Fargas Runs for 120 Yards as Michigan Sloshes Past Northwestern

Saturday, October 17

Evanston, Ill.

6:00 PM CT

Michigan

4-2 , 3-0

Northwestern

2-5 , 0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Northwestern

Fargas Runs for 120 Yards as Michigan Sloshes Past Northwestern

10/17/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Ryan Field)
Score: Michigan 12, Northwestern 6
Records: U-M (4-2, 3-0 Big Ten), Northwestern (2-5, 0-3 Big Ten)
Attendance: 47,129 (sellout)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 24 -- vs. Indiana (Michigan Stadium), 12:10 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Freshman running back Justin Fargas (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame HS) rushed for a career-best 120 yards to lead the University of Michigan football team to a 12-6 victory over Northwestern on Saturday (Oct. 17) in sloppy conditions brought on by driving rains that flooded the field. The Wolverines improved to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play, while the Wildcats dropped to 2-5 and 0-4. The victory was the Wolverines' fourth in a row and their 12th straight in Big Ten Conference play.

After falling behind 6-0 on a pair of Northwestern field goals, Michigan scored just before halftime on a 30-yard pass play from junior quarterback Tom Brady (San Mateo, Calif./Serra HS) to senior wide receiver Tai Streets (Matteson, Ill./Thornton Township HS) to take a 7-6 lead. U-M added a field goal and a safety in the second half as the Wolverine defense shut out the Wildcats in the second half.

Michigan won the opening toss and elected to kick off. The Wildcats took the opening kickoff at their 25-yard line and gained one first down before the Wolverines defense held and forced the punt.

The Wolverines gained their first possession at the 26-yard line after forcing the Wildcats punt. Michigan was held to three plays and forced to relinquish possession. Punter Jason Vinson (Troy, Mich./Troy HS) unloaded a 50-plus-yard boot, but Michigan retained the ball as Northwestern was called for a 10-yard holding penalty. U-M resumed the drive at the 41-yard line but was unable to sustain any momentum. Vinson kicked 48 yards to NU's D'Wayne Bates, who was met immediately by cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS). Michigan was penalized five yards at the end of the play for catch interference, giving the Wildcats possession at their 22-yard line.

Northwestern penetrated the Michigan end of the field but had the drive stopped at the 43-yard line. Northwestern's punt by J.J. Standring hit free safety DeWayne Patmon (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) in the back and was recovered by NU's Josh Barnes on the Michigan 18-yard line. The Wildcats were unable to punch it into the end zone but managed to get onto the scoreboard as placekicker Brian Gowins connected on a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 Wildcat lead. The scoring drive spanned six yards in four plays and consumed 2:13.

Michigan's Tate Schanski (Perry, Mich./Perry HS) took the short kickoff and returned it 12 yards to set up possession at the 31-yard line. The Wolverines drove down the field behind the running of Fargas, who gained 34 yards on six carries, including a career-long 27-yard scamper. Michigan converted three third downs on the drive but was unable to tie the score as senior placekicker Jay Feely (Odessa, Fla./Tampa Jesuit HS) missed wide right on a 30-yard field goal attempt.

The Wildcats took over possession on their 20-yard line and were unable to gain a first down. The key defensive play was a sack by senior inside linebacker Sam Sword (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill HS) on second down. Michigan forced a Northwestern punt that Marcus Knight (Sylacauga, Ala./Comer HS) returned to the 50-yard line.

Michigan moved inside the 25-yard line but was hit with a holding penalty that set up a third-and-17 from the NU 34-yard line. Michigan received a drive-sustaining call as Northwestern was hit with a pass interference call on the third-down attempted pass, but the Wolverines were unable to gain the tying score as Feely hit the right upright on a 35-yard field goal attempt.

Northwestern took over at the 20-yard line and wound up tacking another three points onto its lead. The key play in the drive was a 40-yard screen pass from NU quarterback Gavin Hoffman to Bates. The Wildcats grabbed the 6-0 advantage as Gowins hit a 40-yard field goal to cap a drive that gained 57 yards in nine plays and took 4:50.

After the Northwestern score, Michigan received good field position at its 44-yard line as Fargas returned the kickoff 28 yards. With 53 seconds left in the half, Brady hooked up with freshman wide receiver David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) on back-to-back receptions. Terrell caught passes of nine and 18 yards that gave Michigan possession on the Northwestern 30-yard line. On the very next play, Brady found Streets for a 30-yard TD pass. The Wolverines grabbed the lead with 35 seconds remaining in the half as Feely made the extra point. The scoring drive went 56 yards in 18 seconds and gave Michigan a 7-6 lead heading into the locker room.

Northwestern took the second-half kickoff and Simmons returned it 52 yards to the Michigan 45-yard line. Bates lined up behind center and ran the option for the Wildcats, but the drive went nowhere. Junior nose tackle Rob Renes (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa HS) forced a Bates fumble on third down that was recovered by NU's Adam Fay but halted the Northwestern drive.

Michigan took over at its 28-yard line after the Northwestern punt. The Wolverines put together a drive that was kept alive by a 14-yard pass from Brady to Knight off a deflection. The third-down completion was followed by three consecutive runs by Fargas that gained 19 yards, but Michigan's drive was stopped at the 40-yard line as freshman running back Walter Cross (Fort Washington, Md./Oxon Hill HS) fumbled. The ball was recovered by Rashad Morton, giving the Wildcats possession at its 38-yard line.

Northwestern began a drive that saw the Wildcats convert two third downs and move into Michigan territory. Bates made two key receptions of 10 and 22 yards on the drive but the drive was stopped after Northwestern moved to the Michigan 28-yard line. After a 12-yard NU holding penalty, Renes recovered a fumble by Hoffman.

The Wolverines took over at their own 40-yard line with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter. They could not put together a drive and were forced to relinquish possession to Northwestern. Vinson punted 41 yards to Northwestern 14-yard line, where Bates caught the punt and returned it 10 yards.

Northwestern started at its 24-yard line and proceeded to again move into the Michigan side of the field. After NU moved to the 30-yard line and threatened to take the lead, the Wolverines defense stood tough and forced the Wildcats into a punt.

Taking over at its 20-yard line after the Northwestern punt carried into the end zone, Michigan moved across the 50-yard line and put together a clock-eating drive. A key play in the series was a 15-yard personal foul accessed to Northwestern. Feely increased the Michigan lead to 10-6 with a 32-yard field goal, capping a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took 5:40.

Northwestern gained possession after the score at its 35-yard line following an 18-yard return from Matt Fordenwalt. The Wolverines defense held strong as they forced the Wildcats into a three-and-out series.

The Wolverines took over at their 28-yard line following the punt and proceeded to gain one first down. Michigan moved out to its own 47-yard line before the Northwestern defense held on third-and-eight. Michigan was forced to punt and pinned Northwestern at the one-yard line with a 52-yard punt.

Backed up into its end zone, Northwestern could not move the ball against the Michigan defense. The Wolverines held the Wildcats to four yards and forced a fourth-down punt from the five-yard line with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Northwestern intentionally snapped the ball through the end zone, giving Michigan a two-point safety and 12-6 lead.

The Wildcats elected to kick off on the free kick from the 20-yard line and the deep kick was covered by senior running back Clarence Williams (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech HS) at the 15-yard line. Michigan used the strong running of Fargas to run out the remaining 4:06 of the game. Fargas ran six consecutive times and polished off his first career 100-yard rushing day, finishing with 120 yards on 31 carries.

The Wolverines will return to Michigan Stadium after a four-week hiatus to play their 102nd Homecoming game. Michigan will host Indiana at 12:10 p.m., with the game televised on ESPN.