Breaston Shines as Michigan Defeats Indiana

Saturday, November 11

Bloomington, Ind.

3:30 PM

Michigan

11-0 , 7-0

Indiana

5-6 , 3-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Michigan	14	7	13	0	34
Indiana	0	3	0	0	3

11/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Fifth-year senior Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) broke loose with a pair of touchdowns as No. 2 Michigan defeated Indiana, 34-3, Saturday (Nov. 11) at Memorial Stadium. Breaston scored on a 62-yard passing play and added a career long 83-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Wolverines (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) won for the 50th time against the Hoosiers (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten).

Breaston helped U-M head coach Lloyd Carr remain unbeaten in 10 games against the Hoosiers with his second straight 200-yard all-purpose game. The senior receiver finished the game with 231 yards on six touches and the two scores.

Junior tailback Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) paced the rushing effort with 92 yards on 19 carries, also adding a four-yard touchdown run. Senior tailback Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) added 65 yards on eight carries, and had a one-yard TD run in the third quarter to close out the scoring. Junior quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) led the aerial strike, completing 11-of-15 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Wolverines held the Hoosiers to 26 net yards rushing and 105 yards passing for a total of 131 yards of total offense compared to Michigan's 376. Fifth-year senior inside linebacker David Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills HS) had his second straight double-digit tackle performance, collecting a team-high 11 stops. He also added two tackles for loss, one of which was a 10-yard sack. Senior cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) became Michigan's career pass breakup leader with three PBUs against the Hoosiers, pushing his career total to 43. Hall added four solo tackles.

Michigan took command of the game on the opening possession, scoring on a one-yard touchdown pass from Henne to junior wide receiver Adrian Arrington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS). Henne tossed a fade route to the right corner of the end zone to Arrington. The precision-like drive covered 66 yards in 10 plays, with Hart gaining 41 yards on six carries. Henne completed three-of-four passes for 27 yards and the scoring play.

The Wolverines continued to dominate the first quarter, scoring for the second straight possession, on a four-yard Hart run that pushed the lead to 14-0 at 4:30. Henne directed a balanced offensive possession, completing four-of-five passes for 30 yards. Hart carried the ball five times for 16 yards, including the score, and senior tailback Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) added a 16-yard run.

Indiana chipped away at the Wolverines' lead with a 39-yard field goal by Austin Starr. The 14-play scoring drive covered 52 yards in 4:54 and trimmed the deficit to 14-3 in the second quarter.

Michigan responded on the second play of the ensuing possession, a 62-yard scoring strike from Henne to Breaston. It was the first scoring play of the season for Breaston. The touchdown pass -- on a fly pattern -- was the second longest passing score of the season for the Wolverines, trailing the 69-yard hookup between Henne and Manningham at Notre Dame (Sept. 16).

Michigan scored on three of its first four possessions of the game, and was at the doorstep for another but Henne's pass was intercepted at the goal line by cornerback Leslie Majors that ended a fourth scoring chance. The Wolverines moved to the Hoosiers' 14-yard line following a 22-yard pass from Henne to fifth-year senior tight end Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS). Prior to the passing play, U-M converted a fourth-and-one at the 40 on a seven-yard run by Hart. Minor began the series with six and three-yard runs prior to a third-down stop by the Hoosiers.

Indiana had an opportunity to cut into the Michigan lead before halftime, but junior cornerback Morgan Trent (Brighton, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) intercepted an overthrown pass by quarterback Kellen Lewis in the end zone. It was Trent's first interception of the season and the second of his career, matching his pick against Eastern Michigan last year.

After holding the Hoosiers on their opening series of the third quarter, Breaston caught the Tyson Beattie punt at his own 17-yard line, broke an arm tackle and raced down the far sideline for an 83-yard touchdown. It the longest punt return of his career and his first punt return for a touchdown this season. Breaston's fourth career punt return for a TD gave U-M a 28-3 edge at 12:10 in the third quarter.

The Wolverines added their fifth touchdown of the game on a one-yard touchdown run by Jerome Jackson at 5:37 of the third quarter. The conversion was unsuccessful as senior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) hit the left upright and the ball fell back into the end zone. The seven-play, 59-yard scoring drive consumed 4:04, with Jackson gaining 34 yards on four straight runs to end the touchdown drive. U-M maintained a 34-3 lead.

Both teams were unable to score in the fourth quarter as Michigan claimed at least 11 wins for the ninth time in school history.

Michigan battles top-ranked Ohio State in the 103rd renewal of college football's greatest rivalry next Saturday (Nov. 18) at Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines and Buckeyes will wage battle in a nationally televised game by ABC at 3:30 p.m. EST.

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