Michigan
7-2 , 4-2
Northwestern
3-6 , 1-5
Michigan Dominates Northwestern 37-3 at the Big House
11/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #16 Michigan 37, Northwestern 3
Records: U-M (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten), Northwestern (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten)
Attendance: 110,794
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 13 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The 16th-ranked Michigan football team turned in a strong all-around performance in defeating Northwestern 37-3 on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Michigan Stadium. It was U-M's second consecutive win, improving its record to 7-2 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten. Northwestern falls to 3-6 overall, 1-5 in the Big Ten.
The Wolverines dominated the entire game, scoring 34 consecutive points before the Wildcats' first score. A strong defense and balanced offensive performance were the difference as U-M gained 449 yards of total offense while holding the Wildcats to 200. Michigan tied its season low for points allowed.
U-M was led by great performances from senior quarterback Tom Brady (San Mateo, Calif./Serra HS), wide receiver/defensive back David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Hugenot HS), and running back Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS). Brady finished 12-of-23 for 185 yards and a career-high three touchdown passes before leaving the game after three quarters.
Thomas rushed 17 times for 172 yards and two rushing touchdowns. With a 26-yard run in the third quarter, Thomas topped the 1,000-yard rushing milestone in a season for the first time in his career. Thomas is the first U-M running back to top 1,000 yards since Tim Biakabutuka accomplished the feat in 1995. Terrell hauled in five receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he also had his first career interception, returning the ball 11 yards.
Northwestern held possession at the start, driving to midfield before Michigan's defense forced the Wildcats to punt. After Michigan's first drive was stopped, the Wolverines scored on their next possession as Brady rifled a 26-yard touchdown pass to Terrell. The extra-point attempt failed, and the Wolverines were on top, 6-0. The nine-play, 83-yard drive featured three Brady-to-Terrell passes that resulted in first downs. Terrell hauled in four receptions for 72 yards on the drive.
U-M increased its lead on its first possession of the second quarter as Brady found senior wideout Marcus Knight (Sylacauga, Ala./Comer HS) in the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The Wolverines only needed 2:01 of the clock to complete the six-play, 74-yard drive.
The Wolverines' third scoring drive of the half went 82 yards in six plays as Thomas ran for a 60-yard touchdown to boost U-M's lead to 20-0 with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter. Thomas then added a one-yard touchdown run with 48 seconds remaining in the half for Michigan's fourth touchdown and a 27-0 halftime lead.
Strong Michigan defense held Northwestern's offense in check for the entire half, forcing the Wildcats to punt on their first five possessions.
Michigan continued to build its lead in the third quarter, marching 65 yards in five plays, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown strike from Brady to tight end Bennie Joppru (Wayzata, Minn./Minnetonka HS) with 13:08 remaining in the quarter. Key plays included Thomas' 26-yard run on the first play of the drive and a 13-yard run at left end by fullback Aaron Shea (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa HS) that moved the ball inside the Northwestern 25-yard line.
Northwestern scored its only points of the game with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter after embarking on an 11-play, 72-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal by Tim Long. The possession lasted 6:22 and featured a 28-yard scramble by quarterback Zak Kustok that moved the ball across the 50 and into Michigan territory.
U-M finished the scoring with an 11-play, 64-yard march as third-string quarterback Jason Kapsner (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie HS) led the Wolverine offense downfield. The drive was capped off by the first career field goal by fifth-year senior Brandon Kornblue (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton HS), who was making his first career appearance. Kornblue's kick with 33 seconds left was from 26 yards out.
U-M was led defensively by Dhani Jones (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill HS), James Whitley (Norfolk, Va./Norview HS) and Tommy Hendricks (Houston, Texas/Eisenhower HS). Jones led the team with seven tackles, four of them resulting in losses. Whitley finished with six tackles and Hendricks added five tackles. Cornerback Cato June (Washington, D.C./Anacostia HS) and defensive lineman Jason Ptak (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt HS) each had one sack.
Northwestern was led by running back Damien Anderson, who ran for 74 yards on 21 carries and hauled in four receptions for 11 yards. On defense, safety Kyle Sanders had 11 tackles and cornerback Harold Blackmon broke up four passes.
Michigan closes its road schedule with a trip to Penn State next Saturday (Nov. 13, noon) for a nationally televised game on ABC. The Wolverines have won two straight games against the Nittany Lions in an all-time series that is tied 3-3.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
NU 0, MI 6
MI - Terrell, David 26 yd pass from Brady, Tom (Epstein, Hayden kickfailed) 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 3:16
NU 0, MI 13
MI - Knight, Marcus 45 yd pass from Brady, Tom (Epstein, Hayden kick) 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:01
NU 0, MI 20
MI - Thomas, Anthony 60 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 2:13
NU 0, MI 27
MI - Thomas, Anthony 1 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 6 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:20
NU 0, MI 34
MI - Joppru, Bennie 11 yd pass from Brady, Tom (Epstein, Hayden kick) 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:52
NU 3, MI 34
NU - Long, Tim 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 6:22
NU 3, MI 37
MI - Kornblue, B. 26 yd field goal 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 5:12
