Michigan Defeats Rival Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

Saturday, September 26

Michigan Stadium

Noon

Michigan

2-2 , 1-0

Michigan State

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan State

Michigan

Michigan Defeats Rival Michigan State in Big Ten Opener

9/26/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 29, Michigan State 17
Records: U-M (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten), MSU (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 111,238 (NCAA Single-Game Attendance Record)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Oct. 3 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 2:30 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Led by a balanced attack that featured 414 yards (208 passing, 206 rushing) of total offense, the University of Michigan football team claimed a 29-17 victory over Michigan State in its Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday (Sept. 26) at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines won their 17th straight conference opener and collected their 10th straight Big Ten victory.

Michigan State won the toss and deferred to the second half. The Wolverines took the opening kickoff on their 30-yard line after a 29-yard kickoff return by Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La.). On third-and-five, junior quarterback Tom Brady's (San Mateo, Calif.) pass attempted for wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y.) was intercepted by Aric Morris.

The Spartans took over on Michigan's 48-yard line. MSU gained two first downs before the drive was stopped at the 26-yard line. Placekicker Paul Edinger converted a 43-yard field to give Michigan State an early 3-0 lead. The scoring drive carried 22 yards on six plays and consumed 1:13.

Thomas gained 45 yards on the ensuing kickoff to give the Wolverines excellent field possession on their 46-yard line. Michigan fought off a penalty-plagued drive to even the score at three apiece as senior placekicker Jay Feely (Odessa, Fla.) equaled his career long with a 51-yard field goal into the wind.

Michigan State started its next possession on the 26-yard line and drove inside the "red zone" after running back Sedrick Irvin scampered 40 yards on a half-pitch left from quarterback Bill Burke. Three plays later Burke found wide receiver Plaxibo Burress in the right corner of the end zone for a touchdown and 10-3 lead. The 12-yard scoring play was the ninth of the MSU drive that gained 74 yards and covered 4:17.

After the TD drive, the Spartans pooched a short kickoff that was fumbled by linebacker Grady Brooks (Dallas, Texas). MSU's Scott Ernsberger recovered the fumble at the Michigan 31-yard line. After the Wolverines defense held the Spartans, Edinger missed a 39-yard field goal wide left.

The Wolverines wasted little time tying the score. After running mate Clarence Williams (Detroit, Mich.) gained nine yards on first down, Thomas broke out to the right and scampered 69-yards for a touchdown and 10-10 tie. The 69-yard run was a career long for Thomas and the 14th-longest TD run in Michigan football history. U-M's drive gained 78 yards on two plays and took only 36 seconds.

Michigan gained its first lead of the game with 6:58 remaining in the first half as senior wide receiver Tai Streets (Matteson, Ill.) caught a five-yard TD from Tom Brady. The Wolverines' scoring drive took 11 plays and went for 63 yards in 3:35.

The Wolverines took advantage of a Spartan turnover on their next posssession, moving out to a 20-10 advantage on a 45-yard field goal by Feely. U-M strong safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif.) recovered a Plaxibo Burress fumble on the MSU 30-yard line.

After pinning Michigan State deep and forcing a punt, Michigan returner James Whitley (Norfolk, Va.) fumbled the kick and the Spartans recovered at the U-M 34-yard line. The Spartans closed to within three points (20-17) on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Bill Burke on fourth down. Michigan State's scoring drive took seven plays and covered 34 yards in 1:43.

The Spartans took the second half kickoff at their 20-yard line. After MSU gained an initial first down, Michigan's defense held and forced a punt. MSU's punter Craig Jarrett was credited with a 57-yard punt that was downed at the seven-yard line.

Starting at its own seven, Michigan drove 71 yards in nine plays, setting up a Feely 38-yard field goal. The three points were the only points of the third quarter and increased the slim lead to 23-17.

The Wolverines struck early in the fourth quarter as Brady scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. The big play on the drive was a 48-yard pass from Brady to Marcus Knight (Sylacauga, Ala.) that got Michigan to the one-yard line. U-M's attempted two-point conversion failed and the Wolverines led 29-17. The Michigan drive covered 80 yard and took only six plays

The Spartans received excellent field position but were unable to convert as Edinger missed a 44-yard field goal wide right. Herb Haygood gave MSU the ball at the 28-yard line after returning the kickoff 67 yards.

After both teams traded punts, MSU regained the ball with a little over seven minutes remaining but was unable to move it against the Michigan defense. Michigan State regained life after converting on fourth down. Aric Morris gained 21 yards on a direct snap in punt formation, but the Spartans second chance ended as Patmon intercepted a Burke third-down pass and stepped out at the U-M one-yard line.

Michigan was forced to punt after attaining the ball at its one-yard line. Senior punter Jason Vinson (Troy, Mich.) hit a clutch 40-yarder out of his end zone. Michigan State took over at the U-M 33-yard line and the Wolverine defense forced the Spartans into a fourth-and-19. Burke was flushed out of the pocket and tackled by Dhani Jones (Potomac, Md.) at the 13-yard line, turning the ball over to the Wolverines.

U-M took over with 2:56 remaining and proceeded to kill the clock. The key play was a seven-yard run by Thomas on third-and-two that gave the Wolverines a first down and allowed Brady to kneel twice and run out the clock.