Michigan Wolverines vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Match Player Stats On Oct 04, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 4, 2014

Rutgers 26, Michigan 24: Gary Nova's three touchdown passes and career-high 404 passing yards highlighted a home victory for the Scarlet Knights.

Nova was 22-of-39 and hooked up for a pair of scoring strikes to Andrew Turzilli and another to John Tsimis as Rutgers (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) won the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Scarlet Knights had a quiet rushing attack, managing just 74 yards on 30 carries.

Devin Gardner was 13-of-22 for 178 yards and added two rushing scores while Derrick Green led the Wolverines (2-4, 0-2) with 74 yards on 12 carries. Devin Funchess paced the visitors with five catches for 71 yards.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Rutgers pushed its advantage to 26-17 on Nova's 14-yard scoring strike to Turzilli early in the final period, but Michigan answered on its next possession with Gardner's 19-yard TD burst to close within 26-24. The Wolverines put together a drive in the waning minutes, but Matt Wile's 56-yard field-goal attempt was blocked with about three minutes to play and the Scarlet Knights ran out the clock.

Rutgers led 19-17 at halftime after each team scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. The action was particularly good late, as Michigan scored on a 1-yard run by De'Veon Smith with 1:43 left before intermission, only to watch the Scarlet Knights put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:21 that was capped by Nova's 7-yard TD pass to Tsimis with 22 seconds left in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nova extended his school record for touchdown passes to 64. ... Rutgers RB Desmon Peoples led his team with only 38 rushing yards on 15 carries. ... The Scarlet Knights were 8-for-16 on third down against the Wolverines, who have lost four of their last five games.