Wolverines Retain Paul Bunyan Trophy, 23-7

Saturday, October 25

East Lansing, Mich.

12:30 PM

Michigan

7-0 , 4-0

Michigan State

5-2 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Univ. of Michigan

Michigan State

10/25/1997 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Spartan Stadium)
Score: #5 Michigan 23, #15 Michigan State 7
Records: U-M (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten), MSU (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 79,687
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Nov. 1 -- vs. Minnesota (Michigan Stadium), 12:20 p.m.

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines continued their quest for a Big Ten championship as they defeated intrastate rivals Michigan State (No. 15 AP, No. 14 ESPN/USA Today Coaches) 23-7 in East Lansing. The win broke a five-game streak in which the home team won the Michigan-Michigan State game. The ninth-largest crowd all-time at Spartan Stadium -- 79,687 fans -- witnessed the Wolverines defense continue their dominance on opposing quarterbacks as they picked off three different Spartan quarterbacks for a combined six interceptions.

Michigan opened the game's scoring as placekicker Kraig Baker connected on a 30-yard field goal to give the Wolverines an early 3-0 lead. Michigan State wasted little time in answering the Michigan scoring drive. Sophomore running back Sedrick Irvin scored on a first-quarter fake field goal to answer the Wolverine score and grab a 7-3 edge. The trick play that led to the Spartans TD would prove to be their only points as the Wolverines scored 20 unanswered and put the clamps on the nation's 22nd-ranked scoring offense.

The Michigan defense went on the attack in the second quarter as Marcus Ray intercepted the first of his two picks off MSU quarterback Todd Schultz. The game continued to be a battle of punts. After a Spartan punt to the 5-yard line, Michigan took over with 5:36 remaining in the half. The Wolverines put together a well engineered drive that was sparked by a 51-yard run from senior tailback Chris Howard. Quarterback Brian Griese put Michigan ahead for good, 10-7, as he scored on a one-yard lunge.

In the second half, the Michigan defense continued to come up big. Cornerback Andre Weathers picked off a Schultz pass on the Spartans first possession of the second half that would led to a Baker 30-yard field-goal, giving Michigan a 13-7 lead.

After both teams traded punts, cornerback Charles Woodson came up with the first of his two interceptions as he make a spectacular, one-handed catch of a Schultz pass. Woodson would strike again on the very next possession, intercepting his second pass deep in Spartan territory (31-yard line). The pickoff led to a two-yard Howard touchdown run that extended the Wolverine lead to 20-7.

Baker closed the scoring as he connected on a 27-yard field goal with 7:40 remaining to secure the Michigan win. Howard led the Wolverines' offensive attack with 110 yards rushing and one touchdown on 21 carries.

Defensively, Woodson and Ray each collected two interceptions in the game. Michigan's six total interceptions tie a school record set on four previous occasions. The last time the Wolverines intercepted six opponent passes was Sept. 8, 1984 when the picked off six Bernie Kosar passes in a 22-14 victory against No. 1 Miami (Fla.). The U-M defense continued its second-half dominance vs. the opposition as it held the Spartans to 83 yards (20 rushing and 63 passing). Sam Sword led the charge with 12 total tackles (11 solo, one assist).

The win improved the Wolverines to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Big Ten. After capturing the Paul Bunyan Trophy, Michigan will try to add another piece of hardware to its collection as it returns home to face Minnesota next week for the Little Brown Jug.