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Michigan crumbles vs. Washington, 27-17, snaps 27-game Big Ten streak
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Michigan crumbles vs. Washington, 27-17, snaps 27-game Big Ten streak

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SEATTLE – Everything went wrong for Michigan football, leaving head coach Sherrone Moore with little choice.

His team fell into an early two-touchdown hole after three short, sputtering offensive drives to open the game, when he turned to seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle to replace Alex Orji in search of an offensive spark.

To say it worked would be an understatement. The 25-year-old Tuttle not only led Michigan to a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his first possession, but put UM up by three later in the third quarter after leading an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended when he found Colston Loveland on an 8-yard touchdown strike.

Washington tied the game with a 29-yard field goal with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter, but after Ernest Hausmann got away with a key Will Rogers interception deep in Michigan territory, UM gave it back five plays later after a Tuttle fumble. .

Four plays after that, Jonah Coleman jumped the pile for a one-yard score, and a Tuttle interception allowed the Huskies to prevail for a 27-17 win.

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Michigan’s 27-game Big Ten Conference winning streak is over.

Tuttle was intercepted by Kamren Fabiculanan to end UM’s comeback attempt. Washington put the game away in part thanks to Will Johnson’s pass interference and roughing the passer penalty on Brandyn Hillman, adding a late chip shot field goal.

The Wolverines appeared to take a step forward in their quest for a balanced attack. Tuttle completed 10 of 18 passes for 98 yards, one score and one interception, while the rushing attack combined for 37 carries for 174 yards and one touchdown.

Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) has its bye next week, the first of two byes this season, but returns to action on Oct. 19 at No. 25 Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten).

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State of the crime

The first three drives were anemic, as they lasted 16 plays and combined for just 47 yards (2.9 per play).

That’s when Tuttle came in on the fourth drive and immediately changed the tone of the game.

After a four-yard run by Donovan Edwards, Tuttle found Max Bredeson for a gain of five before Kalel Mullings plowed ahead for a first down. Tuttle then showed his legs with a seven-yard run, opening a lane for Edwards to gain nine and then for Tuttle to take another seven. At that point, Edwards hit a putback behind the double-team block and ran 39 yards untouched for Michigan’s first score.

Michigan added a field goal on its next possession when Jeff Persi (replacing Myles Hinton) was knocked off the ball on third-and-2 and dropped defenseman Mullings for a loss. Dominic Zvada drilled a 45-year-old player to make it 14-10.

The first drive of the half was perhaps Michigan’s best of the season. It went 11 plays, covered 75 yards, took up almost seven minutes of the clock and had six run calls compared to five passes.

The best play came on third and ten, when Tuttle dropped back into the pocket, went through his progression and then ripped a ball up the middle for a 22-yard strike to Amorion Walker (the longest catch of his career) to preserve . the ride is alive. Tuttle later found Loveland in a battle for the lead.

However, the next three rides left more to be desired. UM went three-and-out on consecutive possessions, gaining a total of five yards, before Hausmann’s interception provided a potential lead. Instead, Tuttle fumbled, giving the Huskies a short field.

When Michigan got the ball back with 6:22 to play, Mullings converted on fourth-and-inch, but after a false start on Josh Priebe, Tuttle threw an interception while looking for Loveland on an away route with 3:24 to play. . The ball was behind the tight end.

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The defense fell apart through the air

The defense was a similar story in terms of a slow start before settling in.

Washington had its way early, with three of its first four drives reaching 50 yards or more. It started early, with Rogers finding Denzel Boston on a 36-yard double move against Jyaire Hill (something that happened a lot) on the first play of the game. Coleman provided a 10-yard rush on the next play, but UM’s defense stood tall and forced a 42-yard Grady Gross field goal attempt, which he pulled wide left.

The next ride was not so happy. After UM forced an early third-and-11, Rogers found former Michigan wideout Giles Jackson for a big gain of 41 after passing Makari Paige. Michigan gave up another third-and-7 when Rogers found Boston on a diagonal in front of Hill, and five plays later Rogers found Boston on a fade for a touchdown.

Two drives later, the Huskies went 75 yards on seven plays, the most consequential play being a nice double pass from Rogers to No. 2 quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to Cameron Davis for a gain of 37. On the next play, Rogers found Jackson for a 17-yard score, putting Washington up 14–0.

Rogers finished 21 of 32 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.

Michigan’s defense woke up after the QB change and ended the first half by forcing a punt and then blocking a short field goal attempt as time expired. It forced a punt on the first drive of the second half after the Wolverines took a 17-14 lead on the opening drive.

After Washington tied the game and marched into UM territory midway through the fourth quarter, Rogers threw a pass over the middle to his tight end as Hausmann made a leaping interception to give UM the ball back, but the comeback failed as the defense allowed 13 minutes. points from the fourth quarter.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.

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