Ann Arbor, Mich. – What was supposed to be a tuneup turned into a stunner: Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32.
Julian Rauch’s 24-yard field goal with 26 seconds left Saturday put the Mountaineers ahead of the Wolverines and Corey Lynch blocked a field goal in the final seconds to seal one of college football’s biggest upsets.
“We’re still sort of shocked,” coach Jerry Moore said after being carried off the field by his players.
The two-time defending champions from former Division I-AA were ahead of the nation’s winningest program 28-14 late in the second quarter, then their storybook afternoon unraveled late in the fourth quarter.
Mike Hart’s 54-yard run put the Wolverines ahead – for the first time since early in the second quarter – with 4:36 left.
One snap after the go-ahead touchdown, Brandent Englemon intercepted an errant pass, but the Wolverines couldn’t capitalize and had their first of two field goals blocked.
Appalachian State drove 69 yards without a timeout in 1:11 to set up the go-ahead field goal.
“I’ve been dreaming about that kick every day,” Rauch said.
Chad Henne threw a 46-yard pass to Mario Manningham, giving Michigan the ball at Appalachian State’s 20 with six seconds left.
Lynch blocked the kick and returned it to the other end of the field as the final seconds ticked off, and his teammates rushed across the field to pile on as the coaching staff and cheerleaders jumped with joy.
Appalachian State, of Boone, N.C., has won 15 straight games, the longest streak in the nation.
The Mountaineers are favored to win the Football Championship Subdivision – formerly known as Division I-AA – but they weren’t expected to put up much of a fight against a team picked to win the Big Ten and contend for the national title.
No Division I-AA team had beaten a team ranked in The Associated Press poll from 1989-2006, and it’s unlikely that it happened after Division-I subdivisions were created in 1978.
Appalachian State is not eligible to receive votes in the AP top 25 poll because the school is not in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“I wouldn’t call it embarrassing because that takes away from them,” Hart said. “We’re disappointed. I can tell you that. It is one of the biggest losses ever, but give all the credit to Appalachian State.”
Michigan has now lost three in a row over two seasons.
“We were not a well-prepared football team,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. “That is my job, and I take full responsibility.”
Mountaineers quarterback Armanti Edwards threw for 227 yards, three scores and two interceptions and added 62 yards rushing. Dexter Jackson caught three passes for 92 yards, and scored twice, including a 68-yard reception that tied the game early and provided a glimpse of what was coming over the next three hours.
