Big Second Quarter Helps Michigan Dominate Hoosiers

Saturday, November 12

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

7-3 , 5-2

Indiana

4-6 , 1-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Indiana

Michigan

11/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 21st-ranked University of Michigan football team cruised past the Indiana Hoosiers, 41-14, in front of 110,580 fans on Saturday (Nov. 12) at Michigan Stadium. Following an early Indiana touchdown, the Wolverines scored on three of their first four possessions en route to 41 unanswered first-half points.

Senior receiver Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills) led the way for the Wolverines in the first half, tallying 201 all-purpose yards. In total, Breaston was responsible for three catches for 46 yards, one rush for 30 yards and 125 total return yards. Throwing to Breaston was sophomore quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS), who completed 17 of 24 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns while seeing only first-half action. Sophomore Kevin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), who averaged 6.7 yards per carry in the game, amassed 94 yards on 14 carries and punched in two touchdowns.

Junior linebacker Prescott Burgess (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) forced the only Indiana turnover on the day, swiping a pass in the second half and returning the ball for 21 yards. Sophomore linebacker Tim Jamison (Riverdale, Ill./Harvey Thornton HS) and junior linebacker Shawn Crable (Massillon, Ohio/Washington HS) registered back-to-back sacks on the second Hoosier drive of the third quarter.

Indiana scored the first points of the ballgame on a 42-yard touchdown throw from Blake Powers to Jahkeem Gilmore. On the throw, Gilmore out-jumped U-M junior cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif/Vista HS) at the 10-yard line before streaking into the end zone to open up a 7-0 IU advantage with 11:57 left in the first quarter. The points would be the Hoosiers' last of the first half, as they moved 77 yards in seven plays in just over three minutes.

On the following possession, Michigan took advantage of an Indiana re-kick, returned by Breaston for 47 yards to the IU 34-yard line. The Wolverines moved the ball behind the arm of Henne, who was 4-of-5 passing on the drive for 29 yards, including a key third-and-one snag by freshman wide receiver Antonio Bass (Jackson, Mich./Jackson HS) for seven yards. Senior tight end Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS) capped off the Wolverines' first possession of the contest with a five-yard touchdown grab in the middle of the end zone to tie the game 7-7 with 8:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

U-M increased the lead to 14-7 as Henne connected on a short pass to senior receiver Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) for a seven-yard touchdown with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Breaston got the ball rolling on the possession with a 23-yard completion, setting up two Jackson runs for a combined total of eight yards. A pitch to Bass for nine yards on third-and-two set up Henne's second touchdown of the day. The drive spanned 47 yards in six plays.

Michigan continued to extend its lead early in the second quarter on a one-yard Grady touchdown plunge. Breaston and the U-M special teams provided the offense with a short field, beginning the drive at Indiana's 26-yard line. In the fleeting seconds of the first quarter, Breaston produced an electrifying 53-yard punt return, shaking off Indiana defenders into IU territory. Three rushes totaling 15 yards by Grady moved the Wolverines to the one-yard line before the true freshman's first score of the afternoon, coming with 12:12 left in the second quarter. Junior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit) missed the extra-point attempt, limiting the lead to 20-7.

A Burgess interception off a Powers pass with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half gave the Wolverines the ball at the Indiana 16-yard line. U-M failed to convert on fourth down deep in Indiana's red zone, turning possession over to IU. The Hoosiers offense in turn was unable to move the ball on a stingy Wolverine rush defense, forcing IU to punt from its own nine-yard line.

Grady made quick work on the ensuing Michigan possession, bouncing off Indiana defenders before racing 32 yards to paydirt. The score widened the U-M advantage to 27-7 with just a shade under six minutes remaining before halftime. The drive consisted of three plays for 40 yards in 54 seconds.

The Wolverines tacked two more scores on the board before half, entering the locker room with a commanding 41-7 lead. Junior running back Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) plugged away for a six-yard touchdown with 2:45 before the break, and Breaston closed out the half with an 11-yard touchdown grab as the half wound down.

Neither team was able to move the ball effectively in the second half as both teams punted twice in the third quarter. Senior quarterback Matt Gutierrez (Concord, Calif./DeLaSalle Catholic) took over under center, connecting with four different receivers on three separate drives. Gutierrez connected with sophomore wide receiver Doug Dutch (Bowie, Md./Gonzaga College) for a 16-yard completion midway through the third quarter, making it the longest Michigan completion of the second half.

IU trimmed the deficit, as Brandon Walker-Roby netted the Hoosiers' first points since early in the game, catching a seven-yard touchdown from backup quarterback Graeme McFarland with 8:46 remaining in the game.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr used the final minutes of the game to test U-M's depth, rotating several players at multiple positions.

The Wolverines conclude the regular season with the 102nd playing of the "Big Game." Michigan and Ohio State will battle at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 19) at 1 p.m. EST. The game will be televised by ABC Sports.

Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423