Michigan
6-0 , 3-0
Iowa
4-2 , 1-2
Wolverines Outlast Hawkeyes, 28-24, to Remain Unbeaten
10/18/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site:Â Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score:Â #5 Michigan 28, #15 Iowa 24
Records:Â U-M (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), Iowa (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 106,505
Next U-M Game:Â Saturday, Oct. 25 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 12:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --Â No. 5 Michigan (6-0 overall, 3-0 Big Ten) overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to No. 15 Iowa (4-2, 1-2) to defeat the Hawkeyes 28-24 and remain unbeaten. The Wolverines were led by another dominating performance from the defense which allowed only 187 yards on 52 plays.
After Iowa's Tavian Banks scored on a 53-yard run to open the scoring with 13:29 left in the second quarter, the Wolverines came back to tie the game at seven as Brian Griese found Tai Streets in the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown with 4:53 to go until halftime.
The Hawkeyes scored two touchdowns in the last three minutes of the first half to go into the locker room up 21-7. After Ed Gibson returned a Griese interception 64 yards to the U-M one-yard line, Michael Burger ran it in to give the Hawkeyes the 13-7 lead with 2:27 left in the second quarter, and James Hall blocked the extra point. On the last play of the half, Tim Dwight returned a Jason Vinson punt 61 yards for a touchdown, and Iowa scored on the two-point conversion to end the half with the Hawkeyes holding a 21-7 advantage.
Michigan came out of the locker room and put a touchdown on the board on its first possession. Griese found a wide-open Russell Shaw in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown, cutting the Hawkeyes' lead to 21-14 at the 12:06 mark of the third quarter.
Two possessions later, the Wolverines evened the score at 21. On the second play of the drive, Anthony Thomas sprung loose for a 58-yard gain to the Iowa four-yard line. After Thomas was unable to score on second and third down from the one-yard line, Griese called his own number and scored on a one-yard dive to tie the game.
Dwight returned the ensuing kickoff to the U-M 26-yard line, but the Wolverines defense held Iowa to a 38-yard field goal from Zach Bromert. The Hawkeyes carried the 24-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Michigan took over on its own 23-yard line with 7:25 left in the game. On third-and-16, Griese's pass for Streets was incomplete, but Iowa was called for pass interference to give the Wolverines new life. On third-and-five from the 35-yard line, Griese found Jerame Tuman for a 20-yard gain and another first down. Griese and Tuman hooked up again on the next play on a 15-yard reception to bring the ball down to the Iowa 30-yard line. Four Thomas runs for 20 yards and a Hawkeyes personal foul then brought the ball down to the two-yard line. Griese rolled right on third-and-goal and found a wide-open Tuman for the touchdown to put Michigan up 28-24 with 2:55 left in the game.
The Hawkeyes converted on two third-down tries on their next possession, bringing the ball down to the U-M 26-yard line. Iowa quarterback Matt Sherman was pressured on the next play and threw a pass that Sam Sword intercepted to preserve the Michigan victory. Griese just had to kneel down twice and Michigan came away with the hard-fought victory, 28-24.
Griese struggled in the first half, throwing three interceptions, but had a big second half. Griese ended up completing 15 of 26 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Tuman, Michigan's leading receiver, had seven catches for 85 yards to once again lead the Wolverines. The Michigan defense held Sherman to just eight complete passes on 21 attempts for 86 yards and intercepted him three times.
Thomas led the second-half comeback as he gained 95 yards rushing in the closing stanza. Thomas finished the game with 129 rushing yards on 20 carries, while Chris Howard added 81 yards on 13 carries. Clarence Williams added 43 yards to the rushing effort on 11 carries. The Wolverines held Banks, the leading rusher in the nation, to just 99 yards on 19 carries. Banks went over the 1,000-yard plateau in the game on just his 125th carry of the season, the fewest number of rushes it has ever taken a back to gain 1,000 yards in college football history.
Defensively, Dhani Jones led the Wolverines charge with nine tackles and a sack. Sword added six tackles, the game-clinching interception, and a first-quarter fumble recovery. Strong safety Marcus Ray tied a career high as he intercepted two Sherman passes.
Michigan heads to East Lansing to take on the rival Michigan State Spartans next Saturday. Iowa looks to regroup at home against Indiana.
Team Stats
IA 7, MI 0
IA - Tavian Banks 53 yd run (Zach Bromert kick), 4 plays, 83 yards, TOP 1:22
IA 7, MI 7
MI - Streets, Tai 15 yd pass from Griese, Brian (Baker, Kraig kick) 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 5:14
IA 13, MI 7
IA - Michael Burger 1 yd run (Zach Bromert kickblocked), 1 plays, 1 yards, TOP 0:02
IA 21, MI 7
IA - Tim Dwight 61 yd punt return (Chris Knipper pass)
IA 21, MI 14
MI - Shaw, Russell 10 yd pass from Griese, Brian (Baker, Kraig kick) 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:54
IA 21, MI 21
MI - Griese, Brian 1 yd run (Baker, Kraig kick), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:50
IA 24, MI 21
IA - Zach Bromert 38 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 2:36
IA 24, MI 28
MI - Tuman, Jerame 2 yd pass from Griese, Brian (Baker, Kraig kick) 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:30
