Zvada’s 31-yard field goal as time expires lifts No. 18 Michigan over Northwestern 24-22
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
CHICAGO (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired, Jordan Marshall ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns before exiting with an injury and No. 18 Michigan stayed in the playoff chase by beating Northwestern 24-22 at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
The Wolverines (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 18 CFP) overcame three late turnovers, including two interceptions by Bryce Underwood, and remained in the running for the College Football Playoff with their fourth straight win. Northwestern (5-5, 3-4) lost its third in a row.
“Oh man, how about that one?” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said as he stepped to the podium.
Zvada’s boot capped a 50-yard drive and set off a celebration on the field and in the stands, where a large part of the crowd wore maize and blue. He missed earlier from 34 and 60 yards.
Michigan was up 21-9 when the Wildcats’ Preston Stone plowed in from the 1 two minutes into the fourth quarter.
Michigan then had a third down at its 26 when Braden Turner picked off a pass intended for Deakon Tonielli and returned it to the 6. Caleb Komolafe ran it in on the next play, giving Northwestern a 22-21 lead with 12:05 remaining in the game. The 2-point conversion pass failed.
Michigan then drove to the 30 before Underwood got picked off again, this time by Robert Fitzgerald at the 20. The Wolverines had another opportunity after Northwestern punted, only to give it away again after opting not to go for the field goal. They had a fourth-and-1 at the Wildcats’ 24 when Bryson Kuzdzal fumbled the handoff and Northwestern recovered.
“You appreciate the hard work, you appreciate their fight, their grit to finish,” Moore said.
Marshall had another big outing with Justice Haynes missing his second consecutive game because of a right foot injury. After setting career highs with 185 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a narrow win against Purdue two weeks ago, he scored twice from the 1 and set up a TD run by Underwood with a 65-yard dash. He exited with what Moore described as a minor injury after getting tackled on a 24-yard run early in the fourth.
Underwood, coming off shaky performances in wins over Michigan State and Purdue, completed 21 of 32 passes for 280 yards.
“Just got a lot of things to work on, to watch back on film, to see (what) we did wrong,” Underwood said. “But overall, just coming back next week being better, not making the same mistakes.”
Freshman Andrew Marsh’s 12 receptions and 189 yards were the most by a Michigan freshman since at least 1979. He became the Wolverines’ first freshman wide receiver with multiple 100-yard games since Roy Roundtree in 2009.
Marsh kept the winning drive going with a neat grab, hauling in a third-down conversion as he fell out of bounds along the sideline, and the Wolverines beat Northwestern for the 14th time in the past 15 meetings.
“It means the world to me just to be able to have a chance, an opportunity to come out here with the team, with the guys I work hard with every week,” he said.
Stone was 13 of 27 for 184 yards.
Hunter Welcing had 81 yards receiving, and the Wildcats dropped their 14th straight against Top 25 teams.
“None of us want to hear, ‘Hey, good effort, guys. You gave Michigan a run for their money. That was a great effort,’” coach David Braun said. “We came here to win a football game and that was the expectation.”
Takeaways
Michigan: The Wolverines remained on course to make the College Football Playoff, no easy task with No. 1 Ohio State visiting on Nov. 29.
Northwestern: The Wildcats have two more opportunities to become bowl-eligible for the second time in coach David Braun’s three seasons. They host Minnesota at Wrigley next week before visiting Illinois in the finale.
Up next
Michigan: Visits Maryland on Nov. 22.
Northwestern: Hosts Minnesota at Wrigley Field on Nov. 22.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football