Michigan
1-0
Northern Illinois
0-1
Michigan Turns Back Northern Illinois in Season Opener
9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Five Northern Illinois turnovers propelled the University of Michigan football team to a 33-17 victory against the Huskies Saturday (Sept. 3) before 110,971 fans at Michigan Stadium. With nine catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, senior wide receiver Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) led the charge for the Wolverines. Throwing to Avant was sophomore quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS), who completed 20 of 31 passes for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) turned in a two-touchdown effort, one coming from the air and one on the ground.
| | Avant caught nine passes for 127 yards, his second career 100-yard receiving effort. |
The Wolverines began the day hot by scoring on a 14-play, 74-yard drive. The series was capped off by a fading Avant touchdown grab from four yards out in the corner of the end zone at the 9:34 mark. Henne engineered the drive, hitting four separate receivers en route to converting four consecutive third-downs. On third-and-six from the NIU 33, Henne found a slanting Avant for 18 yards to set up the Wolverines' first score of the season.
The Huskies answered with a 24-yard field goal by Chris Nendick to complete their 16-play, 86-yard drive. NIU pushed deep into U-M territory, but the Wolverine defense held on third-and-four from their own seven, forcing the field goal attempt.
Hart extended the Michigan lead to 14-3 with a 34-yard touchdown catch with 20-seconds remaining in the first quarter. Sweeping out to the right, Hart caught the pass from Henne, bulled over a NIU defender and outraced the remaining Huskies to the end zone. The six-play drive, which featured Hart's second touchdown reception of his career, included freshman Kevin Grady's (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapidis HS) first career carry, a three-yard plunge into the heart of the NIU defense.
Garrett Wolfe answered Hart's touchdown with a spectacular run of his own to open the second quarter. Wolfe helped cut the Michigan lead to four, 14-10, after bouncing off the right tackle for a 76-yard touchdown.
The Wolverines scored on their third straight series as Hart leaped over the Huskies defensive line and into the end zone from two yards out. The tally extended Michigan's lead back to 20-10, but it was followed by a blocked extra point attempt. Hart had seven carries for 30 yards on the drive, surpassing the 1,500-yard career rushing plateau.
Northern Illinois was forced to punt on its ensuing drive, following a three-and-out in which the Michigan defense did not surrender a yard. It was the first punt of the afternoon for either club. Michigan tried to extend its lead, but junior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) was unsuccessful on a 48-yard field goal attempt.
Michigan looked to capitalize on good field position thanks to fifth-year senior Pat Massey (Brecksville, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS) and Englemon forcing a Huskie fumble, but the Wolverines were forced to punt. After punting the ball away senior Darnell Hood (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) stripped returner Shatone Powers, allowing Ross Ryan (Franklin, Mich./Brother Rice HS) to recover the ball, setting up Grady's first career touchdown. Grady's one-yard touchdown run pushed the Wolverines' lead to 27-10 with 27 seconds remaining in the half.
The Huskies took the second-half kickoff and moved to the Wolverines' 18-yard line. The drive was stifled as John Thompson (Detroit, Mich./Crockett HS) pushed up the middle to block Nendick's field goal attempt. U-M failed to convert on the good fortune as its drive stalled deep in NIU territory.
The scoreless third quarter was capped off with each team surrendering a fumble. Hall extended the streak of consecutive series ending in a turnover, picking off an overthrown pass to set up a 38-yard field goal for Rivas. The Wolverines forced an additional Huskies fumble a minute later that resulted in a 23-yard field goal to extend the Michigan lead to 33-10.
NIU scored on its final drive of the game with a three-yard touchdown run by Harris to bring the score to 33-17.
The Maize and Blue will remain at home for next Saturday's (Sept. 10) contest against Notre Dame. The Wolverines and Fighting Irish will renew their rivalry starting at noon EDT in an ABC Sports national telecast.
Media Contacts: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
NIU 0, MICH 7
MICH - Avant, Jason 4 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 14 plays, 74 yards, TOP 5:26
NIU 3, MICH 7
NIU - NENDICK, Chris 24 yd field goal 16 plays, 86 yards, TOP 6:53
NIU 3, MICH 14
MICH - Hart, Mike 34 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 6 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:21
NIU 10, MICH 14
NIU - WOLFE, Garrett 76 yd run (NENDICK, Chris kick), 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:33
NIU 10, MICH 20
MICH - Hart, Mike 2 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kickblocked), 13 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:59
NIU 10, MICH 27
MICH - Grady, Kevin 1 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 3 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:58
NIU 10, MICH 30
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 38 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 1:30
NIU 10, MICH 33
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 23 yd field goal 6 plays, 29 yards, TOP 2:53
NIU 17, MICH 33
NIU - HARRIS, A.J. 3 yd run (NENDICK, Chris kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:08
