Wolverines End Two-Game Losing Streak to Wildcats, 23-6

Saturday, October 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

12:30 PM

Michigan

5-0 , 2-0

Northwestern

2-5 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Northwestern

MICHIGAN

Wolverines End Two-Game Losing Streak to Wildcats, 23-6

10/11/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #6 Michigan 23, Northwestern 6
Records: U-M (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), NU (2-5, 0-3 Big Ten)
Attendance: 106,048
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 18 -- vs. Iowa (Michigan Stadium), 12:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The sixth-ranked Wolverines' dominating defense and the combination of Brian Griese to Jerame Tuman were more than enough to make sure there would be no upset this year for Northwestern as Michigan rolled to a 23-6 victory over the upset-minded Wildcats Saturday afternoon in front of 106,048 fans at Michigan Stadium.

The Michigan defense, tops in the nation in giving up just five points per game coming into the contest, once again did not give up a touchdown to the opposition, the fourth time in five games that an opposing team has not found the end zone. U-M (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) has not allowed a single point in the fourth quarter yet this year.

Northwestern (2-5 overall, 0-3 Big Ten), winner of the last two meetings between the two teams, looked to pull off another upset and got on the scoreboard first. On its first possession, Northwestern drove all the way from its own 15-yard line to the U-M 6. But after a holding penalty pushed the Wildcats back 11 yards, Josh Williams came up with nine-yard sacks on consecutive plays to force a field goal attempt from 52 yards out. Brian Gowins nailed the long field goal to put Northwestern up, 3-0, with 6:21 left in the first quarter.

Michigan tied up the game at 3-3 on its second possession of the game, keyed by a 37-yard pass from Griese to Tuman on a third-and-3 play from the NU 45-yard line. Kraig Baker put a 19-yard kick through the uprights to even up the game at the 13:25 mark of the second quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Wildcats' Aaron Burrell got hit hard by DeWayne Patmon. Burrell fumbled, and kicker Jay Feely recovered to give the Wolverines possession on the Northwestern 36-yard line. Eight plays later, Baker hit a 23-yard field goal to put Michigan up 6-3 with 10:02 left in the first half.

Michigan started on its own 10-yard line on its next drive but drove 90 yards in 16 plays, capped off by a Tuman catch from Griese for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Wolverines up, 13-3. Clarence Williams had a key seven-yard catch-and-run on a third-and-6 from the Michigan 24 to keep the drive alive.

U-M headed into the locker room at halftime with the 13-3 advantage. Northwestern scored the only points of the third quarter on a 42-yard Gowins field goal to cut the Michigan lead to a touchdown, 13-6.

The Wolverines started the fourth quarter with the ball on their own 30-yard line and drove it 70 yards for another touchdown. On second-and-goal from the Northwestern 2-yard line, Griese eluded a Kevin Buck sack and found a wide-open Tuman in the end zone for the score to increase the lead to 20-6.

On the first play of Northwestern's next drive, All-America cornerback Charles Woodson intercepted a Tim Hughes pass, setting up a 26-yard Baker field goal and the final margin of victory, 23-6.

Michigan totaled 385 yards, 141 yards on the ground and 244 yards through the air, while limiting the Wildcats to just 170 total yards, including a mere 35 yards on the ground. Griese had another solid day at quarterback, completing 23 of 36 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tuman was on the receiving end for five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while Russell Shaw added five catches for 44 yards. Chris Howard led the running attack with 90 yards on 18 carries.

Defensively, Dhani Jones, replacing the injured Eric Mayes at inside linebacker, led the way with 11 tackles and a sack. Marcus Ray had six tackles while Williams had five tackles to go along with his two sacks. Woodson had three tackles, a sack and an interception to go along with the 30-yard catch he had while playing wide receiver.

The Wolverines, already 4-0 at home this season, play in the Big House again next week as the Iowa Hawkeyes come to Ann Arbor. Northwestern heads home to host the Michigan State Spartans.