Michigan
9-0 , 6-0
Northwestern
2-7 , 0-5
U-M Breezes to Homecoming Win Over Northwestern
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team moved to 9-0 (6-0 Big Ten) on the season, defeating the Northwestern Wildcats 17-3 on a windy, rain-soaked Saturday afternoon (Oct. 28) in front of 109,114 fans at Michigan Stadium. A swarming Michigan defense forced a pair of Northwestern fumbles, and picked off three passes, that led to 14 Wolverine points.
Battling the elements, the Wolverines kept the ball on the ground, rushing for 202 yards on 46 carries and controlling the clock for 32:57. Junior tailback Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS), who entered the game as the Big Ten's second-leading rusher, ran for 95 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown. Senior running back Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) complemented Hart's performance, carrying the ball nine times for 59 yards. Sophomore running back Kevin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) added 23 yards on seven carries.
Junior quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) picked away at the Northwestern defense, throwing for 116 yards by completing 10-of-20 passes and a score. Henne's touchdown pass went to junior wide receiver Adrian Arrington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) who hauled in the 14-yard score in the corner of the end zone for his only catch of the afternoon. Senior wide receiver Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) led the Wolverines with three catches for 34 yards.
With the offense forcing the Wildcats to play from behind, the defense attacked, forcing five turnovers. The No. 1-ranked rush defense in the country held the Wildcat ground attack to negative 13 yards. Fifth-year senior inside linebacker David Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills HS) led the team with six tackles, including two stops for loss for 10 yards and an eight-yard sack. Senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) tallied four tackles, counting three for loss for 21 yards and two sacks. Senior cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) added a tackle for loss, one interception and a pair of pass breakups.
The Wolverines took their opening possession and punched the ball into the endzone, as Henne completed his first pass of the game with a 14-yard fade to Arrington at 10:07 in the first quarter. The touchdown was Arrington's fifth of his career, and marked the fifth time Michigan has scored on its first drive of the game this season. The play came on third-and-eight, with the six-play scoring drive covering 52 yards in 2:39. Hart carried four times for 22 yards on the series. The drive began at Michigan's own 48-yard line, thanks to a sack and strip by Woodley on Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher. The sack stopped a Wildcat offense that had completed two passes for 17 and 18 yards on the drive.
Northwestern turned the ball over on its second possession of the game, this time a fumble by last season's Big Ten Freshman of the Year tailback Tyrell Sutton on third-and-two from the Michigan 49-yard line. Michigan was unable to move the ball after the turnover, going three-and-out following a Hart carry for two yards and two incompletions by Henne.
U-M captured a 10-0 lead as senior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) connected on a 30-yard field goal at 7:02 in the second quarter. The Wolverines continued to pound the ball between the tackles, rushing for 29 yards on seven attempts during the drive. Hart rushed three times for 22 yards, while catching a pair of screen passes for 23 total yards. The drive covered 36 yards in 11 plays, taking 4:05 off the clock. Following a Wildcat three-and-out, Michigan then gained possession of the ball at Northwestern's 49-yard line after forcing the Wildcats to punt from their own one-yard line.
Northwestern threatened to put up its first points of the game later in the second quarter, following a fumble by Breaston who was hit immediately by Sherrick McManis while fielding a punt. The turnover gave NU the ball at the Michigan 44-yard line with 2:01 left in the second quarter, but the Wildcats were only able to gain seven yards in three plays against a stingy Wolverine secondary. Forcing Northwestern to punt with 40 seconds left, the Wolverines were able to maintain the 10-0 lead into halftime.
The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to a touchdown, 10-3, on a 38-yard field goal by Joel Howells at 9:38 in the third quarter. Bacher completed three passes for 31 yards on the series, including a key 25-yard completion to Sutton on second-and-six from the Michigan 36. The play, aided by a six-yard roughing the passer penalty, put NU in scoring position at the U-M five-yard line. On third and goal from the Michigan four, Sutton was pushed back two yards, and a late hit penalty knocked Northwestern back another 15 to the Michigan 21-yard line, setting up Howells' successful kick.
Michigan extended its lead to 17-3 at 4:05 in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Hart, taking the handoff from Henne and darting left for his ninth touchdown of the season. Hart carried the Wolverines during the possession, rushing the football every play of the six-play 36-yard scoring drive. His longest run came with Michigan's second successful fourth down conversion of the game, rushing 23 yards from the NU 28-yard line. Michigan gained possession of the ball with an interception by Hall, who returned the ball 10 yards to the Wildcat 36-yard line.
NU came close to cutting the Michigan lead on its first possession of the fourth quarter, but an interception by fifth-year senior safety Willis Barringer (Toldeo, Ohio/Scott HS), stopped the Wildcats' chances. The pick came on third down from the Michigan 30-yard line. NU gained possession on a fumble by freshman running back Brandon Minor (Richmond, Va./Varina HS) on the series before.
Rivas attempted to make it a three-score lead late in the ballgame, but his 40-yard field goal attempt was blocked with 4:54 left in the final quarter. The Wolverines reached scoring position following a 22-yard completion from Henne to Mathews on third-and-eight, and Jackson carrying the ball three times for 16-yards.
Northwestern took possession of the ball at its own 23, moving to the Michigan 41-yard line before an interception by Harris with just over three minutes remaining. Michigan ran two plays, including a rush by Jackson for 33 yards, closing out the game with a 17-3 victory.
Michigan faces Ball State next Saturday (Nov. 4) in its final home game of the 2006 season. Kickoff will be at Noon EDT and be televised on ESPNU.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
NU 0, MICH 7
MICH - Arrington, A. 14 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:39
NU 0, MICH 10
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 30 yd field goal 11 plays, 36 yards, TOP 4:05
NU 3, MICH 10
NU - Howells, Joel 38 yd field goal 9 plays, 33 yards, TOP 3:52
NU 3, MICH 17
MICH - Hart, Mike 3 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 6 plays, 36 yards, TOP 2:55
