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Michigan Football: Wolverines flash two-quarterback system in MTSU win

By Dana Becker

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 42-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 03: Shea Patterson #2 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass during the first quarter of the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan defeated Penn State 42-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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In a trend for the first major Saturday of the season, Michigan football had to shake off some rust before putting up 40 on Middle Tennessee.

Shea Patterson tossed three first half touchdown passes as the Wolverines eventually put the Blue Raiders away, 40-21.

Early on, though, it appeared as if we could be witnessing one of the biggest upsets in quite some time as Middle Tennessee claimed an early 7-0 lead when Asher O’Hara hit the end zone after a Patterson fumble.

Patterson, though, eventually corrected his turnover, finding Tarik Black, Nico Collins and Sean McKeon for scoring strikes. The Ole Miss transfer finished 17-of-29 for 203 yards despite being without top target Donovan Peoples-Jones, who sat out the contest at the last minute.

For Patterson, it marked a second consecutive tough opener at quarterback for Michigan. Last year, he was picked off once and sacked three times in a Week 1 defeat to Notre Dame. The senior failed to crack the 300-yard mark in a game last season, passing for a high of 282 vs. Maryland.

He did finish with just seven interceptions in 325 pass attempts, showing an ability to protect the football.

Dylan McCaffrey, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers star Christian McCaffrey, was 2-for-2 for 17 yards with 42 yards rushing and a touchdown after coming in for Patterson. Michigan finished with 233 yards on the ground, flexing its muscle in that department thanks to 90 by Zach Charbonnet.

Eight different Wolverines had a carry and nine caught a pass, including McCaffrey. This marked the first game for new Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.

O’Hara did cause the Michigan defense some troubles, as he completed 22 of 32 for 217 yards with two touchdowns, adding a third score on the ground. Middle Tennessee, though, converted just 4 of 15 third-down attempts, averaged only 2.4 yards per carry and had eight penalties.

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The Blue Raiders return to the lower ranks of competition when they host Tennessee State next weekend, with Michigan welcoming in Army and its option offense to Ann Arbor.

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