Michigan, TCU save School Soccer Playoff hopes

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Inside minutes of one another on Saturday afternoon, each the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines and No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs held off upset-minded convention foes and saved their undefeated seasons and School Soccer Playoff possibilities alive.

Within the timeline, TCU’s recreation in opposition to the Baylor Bears ended first. Baylor held the lead for a lot of the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs, down eight, received a landing from Emari Demercado with 2:07 to play, however could not convert the 2-point try to trailed 28-26. TCU received the ball again with 1:30 to play and, with none timeouts, made it to the Baylor 24-yard line.

With the clock ticking away, the TCU area aim crew rushed onto the sphere for a 40-yard try. Griffin Kell nailed it and, with the 29-28 win, TCU was nonetheless within the hunt for a playoff spot. It was TCU’s first highway win after trailing by eight or extra within the fourth quarter since 2016. It made the Frogs the primary Large 12 crew to achieve 11-0 for the reason that Texas Longhorns did so in 2009 and made it to the BCS Nationwide Championship Recreation.

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TCU scrambles to kick a game-winning area aim within the remaining seconds in opposition to Baylor.

Whereas the drama was unfolding in Waco, Texas, it was constructing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. With their rivalry showdown awaiting subsequent week in opposition to the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, the Wolverines have been dropping to the Illinois Preventing Illini. Just like TCU, Michigan trailed at first of the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines’ offense had sputtered and missed on scoring possibilities with operating again Blake Corum out of the sport. Nonetheless, it managed two area targets and trailed 17-16 with 2:06 to play. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy accomplished three passes, together with a fourth-down conversion. With 9 seconds left, kicker Jake Moody, the reigning Lou Groza winner for the nation’s finest kicker, channeled his internal Griffin Kell and nailed a 35-yard kick to win the sport, 19-17.

The similarities aren’t simply within the endings.

Earlier than Saturday, groups ranked within the prime 5 of the playoff rankings have been 1-29 when trailing within the remaining minute. In 2014, the Alabama Crimson Tide received in time beyond regulation after kicking a game-tying area aim in opposition to the LSU Tigers as time expired. TCU and Michigan each completed the feat Saturday.

Since 2014, when the School Soccer Playoff started, groups with a 10-0 report or higher have been 1-18 when trailing by seven or extra within the fourth quarter. In 2018, Alabama overcame a 28-21 deficit to the Georgia Bulldogs within the SEC title recreation and went on to win 35-28.

Once more, the Frogs and Wolverines matched that feat, all earlier than 4 p.m. ET.

ESPN Stats and Data contributed to this story.



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