The fourth-ranked Wolverines beat Rutgers, 42-7, on Saturday.
PISCATAWAY, N. J. — It took a little longer than preferred, but the Michigan football team handled business on Saturday.
The fourth-ranked Wolverines, heavy favorites against lowly Rutgers, piled up 453 yards of offense in a 42-7 win at HighPoint.com Stadium.
Michigan’s victory — its ninth straight after a season-opening loss to Notre Dame — means it maintains sole possession of first place in the Big Ten East with two games left on the schedule.
Quarterback Shea Patterson finished 18 of 27 for 260 yards and three touchdowns, his fourth straight game without throwing an interception, while sophomore Donovan Peoples-Jones caught a team-high five passes for 83 yards.
Junior running back Karan Higdon rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the season (he has 1,005). But he also watched his streak of seven consecutive 100-yard games end.
Karan Higdon tops 1,000 yards rushing for the season
Both of Higdon’s touchdown runs came on the goal line, 1-yard carries each, including the eventual game-winner with 9:33 left in the second quarter. Chris Evans rushed for a team-high 75 yards on six carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
But it took Michigan (9-1,7-0 Big Ten) some time to get going on offense. The Wolverines’ first score didn’t come until 45 seconds were left in the first quarter, after a long, grinding first drive ended in a turnover on downs.
Rutgers offered up a quick return jab just moments later, with Isaih Pacheco (16 carries, 142 yards) busting through with an 80-yard touchdown run on the Scarlet Knights’ first play from scrimmage.
The run was Rutgers’ longest offensive play of the season, and its longest run since the school joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014.
The Wolverines scored on their next two possessions, the first ending on Higdon’s second touchdown run of the game and second coming on a 6-play, 53-yard drive that ended on a 36-yard pass from Patterson to wide receiver Nico Collins.
DL Aubrey Solomon not in uniform vs. Rutgers
Collins, a sophomore, caught three passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Oliver Martin (three catches, 38 yards) caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Patterson in the third quarter.
Michigan’s defense, while not the dominant unit we have come to expect every week, was effective. Rutgers totaled 252 yards of offense, mainly on giant, chunk plays. The Scarlet Knights finished just 4 of 12 on third down and fumbled the football with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
Rutgers quarterback Artur Sitkowski, a freshman, completed just 8 of his 19 pass attempts for 40 yards. Its other star playmaker on offense, running back Raheem Blackshear, rushed for just 41 yards.
The loss was the ninth straight for Rutgers (1-9,0-7 Big Ten), which has lost four straight to the Wolverines, all in dominating fashion.
NOTES:
— Safety Josh Metellus did not play, but was in uniform and on the sideline. Sophomore Brad Hawkins (five tackles) started in his place.
— Brandon Peters was the second quarterback in the game, entering with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter. He did not attempt a pass. True freshman Joe Milton followed and did not attempt a pass. Even walk-on Michael Sessa saw a play.
— Cornerback Lavert Hill was shown walking to the locker room in the second quarter, presumably injured. He did not return.
— Quinn Nordin, who has converted three of his last seven field-goal tries, did not attempt one today.
