Michigan
5-7 , 3-5
Ohio State
11-1 , 8-0
U-M Stumbles in Second Half in 14-Point Loss at No. 7 Ohio State
11/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium)
Score: #7 Ohio State 42, Michigan 28
Records: U-M (5-7, 3-5 Big Ten), OSU (11-1, 8-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Season Completed
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Big Plays, Injuries Key in Deciding Second Half at Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio. -- The University of Michigan football team kept it close for three quarters but ultimately fell to Ohio State (No. 6 CFP, No. 7 AP), 42-28, on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 29) at Ohio Stadium. U-M still leads the all-time series, 58-47-6.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner completed 22-of-32 passes for 233 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the day. Junior/sophomore running back Drake Johnson was Michigan's leading rusher, carrying the ball 15 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns, but he was injured after his second score in the third quarter and sat out for the rest of the game. Junior wide receiver Devin Funchess recorded his fifth career 100-yard receiving game, catching seven passes for 108 yards.
The Buckeyes scored a touchdown on their first drive after intercepting a Gardner pass and starting on the Michigan 41-yard line. With first-and-goal on the six-yard line, JT Barrett threw a touchdown pass to Nick Vannett to put OSU up 7-0 at the 11:34 mark of the first quarter.
Ohio State started its next possession in Michigan territory, but the U-M defense held strong and forced a punt. The Wolverines received the ball and drove downfield, and Funchess made a 45-yard catch to put them in the red zone. On the very next play, Gardner found sophomore tight end Jake Butt wide open in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:42 to go in the first quarter.
After forcing another OSU punt, Michigan used a first-down catch by senior/junior fullback Joe Kerridge to cross midfield. Junior wide receiver Dennis Norfleet caught a screen to extend the drive on a third-and-four, and Gardner ran for a 10-yard gain on a third down to set up a two-yard touchdown by Johnson. The 15-play, 95-yard drive lasted seven minutes and put the Wolverines up 14-7 with 7:34 remaining in the first half.
The Buckeyes gained possession with a little more than two minutes left and put together an 83-yard drive that was capped off by a 25-yard touchdown on the ground by Barrett to tie the game at 14 going into the break.
OSU started the second half with the ball and used a 52-yard catch by Devin Smith to set up a two-yard score for Barrett, making the score 21-14 just two minutes into the third quarter.
Michigan responded by marching 85 yards down the field for a touchdown, and with the ball on the OSU 22-yard line, the Wolverines ran a trick play in which Johnson received a toss and threw it to a wide-open Gardner. This put the ball on the four-yard line, and Johnson ran for a score on the very next play to tie the game at 21 midway through the third quarter.
Ohio took back the lead with a touchdown to make the score 28-21 with a minute left in the third. On its next possession, Barrett was injured and got carted off the field a minute into the final quarter. The Buckeyes scored again with five minutes left in the game, when Ezekiel Elliott ran for a 44-yard score on fourth-and-one to increase the OSU lead to 35-21. The Wolverines attempted to come back, but Gardner was stripped, and the ball was returned for a touchdown.
With a little more than a minute left in the game, Gardner found freshman wide receiver Freddy Canteen in the end zone for the final margin.
Barrett completed 13-of-21 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown and added 89 yards and two scores on the ground before leaving the game. Elliott carried the ball 17 times for 121 yards and two touchdowns. The Wolverines outgained the Buckeyes through the air, 251-183, but OSU outrushed Michigan, 234-121.
The contest concludes the season for the Maize and Blue. Ohio State will play the winner of Wisconsin and Minnesota in the Big Ten championship game.
Team Stats
MICH 0, OSU 7
OSU - Vannett, Nick 6 yd pass from Barrett, J.T. (Nuernberger, S kick) 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:38
MICH 7, OSU 7
MICH - Butt, Jake 12 yd pass from Gardner, Devin (Wile, Matt kick) 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:26
MICH 14, OSU 7
MICH - Johnson, Drake 2 yd run (Wile, Matt kick), 15 plays, 95 yards, TOP 7:13
MICH 14, OSU 14
OSU - Barrett, J.T. 25 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 10 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:08
MICH 14, OSU 21
OSU - Barrett, J.T. 2 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:56
MICH 21, OSU 21
MICH - Johnson, Drake 4 yd run (Wile, Matt kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:17
MICH 21, OSU 28
OSU - Elliott, E 2 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 14 plays, 81 yards, TOP 6:26
MICH 21, OSU 35
OSU - Elliott, E 44 yd run (Nuernberger, S kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:27
MICH 21, OSU 42
OSU - Lee, Darron 33 yd fumble recovery (Nuernberger, S kick)
MICH 28, OSU 42
MICH - Canteen, Freddy 3 yd pass from Gardner, Devin (Wile, Matt kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:43
