Wolverines Rebound With Dominant Victory Over Rutgers

Saturday, September 28

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

3-1 , 1-1

Rutgers

1-3 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Michigan

Shea Patterson

Wolverines Rebound With Dominant Victory Over Rutgers

9/28/2019 3:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore Behind the Scenes: Michigan vs. Rutgers In the Trenches Podcast: Rutgers Postgame Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #20 Michigan 52, Rutgers 0
Records: U-M (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten), Rutgers (1-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 110,662
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 5 -- vs. Iowa (Michigan Stadium), noon

• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh | Players

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior quarterback Shea Patterson threw for 276 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three rushing, one passing) to lead the No. 20-ranked University of Michigan football team to a resounding 52-0 win over Rutgers on Saturday (Sept. 28) at Michigan Stadium.

The defense smothered the Scarlet Knights, holding the visitors to 152 yards of total offense and a paltry 2.9 yards per play. Senior viper Khaleke Hudson led the defense team with seven tackles, while junior Kwity Paye was in the backfield often, amassing six tackles, including three-and-a-half tackles-for-loss.

Sophomore Christian Turner led the way in the ground game, rushing 11 times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Ronnie Bell was the leading receiver with six receptions for 83 yards.

The Wolverines got the ball to start the game and took little time getting on the scoreboard as they went 80 yards in five plays to take an early 7-0 lead just 2:08 into the first quarter. Patterson threw a simple out route to junior Nico Collins, who broke a tackle along the sideline and went 48 yards for the touchdown.

The defense held Rutgers to a three-and-out on its first possession and Michigan got the ball right back. U-M appeared to be stopped on third down, but a defensive holding penalty gave the offense an automatic first down at the Rutgers 32-yard line. Patterson threw a perfect fade to junior Donovan Peoples-Jones for a 21-yard gain, and set up first-and-goal at the three-yard line. Two plays later, Patterson ran a bootleg left for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

The visitors threatened to get back in the game with an 11-play, 70-yard drive, but came up empty on its fourth-and-three attempt from the Michigan five-yard line when sophomore Aidan Hutchinson met Rutgers quarterback Artur Sitkowski at the line of scrimmage for no gain and forced a turnover on downs.

With 11:45 left in the second quarter, Michigan began its drive with great field position near midfield. Patterson took the offense down the field in eight plays, scoring on a four-yard run to make the score 21-0.

Sophomore Jake Moody added a 33-yard field goal just before halftime, increasing the lead to 24-0.

The Wolverines kept it up in the second half, beginning on the first play when senior Tyler Cochran forced and recovered a fumble on the kickoff. Taking over at the Rutgers 15-yard line, U-M ran it three consecutive times with Turner, who scored on a seven-yard rush to take a 31-0 lead.

Trying to get back in the game, Rutgers went for it on fourth-and-two from their own 41-yard line, but junior Ambry Thomas made the stop in the backfield to force another turnover on downs. Taking over at the 40-yard line, Patterson hit sophomore Ronnie Bell for a 22-yard gain, and took a QB sneak into the end zone on the following play to extend the lead to 38-0.

Sophomore Joe Milton entered the game at the end of the third quarter and led the offense down the field for another touchdown to put U-M up, 45-0, with 12:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-goal on the Rutgers one-yard line, Milton faked a handoff and ran a bootleg left, and strolled into the end zone untouched.

The Wolverines kept it going behind Milton. After a 29-yard pass to freshman Luke Schoonmaker and a 15-yard Rutgers targeting penalty, Milton fired a pass to freshman Giles Jackson in the corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown. It was the first passing touchdown of Milton's career, and U-M capped the scoring at 52-0 with 9:08 left in the game.

The Wolverines will return to action next Saturday (Oct. 5), when they host Iowa at Michigan Stadium for Homecoming. The game will kick off at noon and be televised on FOX.