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Able to snap a three-game losing streak and move back to within one game of the .500 mark, the Michigan Wolverines topped the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 48-42, in triple-overtime on Saturday night at Piscataway’s SHI Stadium.
As he has each game this season, redshirt sophomore Joe Milton drew the start at quarterback for the Wolverines, and, while he did not toss any interceptions, he completed just five-of-12 passes for 89 yards, including misfiring on seven of his last eight attempts.
Trailing, 17-0, with 4:18 remaining in the first half, Milton was replaced by redshirt freshman Cade McNamara.
Throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Cornelius Johnson just 52 seconds later, McNamara, a product of Damonte Ranch High School in Reno, Nevada, delivered a sparkling performance and was the driving force behind the comeback victory, connecting on 27-of-36 throws for 260 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a two-yard rushing score in the second overtime.
This was the second-straight game McNamara has provided a spark off the bench, as he engineered Michigan’s lone touchdown drive in the 49-11 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 14.
Addressing the media postgame, sixth-year head coach Jim Harbaugh shared why the staff decided to roll with Milton at the beginning of this one.
“Nobody won or lost the job in practice during the week,” he said. “We went into it with the thought that we would play both quarterbacks in the game. We did. Cade came in and gave us a huge spark and then played lights out from there.”
Harbaugh elaborated on what he liked about McNamara’s performance.
“He was outstanding. Really gritty, really gritty performance,” he said. “In all ways. Execution was outstanding. His play was inspiring, can’t say enough great things. So proud of him. I’d say that for the whole team.”
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Six of the nine drives McNamara led resulted in points and two of the ones that did not were impacted by the clock, redshirt senior Quinn Nordin’s missed 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half and the final three plays of regulation.
Harbaugh commented on the emotion his young gunslinger played with and the lift it seemed to give the rest of the offense.
“Play within you own personality. I could tell he was having fun,” he said. “It was great to see our players having fun. Saw so many good things out of him. The way he played, the way he executed. How he was prepared for the game. Gritty, it was a gritty performance. Also, really great quarterback play.
“He’s very well-prepared. I think he’s seeing things very good. His confidence has always been really high. It’s a testament to his ability. Really happy for him.
“As I said, it was gritty. Sometimes, you’ve got to see it in the game, and he was as good as you could come in and play. Heck of a great comeback. Nice to know about yourself that you’re a quarterback that can lead comebacks and come from behind.”
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While stopping short of committing to McNamara on the spot, the coach indicated he will continue to ride his hot hand.
“We’ll look at it,” he said. “The way he played tonight; he’s going to be in there.”
Seeing action in a total of three games in 2020, the redshirt freshman has completed 31-of-46 passes (67.4 percent) for 334 yards, five touchdowns, and, perhaps most importantly, zero interceptions.
Johnson was his top target against Rutgers, recording five receptions for 105 yards and two scores, while sophomore Giles Jackson tallied four catches for 50 yards and Mike Sainristil, another sophomore, chipped in four for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Now standing at 2-3, the Wolverines will return to Ann Arbor to clash with James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions (0-5) on Saturday, Nov. 28.
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