Knight's Career Day Leads U-M Past Boilermakers

Saturday, October 2

Ann Arbor, Mich.

12:10 PM

Michigan

5-0 , 2-0

Purdue

4-1 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Purdue

Michigan

10/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #4 Michigan 38, #11 Purdue 12
Records: U-M (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), Purdue (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 111,468
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 9 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), noon

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior wide receiver Marcus Knight's (Sylacauga, Ala./Comer HS) career day and solid play by the defense helped the No. 4 University of Michigan football team defeat the visiting No. 11 Purdue Boilermakers 38-12 Saturday (Oct. 2) before 111,468 fans, the second largest crowd ever in Michigan Stadium.

Knight hauled in five receptions for 136 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown grab, while key plays by the Michigan defense aided in holding Purdue quarterback Drew Brees and the Boilermakers in check. Michigan's win ends Purdue's nation-high 10-game winning streak and improves the Wolverines record to 5-0, 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference on the season. Purdue falls to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play.

U-M quarterback Tom Brady (San Mateo, Calif./Serra HS) and running back Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS) were also key parts of a strong offensive performance that scored a season-high 38 points. Brady finished 15-of-25 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas finished the day with his second 100-yard rushing day on the year. He compiled 116 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, which gave him his third multi-touchdown game on the season

But Knight was the story of the day, setting a single-game best in receiving yards with 136. With his performance, Knight also went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for his career, becoming the 17th player in Michigan history to reach 1,000.

On defense, the Wolverines were led by cornerback James Whitley (Norfolk, Va./Norview HS), who finished with eight unassisted tackles, and linebacker James Hall (New Orleans, La./St. Augustine HS) added a sack, a fumble recovery and three tackles. With sacks by Hall and Victor Hobson (Mt. Laurel, N.J./St. Josephs Prep), the Wolverines brought down Brees for just the second and third times on the season.

For Purdue, Brees finished 20-of-49 passing for 293 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Wide receiver Chris Daniels was the Boilermakers' top receiver with seven receptions for 59 yards, and Randall Lane added three catches for 77 yards. On defense, Adrian Beasley led Purdue with nine tackles and a fumble recovery.

After Purdue won the toss and deferred to the second half, Michigan started its opening possession at the 31-yard line and on the second offensive play, Michigan suffered its first lost fumble of the season as Thomas lost the ball and Purdue strong safety Adrian Beasley recovered for the Boilermakers.

After an incomplete pass, Brees connected on a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Robert Tolbert, and two consecutive runs by running back J. Crabtree set up a first down for Purdue at the Michigan 11-yard line. But Michigan's defense shut down Brees on the next three downs and Purdue settled for a 28-yard Travis Dorsch field goal for the game's first score at the 12:20 mark of the first quarter.

On Michigan's next possession, the Wolverines answered Purdue's field goal with a six-play, 83-yard touchdown drive led by strong play from Brady. Brady was 4-of-4 passing for 78 yards, including a 26-yard strike to David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) and a pass to Knight, who maneuvered around defenders for a 28-yard gain. The drive culminated with Brady's 18-yard toss to Terrell in the back right corner of the end zone, putting Michigan on top 7-3 at 10:18.

On Purdue's next possession, the Boilermakers marched down the field as Brees hit wide receiver Randall Lane for a 24-yard completion. But on first and 10 from the Michigan 16-yard line, Brees fumbled the snap in the shotgun formation, and Hall recovered the ball on the Michigan 31-yard line.

On the very next play, Thomas took the handoff, started to the right, then cut back left for a season-long 39-yard run. Two plays later, Brady rolled right and threw a short dump-off pass to Knight, who took the ball the rest of the way for a 17-yard touchdown play, to give the Wolverines a 14-3 lead. The touchdown catch was Knight's first of the season.

In the second quarter, Michigan and Purdue fought back and forth in a defensive battle. On Michigan's second drive of the quarter, the Wolverines broke through thanks to quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS), who entered the game and led the Wolverines on a 10-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. After starting on their own 37-yard line, the Wolverines drove down the field behind Thomas' strong running and a key pass from Henson to Knight for a 23-yard gain. Thomas capped off the drive with a one-yard run off right guard, giving the Wolverines a 21-3 advantage with 6:57 remaining in the half.

Purdue's next possession was met with another strong response by the Wolverine defense. Purdue started on its own 7-yard line and marched past midfield only to have the drive halted by the Wolverine defense. On second and 19, Hall blind-sided Brees for a nine-yard sack, setting up third and 28. U-M cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) broke up Brees' next attempt to force a Purdue punt.

With 1:05 remaining in the half, Thomas took the handoff and was hit behind the line, losing the ball for the second time in the game as Purdue linebacker Mike Rose came up with the recovery. Purdue managed just two yards in three plays and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Dorsch to end the first half with Michigan leading 21-6.

Michigan and Purdue each punted twice to open the second half before Purdue's three-play, 83-yard drive cut the Michigan lead to 21-12. Brees threw a 66-yard strike to wideout Vinny Sutherland for the touchdown. After a Wolverine offsides call on the good PAT kick, the Boilermakers attempted a two-point conversation, but Brees' pass fell incomplete to Lane.

Michigan set up its next touchdown on a 36-yard pass to Aaron Shea (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa HS). Seven plays later, Thomas went over right tackle and plunged into the end zone for the score, dragging defenders with him. Michigan was on top 28-12 with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter and held Purdue on its next possession to end the quarter.

Michigan controlled the ball to start the fourth quarter as the running game continued to keep the clock moving. After Purdue's defense forced a Wolverine punt, the Boilermakers took over at their own 40-yard line with 13:03 to play. But on second and three U-M linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) picked off Brees for his first career interception. The interception was Brees' fourth on the season.

Brady took advantage of the turnover, tossing a completion to a wide-open Knight for a 56-yard gain. With the ball on the 10-yard line, true freshman running back B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) scored his first career touchdown to give Michigan 35-12 lead. Michigan would later add a 24-yard field goal by Jeff Del Verne (Sylvania, Ohio/St. John's HS) to close out the game with a 38-12 victory.

Michigan will travel to East Lansing, Mich., next weekend for the annual intrastate battle with undefeated Michigan State. The Wolverines and Spartans will kick off at noon EDT, with the game televised by ABC.

Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423