BIG TEN/ MID-AMERICAN

No-turnover Michigan tops Minnesota

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan figured out a way to help Devin Gardner cut down on mistakes.

Gardner didn’t throw the ball until midway through the second quarter, and played his first turnover-free game since becoming a starting quarterback last year and it helped the 19th-ranked Wolverines pull away to rout Minnesota 42-13 on Saturday.

“We’re going to do what’s working and that’s what was working at the time,” he said.

Gardner had seven turnovers in his previous two games, allowing both Connecticut and Akron to have chances to upset Michigan.

Against Minnesota, he threw a 24-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Devin Funchess late in the first half and ran for a 2-yard score late in the game as the Wolverines turned a game that was close for a half into a lopsided victory.

Michigan (5-0, 1-0) clearly planned to rely on its running game - without Gardner as a primary ball carrier - to take pressure off their turnover-prone QB.

The Golden Gophers (4-2, 0-2) were without Coach Jerry Kill for an entire game for the first time because of his epilepsy. He had a seizure Saturday morning, when he planned to travel to Michigan to coach in the game, and remained home to rest in Minnesota.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys served as the acting head coach at Michigan, leading the team from the press box.

The Wolverines have won 18 consecutive games at home, the longest active streak among BCS conference schools and their longest since winning 28 in a row in Ann Arbor from 1969-1973. Theyplay at Penn State next week before coming back to host Indiana.

In other games involving Big Ten teams, Connor Cook threw for a career-high 277 yards and two touchdowns and Michigan State (4-1, 1-0) opened league play with a 26-14 victory over Iowa (4-2, 1-1) in Iowa City, Iowa. … Nate Sudfeld threw two touchdown passes and Tre Roberson ran for two more scores, leading Indiana (3-2, 1-0) to its first victory ever against Penn State (3-2, 0-1) 44-24 in Bloomington, Ind. … Ameer Abdullah ran for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns for Nebraska (4-1, 1-0) in a 39-19 victory over Illinois(3-2, 0-1)in Lincoln, Neb.

MID-AMERICAN

Bowling Green rolls

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Matt Johnson passed for 167 yards and three touchdowns to lead Bowling Green to a 28-7 homecoming victory over Massachusetts.

Johnson spread the attack, sending touchdown throws to three different receivers, including a 51-yard pass to Ronnie Moore in the first quarter to give the Falcons (5-1, 3-0) a lead they’d keep over the winless Minutemen (0-5, 0-1). Tyler Beck caught a 23-yard pass for a touchdown in the third quarter, followed by a 9-yard TD catch by Heath Jackson five minutes later.

The only UMass score came late in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mike Wegzyn to Tajae Sharpe.

In other games involving Mid-American Conference teams, Branden Oliver gained 150 yards rushing and scored twice as Buffalo (3-2, 1-0) cruised to a 42-14 victory over visiting Eastern Michigan (1-4, 0-2). … Tyler Tettleton threw for two touchdowns as Ohio (4-1, 1-0) opened league play with a 43-3 victory over host Akron (1-5, 0-2). … Saylor Lavallii rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns to lead Central Michigan (2-4, 1-1) to a 21-9 victory over Miami (Ohio) (0-5, 0-1). … David Fluellen rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns as Toledo (3-3, 2-1) routed visiting Western Michigan (0-6, 0-2) 47-20. … Cameron Stingily ran for a career-high 266 yards and two scores as Northern Illinois (5-0, 1-0) remained undefeated with a 38-24 victory over Kent State (2-4, 1-2) in Kent, Ohio.

Sports, Pages 36 on 10/06/2013

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