Ann Arbor.

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

    INJURIES: Will Johnson out vs. Minnesota, Colston Loveland in

    For the second week in a row, it looked like it would be a runaway as Michigan led by 21 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, then after Michigan’s offense went three-and-out (for the fifth time) Minnesota’s Koi Perich returned the kick 60 yards returned to UM16.

    Three plays later, Walled Lake Western graduate Darius Taylor plowed into the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-17. But just like last week, the Wolverines had a response. Michigan got the ball back and leaned on Mullings. The star of the offense opened the drive with three consecutive carries to move the sticks before Orji Colston found Loveland on a 15-yard route above midfield.

    After another Mullings first down, UM found itself in the Gophers’ red zone as it put together a 14-play, 58-yard drive that took more than 6:30 off the clock and 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 game with 1:40 left. The Gophers then executed an offside play to get the ball back, but the recovery was negated by an offside play.

    Alex Orji starts well

    The passing attack seemed improved from a week ago in Orji’s first start, but remains an issue. The junior had more passing yards by the half (36) than he had the entire game against USC (32), completing 10-for-18 passes for 86 yards and one touchdown. But his interception in the third quarter, when he waited too long to attack a wide-open Loveland on a seam route, was exactly what he said 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 on an 11-yard play-action catch for his first score of the season, but there was only one completion that covered more than 10 air yards down the field.

    Largely, the Wolverines used their rushing attack to carry the load, again led by Mullings who ran 24 times for 111 yards and two scores, while Orji (eight carries for 23 yards) and Donovan Edwards (nine carries for 34 yards) complemented his offense . load.

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

    There were a total of 15 possessions in the first half as Michigan built its lead, although the Gophers outscored Michigan 130-107, at the break Michigan led by 18 on the scoreboard. Why? Starting field position. Michigan started on average at its own 48 in the first half, while Minnesota started on average at its own 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 ripped off a 27-yard touchdown rush to open the scoring with 6:34 left in the first quarter.

    The offense went three-and-out on the next two possessions, but the defense turned the play around when Zeke Berry ripped the ball out of Jackson’s arms and returned it to the Gophers’ 16. Mullings then drilled his way in from 1 yard out , three plays later put UM ahead 14-0.

    Then, after Michigan’s defense forced its fourth straight drive lasting three plays or less, Christian Boivin came through on fourth down and hit the Gophers’ punt attempt to put Michigan’s offense inside the red for the second time in the quarter zone of Minnesota.

    This time it took just one play for Orji to find Morris to go up 21-0.

    That’s when the defense was able to turn their ears back and go after Brosmer. By halftime, UM had eight tackles for loss (including four sacks), two pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception. Martindale spoke earlier this week about how he is applying less pressure and has demonstrated that early. He sent out all kinds of simulated pressure, like on the first series, when he dropped TJ Guy into coverage and moved Ernest Hausmann to the line of scrimmage as if he were on a blitz, just so he could shadow the running back and finish the race. opening series with a tackle for loss.

    Jyaire Hill, who had another great game, capped off the next series with a tackle for loss when he blew up a screen pass and forced Minnesota to attempt a 55-yard field goal, which was no good. It was a theme of the day, as Rayshaun turned Benny on the next drive with a batted ball before Berry had the strip on the next drive. Brandyn Hillman then came up with consecutive plays to force a three-and-out for the next series, and Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham came up with consecutive sacks the next time Minnesota had the ball to clear Boivin’s blocked to set up stairs.

    On the first play after UM scored the game’s third touchdown, Hill came away with an acrobatic interception, leaping to grab the ball and barely getting a foot in.

    Wait late

    Minnesota connected on 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 more than happy to simply salt the game away.

    They went on 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 in Minnesota, it looked like it would be another long drive. But Orji had his first career turnover late in the third to keep the Gophers going.

    On the 11th play of Minnesota’s next drive, Michigan appeared to have gotten away with a stop on fourth-and-11, but Graham was flagged for illegal hands to the face, extending the drive. Two plays later, Darius Taylor plowed in a four-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 the ensuing drive when Dominic Zvada made a 35-yard field goal with 4:33 to play.

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