Michigan
0-0
Notre Dame
0-0
Michigan Suffers Season-Opening Defeat at Notre Dame
9/5/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Notre Dame Stadium)
Score: #22Â Notre Dame 36, #5 Michigan 20
Records: U-M (0-1), UND (1-0)
Next U-M Game: Saturday, Sept. 12 -- vs. Syracuse (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The University of Michigan football team suffered its first loss in over a year, falling 36-20 to No. 22 Notre Dame on Saturday (Sept. 5) at Notre Dame Stadium. The fifth-ranked Wolverines suffered their first season-opening loss since 1990 (a 28-24 loss to the Irish).
Michigan took the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards to take an early 3-0 advantage. Junior quarterback Tom Brady (San Mateo, Calif.) connected on six-of-seven passes for 45 yards and converted on two-of-three third down attempts. Senior placekicker Kraig Baker (Terre Haute, Ind.) scored the team's first points of 1998, hitting a 36-yard field goal.
Notre Dame answered the Michigan field goal with a 32-yard field by Jim Samson. The Fighting Irish took over on their 28-yard line and marched 57 yards in five plays. The drive was aided by a career-long 58-yard run by running back Autry Denson. Michigan held Notre Dame inside the 20-yard line and forced the field goal.
The Wolverines came away empty on their second possession. They drove 67 yards to the Notre Dame 16-yard line where Baker missed left on a 33-yard field goal attempt. with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.
On the first play after the missed FG attempt, sophomore James Whitley (Norfolk, Va.) intercepted a tipped pass off the hands of Notre Dame receiver Malcolm Johnson. The interception was the first of Whitley's career and gave Michigan the ball at the Notre Dame 33-yard line.
The ensuing drive stalled and Michigan was forced to attempt a field goal. Baker missed his second straight FG attempt, this time from 43 yards in the closing seconds of the first quarter.
After trading a few possessions, Michigan took the lead 6-3 on a 21-yard field goal by senior Jay Feely (Boca Raton, Fla.). The drive covered 54 yards and was aided by a 42-yard career long pass from Brady to junior flanker Marcus Knight (Sylacuaga, Ala.). The Wolverines ran seven plays that covered 2:28 of the clock.
Notre Dame responded with a field goal of its own, knotting the score at 6-6 with 3:08 remaining the half. The Irish consumed 4:29 as they gained 50 yards on 11 plays and gained three first downs. Samson scored his second field goal of the game, this time from 27 yards.
The Wolverines seized the lead right before half ended, scoring their first touchdown of the year. Brady scored on a one-yard dive with 23 seconds remaining. Michigan ran 12 plays and covered 72 yards on the drive that elapsed 2:45. Brady completed four-of-seven passes for 59 yards on the drive.
Notre Dame took the second half kickoff and drove the field for three points, closing the Michigan lead to 13-9. Samson connected on a 32-yard field goal after the Irish had driven to the 15-yard line. The drive carried 62 yards on 10 plays and consumed 3:26.
On the ensuing kickoff, senior Clarence Williams (Detroit, Mich.) returned the ball before fumbling. The Irish recovered the fumble and took over in Wolverines' territory at the 34-yard line.
Notre Dame grabbed its first lead of the game, 16-13, on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jarious Jackson to tight end Dan O'Leary. The Irish converted two third down plays on the scoring drive that carried 34 yards. The seven plays took 3:43.
On its next possession, the Wolverines began a drive that ended on their 35-yard line as fullback Ray Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind.) fumbled. Notre Dame scored on the very next play as Jackson found wide receiver Raki Nelson wide open for a 35-yard touchdown reception. The score propelled the Irish to a 23-13 advantage.
Michigan started its next possession on its 24-yard line and proceeded to drive down the field. Brady hit Knight for a 51-yard reception that got the Wolverines down to the Irish 15-yard line. After the drive stalled inside the "red zone," Michigan would attempt a 40-yard field goal. Notre Dame's Jimmy Friday broke through and blocked the attempted field goal.
The Irish took over at their 48-yard line and marched 52 yards for a 30-13 advantage with Denson scoring on a three-yard run. The nine-play drive elapsed 4:05. Denson would follow the previous score with a one-yard run on the next possession to finish the scoring for the Irish.
After five unanswered scoring drives by Notre Dame, Michigan would find the end zone. The Wolverines scored the games final points as freshman quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich.) found senior tight end Jerame Tuman (Liberal, Kan.) for an eight-yard TD. Henson drove Michigan 80 yards, completing 5-of-8 passes for 55 yards and running for 17 yards on one carry.
The Wolverines finished the day with 322 yards passing and 150 rushing yards. Brady completed 23-36 for 267 yards and a long of 51 yards. Tai Streets (Matteson, Ill.) led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 101 yards while Knight contributed five catches for a team-high 126 receiving yards. Williams led the rushing effort with 114 yards on 13 carries.
Michigan will play its home opener next Saturday (Sept. 12) against Syracuse. The game will be played at 3:30 p.m. and can be see on ABC Television.
