Michigan football vs. Rutgers: 20 stats, facts and postgame notes

Michigan football wasn’t exactly awe-inspiring in its win over Rutgers on Saturday, but the Wolverines still emerged with the victory, having taken down the Scarlet Knights, 28-21, in Piscataway.

You may have watched the game on TV or were perhaps in New Jersey for the contest. Well, either way, there’s a lot you might not have known about the matchup in the aftermath. That’s where the sports information department at Michigan has us covered!

Whether it’s Tommy Carr making Michigan history in just his second start, the defense not allowing a single completed pass in the second consecutive second half, or the Wolverines’ third down percentage, there’s a lot of interesting factoids coming out of the game.

You can read the stats, facts, and notes below.

Facts, stats, and notes:

• Today’s win improves Michigan to 5-3 on the year and 2-3 in Big Ten play. The victory marked the first road win of the season for the Wolverines.

• In the all-time series with Rutgers, today’s win improved Michigan to 10-1 overall and 5-1 in New Jersey.

• U-M is up to five consecutive road wins in the series against Rutgers and 10 consecutive wins in the series overall. The lone victory for Rutgers came in New Jersey in 2014, the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

• The offense posted 427 total yards, its third-highest total of the year and the fourth game this season with more than 300 yards of total offense.

• U-M scored touchdowns on both of its first two possessions. It was the first game this season in which U-M scored on each of its first two possessions.

• This game was the second this season in which U-M scored points in all four quarters (Iowa).

• The offense finished 12-of-16 on third down and averaged 5.9 yards per play in the game.

• Quarterback Tommy Carr finished with 266 passing yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, including two rushing scores. Carr is up to three rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns on the season.

• Carr’s passing line of 22-of-27 generated a completion percentage of 81 percent. That figure is the highest single-game completion percentage by any freshman starting quarterback in U-M history (minimum 20 attempts).

• Carr threw for 184 yards in the first half, the most in the first half by a U-M quarterback since Bryce Underwood posted 185 passing yards at Northwestern last year.

• JJ Buchanan’s six-yard touchdown catch on U-M’s first possession opened the scoring for the Maize and Blue. It was Buchanan’s team-high fifth receiving touchdown of the season.

• Buchanan’s score capped a 10-play, 92-yard drive that took 5:52 off the clock. It was Michigan’s longest scoring drive of the season in terms of distance.

• The score was set up by a 44-yard reception from Salesi Moa, his longest of the season.

• Tight end Mason Bonner hauled in a 27-yard catch near the end of the first quarter, marking his first reception of the season.

• Buchanan’s second catch, a 30-yard pickup, put him over 1,000 career receiving yards (1,002). Andrew Marsh also eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards in today’s game on his fifth catch of the day.

• Jordan Marshall scored U-M’s second touchdown from two yards out. It was his fifth rushing touchdown of the year and capped an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

• The Scarlet Knights were held to 3-of-10 on third down and limited to just nine total first downs.

• The Wolverine defense has not allowed an opponent to complete a second-half pass in the past two games.

• Defensive back Jeremiah Earby made his U-M debut in today’s game on special teams.• Tariq Boney became the 12th Wolverine to make his first collegiate start this season, joining: tight end Jalen Hoffman, linebackers Troy Bowlesand Chase Taylor and defensive end Dom Nichols against Western Michigan; tight end Eli Owens against Oklahoma; cornerback Shamari Earls and wide receiver Salesi Moa against UTEP; offensive lineman Avery Gach(rhino) against Iowa; offensive lineman Manuel Beigel(rhino) against Penn State; quarterback Tommy Carr, defensive end Benny Patterson III, right tackle Marky Walbridge against Indiana.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football vs. Rutgers: 20 stats, facts and postgame notes