Michigan rebounds with resilient win vs. Rutgers in Tommy Carr's second start

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Tommy Carr completed 22 of 27 passes for 266 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 4:24 remaining, to lift visiting Michigan to a 28-21 victory over Rutgers on Saturday afternoon.

Carr added 54 rushing yards and two scores on 12 carries for Michigan (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten), rebounding after dropping three of its previous four contests.

With the game deadlocked at 21-21 late in the fourth quarter, Carr threw the game-winning touchdown. Facing a third-and-7 at the Rutgers 9-yard line, the quarterback tucked the ball when his targets were covered and scrambled into the end zone.

The Wolverines’ defense forced a quick punt on the ensuing possession, and Michigan reclaimed the ball with 3:10 remaining, churning out two first downs on the ground to bleed the clock dry.

AJ Surace threw for 123 yards and a touchdown for Rutgers (2-6, 1-4), while Antwan Raymond ripped off 85 rushing yards on 11 carries.

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Rutgers had erased an eight-point second-half deficit early in the fourth quarter. Raymond broke loose for a 54-yard scamper down to the Michigan 3-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Clay Thevenin. Surace then hit Ben Black III on a two-point conversion pass to tie it at 21-21 with 11:43 remaining.

Leading 14-13 at the break, Michigan opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by Carr’s 15-yard touchdown sprint to push the margin to 21-13.

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The Wolverines struck first midway through the opening quarter, marching 92 yards in 10 plays to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Carr to JJ Buchanan. Jordan Marshall extended the lead to 14-3 early in the second frame with a 2-yard touchdown dive to finish an 8-play, 75-yard march.

Rutgers stayed within striking distance before the half when Surace hit a wide-open Jourdin Houston on an 80-yard touchdown bomb after a Michigan defensive back slipped in coverage. Dane Pizzaro added a 32-yard field goal with 3:21 left in the second quarter to cut Michigan's lead to 14-13 at intermission.