Purdue 38, Michigan 36

Wolverines blow two-TD lead, plummet to 1-5 in Big Ten

Angelique S. Chengelis / The Detroit News

Ann Arbor -- Michigan's shot at a bowl is becoming increasingly bleak.

Michigan blew a two-touchdown lead with another poor defensive performance in the third quarter, allowing the Purdue Boilermakers to score 28 second-half points and send the Wolverines to a fifth straight Big Ten loss Saturday.

The Boilermakers scored three straight touchdowns in the third quarter, lifting them to a 38-36 victory at Michigan Stadium, where they had not won since 1966.

"It's a huge win for our team," Purdue coach Danny Hope said. "It's an opportunity for our team to make history."

Michigan did close in during the final minutes when Brandon Minor scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left in the game. But the Wolverines failed on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game when Tate Forcier was sacked.

The Wolverines (5-5, 1-5 Big Ten) still need a victory to become bowl eligible. But Michigan has a tough task ahead with games at No. 24 Wisconsin next Saturday followed by a home game against No. 15 Ohio State in the regular-season finale.

Minor scored three rushing touchdowns and Forcier threw for 212 yards and a touchdown to Roy Roundtree for the Wolverines. Quarterback Joey Elliott was 28-of-39 for 367 yards and two touchdowns for the Boilermakers.

Following the loss, the Wolverines said they remain together and focused on reaching a bowl. Michigan had gone to 33 consecutive bowl games before last season's 3-9 record in Rich Rodriguez's first season as coach.

"We're a really close group, (and) we haven't broken apart at all," U-M defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen said. "We've worked too hard not to go to a bowl game, not to have a winning season. We're all really pulling together and we have the wagons circled."

Against Purdue, Michigan continued its trend of poor second-half performances, particularly in the third quarter.

With Michigan leading 24-10 at halftime, Purdue (4-6, 3-3) scored three touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. The third score, a 54-yard pass from Joey Elliott to Cortez Smith, gave Purdue a lead it would keep.

In its last three games, including losses to Penn State and Illinois, Michigan has been outscored in the third quarter, 55-7. The Wolverines have been outscored in the second halves of those three games, 75-12.

Much of this has been the result of the defense buckling at critical moments, particularly on third down. On Saturday, Michigan allowed five plays of 20 yards or more, including Ralph Bolden's 35-yard reception from Elliott for Purdue's first score, and Smith's 54-yard reception. For the season, Michigan has allowed 44 plays of 20 yards or more.

"Big plays kill us every time," Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham said.

Turnovers also have plagued Michigan, which entered the game ranked 109th nationally in turnover margin.

Purdue's first score of the second half was set up by Forcier's fumble on an attempted pitch. Bolden needed one play to go 19 yards for the score.

The Wolverines answered with a scoring drive that Darryl Stonum sparked with a 54-yard kickoff return to the Boilermakers' 46. Forcier scored on a 6-yard run after which he writhed on the field, grabbing his left knee. He was able to return.

But Jason Olesnavage, who had made a 51-yard field goal in the first half and who had been perfect this season on extra-point attempts, missed left on the PAT try for a 30-17 Michigan lead.

The miss would prove enormous late in the game.

Purdue then drove 91 yards on 14 plays and pulled within 30-24 when Bolden scored on a 10-yard run.

The Boilermakers' go-ahead touchdown was set up after a recovery of their onside kick.

"We've had it greased up all year long, and we're excellent at it in practice," Hope said. "We've hit it almost every time in practice. Coming off the drive that preceded that and lining up and hitting that was huge for our team. I think it created some energy and momentum. It was a lot of fun."

Rodriguez, naturally, was disappointed with the onside kick.

"We say it every time you go out there, 'See the ball kicked, no penalties,'" Rodriguez said. "Every time. There's about 20 people screaming, 'See the ball kicked, no penalties!' That's the first reminder and the last reminder that we do just for that reason. But freshmen sometimes play like freshmen and bailed out."

Cortez then scored on the 54-yard pass from Elliott for the 31-30 lead.

The Boilermakers opened the fourth quarter with momentum, especially after a 48-yard field goal attempt by Olesnavage missed wide left. The Wolverines had appeared on their way to a touchdown during that drive when Minor took off for the end zone, but safety Torri Williams made the touchdown-saving tackle, holding Minor to a 21-yard gain.

Purdue answered Michigan's missed field goal with another scoring drive, this time on an 8-yard run by Elliott. The play was set up by a third-down-converting 56-yard pass from Elliott to Jeff Lindsay. The score extended the Boilermakers' lead to 38-30.

Two possessions later, Michigan was involved in one of the more bizarre moments of the game.

With excellent field position at the Purdue 31, Michigan had a touchdown run by Minor called back by a holding penalty. On fourth-and-10 from the Purdue 20, Forcier pitched to tailback Carlos Brown, who, while being tackled on Purdue's sideline, pitched to right tackle Mark Huyge, who continued to run. After a lengthy review that was called by the booth officials, Michigan was called for an illegal forward pass and turned the ball over on downs

"The replay official saw that the ball, when it left his hand to the point where it touched the receiver's hand, was clearly forward from the 13- to the 12-yard line," referee Todd Geerlings said in a statement. "That's why we had an illegal forward pass from the spot of that pass."

Geerlings said Purdue did not have a challenge remaining but was trying to challenge the call. Geerlings said the officials already were reviewing the play.

Michigan was able to hold Purdue defensively the next series, and after a 34-yard punt return by Junior Hemingway, the Wolverines had excellent field position at the Boilermakers' 11.

Minor scored his third touchdown of the game on the 2-yard run with 2:10 left, but the Wolverines failed on the two-point conversion when Forcier hung onto the football and was sacked by Ryan Kerrigan.

"We had a little double-move route with all the wide receivers," Rodriguez said of the conversion play. "I don't know until I watch the film whether (Forcier) had the second guy underneath or not. I don't know where his eyes were at. We just didn't execute well."

angelique.chengelis@detnews.com