Michigan offense finds life with QB change, crumbles late in 27-17 loss at Washington
SEATTLE — Everything was going wrong for Michigan football, which left head coach Sherrone Moore with little choice.
His team fell into an early two-touchdown hole after three short, sputtering offensive drives to open the game, when he turned to seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle to replace Alex Orji in search of an offensive spark.
To say it worked would be an understatement. Tuttle, 25, not only led Michigan to a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his first possession, but later put U-M ahead by three in the third quarter after he led an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended when he found Colston Loveland on an 8-yard touchdown strike.
Washington tied the game with a 29-yard field goal with 13:38 left in the fourth quarter, but after Ernest Hausmann came away with a key interception of Will Rogers deep in Michigan territory, U-M gave it back five plays later on a Tuttle fumble.
Four plays after that, Jonah Coleman leapt over the pile for a one-yard score, and a Tuttle interception allowed the Huskies to prevail for a 27-17 win.
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Michigan's 27-game Big Ten Conference win streak is over.
Tuttle was intercepted by Kamren Fabiculanan to end Michigan's comeback attempt. Washington put the game away thanks in part to a pass interference by Will Johnson and roughing the passer penalty on Brandyn Hillman, adding a late chip-shot field goal.
The Wolverines seemed to take a step forward on their search for a balanced attack. Tuttle completed 10 of 18 passes for 98 yards, one score and one interception, while the rushing attack combined to churn out 37 carries for 174 yards and one touchdown.
Michigan (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) has its bye next week, its first of two byes this season, but returns to action on the road Oct. 19 at No. 25 Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten).
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State of the offense
The first three drives were anemic, as they lasted 16 plays and combined to pick up just 47 yards (2.9 per play).
That's when Tuttle came in on the fourth drive and immediately changed the tone of the game.
After a four-yard run by Donovan Edwards, Tuttle found Max Bredeson on a gain of five before Kalel Mullings plowed ahead for a first down. Tuttle then showed his legs with a seven-yard run, which opened up a lane for Edwards to gain nine and then Tuttle to pick up seven one more time. That's when Edwards hit a cut-back behind the double-team block and ran 39 yards untouched for Michigan's first score.
Michigan added a field goal on its next possession when on third-and-2, left tackle Jeff Persi (replacing Myles Hinton) got beat off the ball and the defender dropped Mullings for a loss. Dominic Zvada drilled a 45-yarder to make it 14-10.
The first drive out of the half was perhaps Michigan's best of the season. It went 11 plays, covered 75 yards, chewed up nearly seven minutes off the clock and had six run calls compared to five passes.
The best play came on third-and-10, when Tuttle dropped back in the pocket, moved through his progression and then ripped a ball up the middle for a 22-yard strike to Amorion Walker (the longest catch of his career) to keep the drive alive. Tuttle found Loveland later on a scramble for the lead.
The next three drives, however, left more to be desired. U-M went three-and-out on consecutive possessions, gaining a total of five yards, before Hausmann's interception set up a potential go-ahead score. Instead, Tuttle fumbled which set up the Huskies with a short field.
When Michigan got the ball back with 6:22 to play, Mullings converted on fourth-and-inches, but after a false start on Josh Priebe, Tuttle threw an interception when looking for Loveland on an out-route with 3:24 to play. The ball was behind the tight end.
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Defense picked apart through the air
The defense was a similar story in terms of a slow start before settling in.
Washington had its way early with three of its first four drives picking up 50 yards or more. It started early, when Rogers found Denzel Boston on a 36-yard double move against Jyaire Hill (something that happened a lot) on the first play of the game. Coleman ripped off a 10-yard rush on the next play, but U-M's defense stood tall and forced a 42-yard Grady Gross field goal attempt which he pulled wide left.
The next drive was not as fortunate. After U-M forced an early third-and-11, Rogers found former Michigan wideout Giles Jackson for a deep gain of 41 after he ran by Makari Paige. Michigan gave up another third-and-7 when Rogers found Boston on a slant in front of Hill, and five plays later, Rogers found Boston on a fade for a touchdown.
Two drives later, the Huskies went 75 yards on seven plays, the most consequential play a sweet double pass from Rogers to No. 2 quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to Cameron Davis for a gain of 37. On the next play, Rogers found Jackson for a 17-yard score to put Washington up 14-0.
Rogers finished 21 of 32 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.
Michigan's defense awoke after the QB change, and ended the first half by forcing a punt and then blocking a short field goal attempt as time expired. It forced a punt on the first drive of the second half after the Wolverines took a 17-14 lead on the opening drive.
After Washington tied the game and marched into U-M territory midway through the fourth quarter, Rogers threw a pass over the middle to his tight end when Hausmann made a leaping interception to get U-M the ball back, but the comeback fell short as the defense allowed 13 fourth-quarter points.
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.
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