After surrendering a 17-point lead and playing on its heels for most of the second half, Rutgers received a gift following the first overtime series Saturday night when Michigan kicker Quinn Nordin’s 35-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
The Scarlet Knights had the win in their grasps, needing only a field goal to win it.
Taking over from the Michigan 25-yard line, Rutgers offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson called a running play on first down. The Isaih Pacheco run gained two yards. Another Pacheco running play resulted in a two-yard loss on second down, and Rutgers then faced a pivotal decision on third-and-10.
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano called a timeout to mull it over. Rather than execute a normal play that could get positive yards and give his field goal kicker a more manageable distance to kick from, Schiano elected to position the ball for the attempt. Quarterback Noah Vedral took the snap, scrambled left to the center of the field and slid for a two-yard loss.
Valentino Ambrosio, in his second collegiate game after joining the Scarlet Knights as a walk-on from the men’s soccer team, was called on to attempt a 45-yard field goal.
He pulled his kick wide left, and Rutgers was forced to play on.
“I definitely thought that was in his range — just wasn’t tonight,’' Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said following the Scarlet Knights’ 48-42 triple-overtime heartbreaker to Michigan. “It wasn’t meant to be.’'
In a study that analyzed every field goal attempt taken last season by a kicker from a Power Five school, WatchStadium.com reported kickers converted 51.7 % of their field goal attempts (15-for-29) from 45 yards.
Even though his kicker missed from that range, Schiano didn’t express regret over the play-calling throughout the series or the decision to set up for a long field goal on third down.
“We weren’t going to be overly aggressive but they were plays that we felt could gain yardage,’' Schiano said. “And then (on third down) we just said, ‘Let’s center it.’ That’s where Val wanted it, in the middle. You know what, sometimes you make them and sometimes you don’t.’'
After drilling two short field goals in his debut last week in a loss to Illinois, Ambrosio converted 3-point attempts from 38 yards and 42 yards during regulation Saturday against Michigan. A scholarship soccer player who has played in dozens of big games on the pitch, Ambrosio made field goals from 50 yards out in pregame warmups.
“Hey, I’ll bet on Val any day,’' Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral said. “We have the utmost faith in him. I know next time he gets an opportunity he’s going to put it through. I don’t have a doubt in my mind.’'
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Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
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