MICHIGAN 48 (2-3, 2-3), RUTGERS 42 (1-4, 1-4) - 3OT
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
NOVEMBER 21, 2020
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football (1-4, 1-4) was edged in a triple overtime thriller with Michigan (2-3, 2-3), 48-42, on Saturday night at SHI Stadium, presented by RWJBarnabas Health.
Quarterback Noah Vedral threw for a career-high 381 passing yards, eighth-most in a game in program history, with three touchdown passes, including a 61-yard toss to wide receiver Bo Melton. Quarterback Johnny Langan added two rushing scores against the Wolverines, while wide receivers Aron Cruickshank and tight end Jovani Haskins each added receiving scores. It marked the fifth consecutive outing with 20 or more points scored in Big Ten play, matching the Scarlet Knights' output from the previous four seasons combined.
Linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi led the defense with a career-high 17 tackles and two sacks. With his 17 stops, Fatukasi became the first player since Aaron Brady in 1998 to produce 10 or more tackles in five consecutive games. Safety Brendon White also establish a new personal best with 15 tackles, adding a forced fumble.
FIRST QUARTER
Rutgers forced a turnover on its first defensive possession, as safety Christian Izien scooped up a forced fumble White to keep the Wolverines out of the red zone. Then on its next defensive series, the Scarlet Knights stuffed Michigan on a fourth-and-one attempt when linebacker Fatukasi and defensive tackle Julius Turner stopped quarterback Joe Milton short of the line of gain.
On the next play, Vedral found wide receiver Cruickshank for a 43-yard reception, setting Rutgers up within Wolverine territory. Running back Aaron Young then took a run 10 yards to give the Scarlet Knights first-and-goal, followed by a three-yard rush from Langan for the first score of the night. Rutgers led, 7-0, with 4:33 left in the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Rutgers held strong to begin the second quarter, as Michigan missed a 49-yard field goal attempt to remain off the board with 11:58 to go before the half.
The Scarlet Knights turned around a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive on the following possession. Wide receiver Shameen Jones took an end-around 33 yards to the Wolverine three-yard line. RU then turned to Langan, who produced his second rushing touchdown from one yard out to make it 14-0 Rutgers with 8:45 to go in the quarter.
The defense continued to make big plays down the stretch before the break, as Fatukasi registered his second sack of the night to force a Michigan punt and give RU the ball back with 7:37 to go. Rutgers drove 41 yards in 3:14 to set up kicker Valentino Ambrosio for a 38-yard field goal attempt to give the Scarlet Knights a 17-0 lead.
The Wolverines would add a touchdown in the final four minutes as Rutgers took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
THIRD QUARTER
Michigan returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a score, but Rutgers did not falter. Vedral connected with Melton three plays into RU's opening drive of the quarter for a 61-yard touchdown, extending the Scarlet Knights' lead to 24-14 with 13:48 left in the third.
The back-and-forth quarter continued, as Michigan answered with a touchdown on the next possession. Rutgers countered with Ambrosio's second field goal – this one from 42 yards out – to make it 27-21 at the six-minute mark. The Scarlet Knights would hold on to that margin at the end of the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Michigan took its first lead of the night when quarterback Cade McNamara found Mike Sainristil for a six-yard score to put UM up, 28-27, with 13:38 left in regulation.
The Wolverines would tack on another at the 5:07 mark, as Cornelius Johnson grabbed a nine-yard pass from Cade McNamara to extend their newfound lead to 35-27.
Rutgers never let up, tying the game, 35-35, with a 16-play, 75-yard drive over 4:40. Vedral connected with Cruikshank for an 11-yard grab on a fourth down, the first of Cruikshank's career, with 27 seconds left. The Scarlet Knights successfully completed the two-point conversion with a rush by Vedral, sending the game into overtime.
OVERTIME
Michigan began the first overtime period with possession, faltering on a 35-yard field goal attempt. Rutgers, however, would miss a 45-yard field goal attempt of its own, leaving the score knotted at 35-35.
The Scarlet Knights wasted no time in the second overtime, as Haskins reeled in a 25-yard touchdown from Vedral to move in front 42-35. The Wolverines countered with a two-yard rush by Cade McNamara to tie the score, 42-42, and force a third overtime.
Michigan opened the third overtime with a touchdown - failing on a two-point conversion attempt - to set the margin at 48-42. However, in the end UM held on to escape with the win.
UP NEXT
Rutgers travels to Purdue on Nov. 28 for its first trip to Ross-Ade Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. on FS1.
PARTICIPATION
TEAM NOTES
- Rutgers scored 42 points, reaching at least 20 points for the fifth-straight conference game. The Scarlet Knights had never previously had a season with five consecutive conference games scoring 20 or more points. RU had had five Big Ten games with 20 or more points the previous four seasons combined.
- Rutgers played its 12th overtime game in program history, first in the Big Ten Conference and first since 2013 at SMU.
- QB Noah Vedral had his fourth-straight game with at least 20 completions, finishing 29-for-43 passing for a career-high 381 yards. The 381 passing yards rank eighth-most in a game in program history.
- WR Bo Melton scored his fifth receiving touchdown, the most in a season by a Scarlet Knight since Andre Patton also had five in 2016. Melton added seven receptions overall, totaling at least four in all five games this season. He has a catch in 17-straight games dating back to last year.
- WR Shameen Jones had his first career 100-yard receiving game with 127 yards on seven catches. It was the second time in Big Ten play Rutgers had two 100-yard receivers in the same game (Maryland 2014).
- Rutgers scored first on a three-yard rushing touchdown by QB Johnny Langan. The Scarlet Knights have scored first in 4-of-5 games this year. Langan added his fourth rushing score of the season in the second quarter for his first multiple-score game of his career.
- LB Olakunle Fatukasi collected a career-high 17 tackles for his fifth-straight game in double figures. The last Scarlet Knight to achieve the feat was Aaron Brady in 1998. Fatukasi had two sacks and another assisted tackle-for-loss to make it nine stops in the backfield this year, the most by a Scarlet Knight since Julian Pinnix-Odrick had 10 in 2016.
- PK Valentino Ambrosio connected on two field goals, with a long of 42 yards.
- WR Aron Cruickshank has had at least seven receptions in three-straight games, hauling in the first receiving touchdown of his career in to help tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
- LB Mohamed Toure recorded a career-high six tackles.
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