Michigan Retains Little Brown Jug with Close Win at Minnesota

Saturday, October 31

Minneapolis, Minn.

11:10 AM CT

Michigan

6-2 , 5-0

Minnesota

4-4 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Minnesota

Michigan Retains Little Brown Jug with Close Win at Minnesota

10/31/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome)
Score: #22 Michigan 15, Minnesota 10
Records: Michigan (6-2, 5-0 Big Ten), Minnesota (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten)
Attendance: 41,310
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Nov. 7 -- vs. Penn State (Michigan Stadium), Noon

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The 22nd-ranked University of Michigan football team claimed a narrow 15-10 victory over Minnesota on Saturday (Oct. 31) behind the outstanding effort by senior wide receiver Tai Streets (Matteson, Ill./Thornton Township HS), who caught six passes for a career-best 192 yards and one touchdown.

Michigan has won the last 12 games in Little Brown Jug series and is 7-0 all-time in games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It was also the Wolverines' 11th consecutive road win against the Golden Gophers.

Michigan improved to 6-2 on the year and remaining unbeated in Big Ten Conference play with a 5-0 record. The 15-10 victory was also the Wolverines' 14th consecutive Big Ten win, tying for the fourth longest conference winning streak in the school's storied Big Ten history.

Minnesota won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Michigan elected to receive and started its initial drive at the 20-yard line. The Golden Gophers held the Wolverines to three plays and forced a punt. Punter Jason Vinson (Troy, Mich./Troy HS) punted to the 37-yard line, where Minnesota's Luke Leverson called for a fair catch. Michigan was called for catch interference, giving Minnesota an additional five yards.

Starting at their 42-yard line, the Golden Gophers moved into Michigan territory before the defense stopped the Minnesota drive at the six-yard line. Placekicker Adam Bailey gave the Golden Gophers an early 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal. Minnesota's scoring drive carried 52 yards in 15 plays and elapsed 4:51.

Michigan's Justin Fargas (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame HS) took the kickoff at the three-yard line and returned it 21 yards. Taking over at their 24-yard line, the Wolverines struck quickly as quarterback Tom Brady (San Mateo, Calif./Serra HS) hit Streets for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play. The 76-yard pass was a career long for Brady and the longest reception made by Streets in his career.

Kicker Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) booted the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. Taking over at its 20-yard line, Minnesota gained four first downs and converted three third downs on a drive that moved into Michigan territory for the second straight possession. The Golden Gophers went for it on fourth-and-inches, but the Wolverine defense stopped the Thomas Hamner rushing attempt for a one-yard loss, and Michigan took over possession on its 22-yard line.

Michigan's offense was unable to sustain a drive as Minnesota's defense held the offense to three plays and out for the second time in three possessions. Punting from the Michigan 25-yard line, Vinson mishandled the snap and was unable to get the kick off. The ball was fumbled backwards into the end zone, where Trevis Graham recovered for a Minnesota touchdown.

Trailing 10-7, Michigan gained possession at its 19-yard line after a kickoff return by Fargas from the end zone. Once again, the Minnesota defense held the Michigan offense to three plays and forced a punt. Vinson, kicking from the 19-yard line, booted the ball 48 yards, where it was fielded by Leverson and returned two yards.

The Golden Gophers took over at their 39-yard line. Michigan's defense held strong and held Minnesota without a first down and forced the Gophers into a punting situation. Punter Ryan Rindels kicked to the 19-yard line where it was fair caught by junior Marcus Knight (Sylacauga, Ala./Comer HS).

Michigan's offense gained possession after the 38-yard punt and would ultimately tie the score at 10-10, but it was not easy. With U-M backed into its end zone (six-yard line) after a personal foul penalty and pass that lost four yards, Streets came through with a big 39-yard third-down reception. The Streets' play brought the ball out to the 45-yard line and ignited the Wolverines' drive.

Michigan moved into Minnesota territory, gaining a total of five first downs before the drive was ultimately halted at the one-yard line. Placekicker Jay Feely (Odessa, Fla./Tampa Jesuit HS) knotted the score with an 18-yard field goal. The scoring drive moved 80 yards in 14 plays and consumed seven minutes.

Minnesota took over at its 39-yard line after Tyrone Carter returned the kickoff 37 yards. The defense held Minnesota and regained possession at its 35-yard line after 24-yard punt by the Gophers.

Gaining its best field position of the game, Michigan collected a first down before running back Fargas fumbled for the first time in his career. The ball was recovered by Dyron Russ at the Michigan 49-yard line. Minnesota could not gain a first down and went for it on fourth down on the last play of the half. Senior cornerback Andre Weathers (Flint, Mich./Central HS) intercepted the desperation pass toward the end zone and the teams went into halftime tied 10-10.

Minnesota took the second-half kickoff at its 36-yard line after a 31-yard return by Carter. Michigan's defense held Minnesota without a first down and forced the punt. Rindels punted to Knight, who fair caught the 40-yard punt at the 25-yard line.

Michigan and Minnesota would trade possessions before the Wolverines gained their best field position of the game at their 40-yard line. The Michigan offense was unable to do anything with the field position and was forced to punt back to Minnesota. Vinson pinned the Gophers inside the 20-yard line with a 34-yard punt.

Minnesota took over at the 19-yard line and sustained a drive that ended at the 50-yard line. The Gophers gained three first downs and moved to the Michigan 43-yard line after quarterback Billy Cockerham hit Antoine Henderson for a game-long 27-yard completion. The play moved Minnesota into Michigan territory momentarily before the defense stopped the drive and forced a fourth-down punt. Rindels punted 44 yard and Knight caught it at the six-yard line and returned it one yard.

Backed into its end zone, Michigan was unable to gain a first down and relinquished possession to Minnesota. The Gophers could not move the ball and punted to the Wolverines, who took possession at their 27-yard line.

After a holding penalty on first down moved the ball back to the 12-yard line, Brady found Streets for a 21-yard reception. Michigan managed to gain a first down as Streets made a 13-yard completion on third down. After moving inside Minnesota territory and down to the 44-yard line, the Wolverines went for it on fourth-and-one. Tom Brady kept the drive alive by sneaking over the right side for two yards and a first down. Michigan was forced to punt after moving backwards on a fumble by Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS). Vinson pinned the Gophers at their 10-yard line with a 43-yard punt.

Minnesota was called for a false start on its first play, moving back to its five-yard line. After a two-yard run by Thomas Hamner on first down, the Gophers were again called for a second false start which moved the ball back to the four-yard line. Cockerham dropped back to pass on third down and was sacked by rush linebacker James Hall (New Orleans, La./St. Augustine HS) in end zone for a safety.

With Michigan leading 12-10, the Gophers kicked off from the 20-yard line to the Wolverines. Fargas returned the kickoff 26 yards to the 39-yard line. The Wolverines added to their lead with a 42-yard field goal by Feely. Michigan's big play came on a 27-yard reception by DiAllo Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) on third-and-six. Streets got the Wolverines into field goal position with a 20-yard reception on third-and-21 from the 41-yard line.

Minnesota gained possession with 4:06 remaining in the game trailing 15-10. The Gophers gained one first down after starting the drive at the 28-yard line. On third-and-eight, Cockerham found wide receiver Ron Johnson for a 27-yard reception that moved the ball to the Michigan 39-yard line. After gaining two more first downs, the Gophers had their drive stopped on a long third-and-25 as sophomore William Peterson (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands HS) intercepted the Cockerham pass at the 19-yard line.

Taking over at their 19-yard line, the Wolverines were unable to move the ball and punted back to the Golden Gophers. Minnesota took over at the Michigan 48-yard line after the Vinson punt. Minnesota gained a first down, moving up to the 37-yard line. On first down, Cockerham passed to the end zone, where it was broken up by free safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS). After an incomplete pass on second down, the Gophers were called for an illegal chop block on third down that moved them to their own 42-yard line. Cockerham dropped back to pass on third-and-21 and was intercepted by cornerback James Whitley (Norfolk, Va./Norview HS).

The Wolverines ran out the remaining 1:19 of the clock to preserve the narrow 15-10 victory and their 12th straight win against Minnesota.

Michigan returns home for a two-game stretch as they host back-to-back Top-10 ranked teams, facing No. 10 Penn State (Nov. 7) and No. 9 Wisconsin (Nov. 14). The game against the Nittany Lions will be televised nationally by ABC and begin at noon EST.