U-M Slips by Wisconsin, Captures 800th All-Time Win

Saturday, September 30

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

4-1 , 2-0

Wisconsin

3-2 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Wisconsin

Michigan

9/30/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In a game that ended up a defensive struggle, No. 9 Michigan defeated No. 17 Wisconsin 13-10 on Saturday (Sept. 30) in front of 111,341 fans at the "Big House" for the 800th win in the program's storied history. In his first career start, junior quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) guided the Wolverines to victory, finishing the game 15-for-27 passing for 257 yards and one touchdown.

Wisconsin received the ball to open the game and moved into Michigan territory after a 34-yard completion from Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger to split end Nick Davis. The Badgers then drove to the U-M nine-yard line, before U-M cornerback Todd Howard (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) picked off Bollinger in the end zone to stop the Badger drive. Howard stepped in front a pass intended for Davis in making the first interception of his collegiate career.

Wisconsin regained possession at the U-M 34-yard line after a Henson fumbled pass attempt was recovered by the Badgers. But the Michigan's defense shut down the Badgers' attack, allowing just two yards of offense on three plays, forcing the Badgers to kick a 49-yard field goal, which placekicker Vitaly Pisetsky converted to give Wisconsin a 3-0 lead.

After another fumble by Henson gave possession to Wisconsin, the Badgers immediately turned the ball back over on the next play. U-M free safety DeWayne Patmon (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry HS) picked off a end-around pass intended for Lee Evans to give Michigan possession back at its own 21.

Michigan then moved downfield early in the second quarter and threatened to score on the strength of two key plays. First, an end-around running play by wide receiver Ronald Bellamy (New Orleans, La./Arch Bishop Shaw HS) picked up 16 yards, followed by a completion from Henson to fullback B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) in the flat netted 22 yards. Yet Michigan failed to score after a 29-yard field goal try by senior placekicker Jeff Del Verne (Sylvania, Ohio/St. John's HS) sailed wide right of the goal post.

Michigan and Wisconsin then exchanged punts through the middle of the second quarter before Michigan struck just before the end of the first half. On its final possession of the half, Michigan went on a five-play drive to score its first points of the game. The drive covered 57 yards and was highlighted by an air strike from Henson to David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) that moved the ball to the Wisconsin 26. Terrell ran a post pattern down the middle of the field and broke open to make the play, gaining 33 yards. Three plays later, Del Verne nailed a 33-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the half to even the score, 3-3.

Wisconsin fumbled on its opening possession in the third quarter, and defensive end Dave Petruziello (Mentor, Ohio/Lake Catholic HS) recovered to give the Wolverines possession at their own 29. On the first play of the drive, Henson connected with wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Heniger HS) for a 23-yard gain to move into Wisconsin territory at the 48. Bellamy ran his second end-around of the game, netting 15 yards to the Wisconsin 33. After a short run by Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS), Henson then hit Walker for the second time of the drive, this time on a quick slant for a 12-yard gain. Six plays later, Michigan took its first lead as Del Verne converted a 33-yard field goal attempt to give the Maize and Blue a 6-3 advantage.

Wisconsin then struck back as the Badgers took the lead early in the fourth quarter when Bollinger connected with fullback Chad Kuhns on a five-yard touchdown pass. The Badger scoring drive covered 71 yards in 13 plays, giving Wisconsin a four-point advantage, 10-6.

Michigan's offense responded with its most impressive drive of the contest. Henson connected with Terrell twice on third down to keep the Wolverine drive alive. Facing third-and-10 from the Michigan 21, Henson hit Terrell over the middle for a gain of 21 yards. Three plays later Michigan was faced with a third-and-eight on its own 44-yard line before Henson again found Terrell for a 20-yard gain and a fresh set of downs. Later on the same drive, on second-and-eight, Henson scrambled right and threw back across the field to the back of the end zone where Terrell outjumped two Badger defenders and teammate Bellamy and hauled in the score to put Michigan back on top, 13-10, with 6:42 remaining.

The Badgers took the ensuing kickoff and marched deep into Michigan territory before the Wolverine defense turned them away. Facing third-and-12 from the Michigan 33-yard line, Bollinger rushed for nine yards, setting up a 42-yard field goal attempt. Vitaly Pisetsky's potential game-tying kick sailed just wide of the left goal post, leaving the score 13-10 with 2:42 left in the contest.

On Michigan's ensuing drive, Henson scrambled for 13 yards on third-and-12, diving for the first-down marker to allow Michigan to retain possession. The Wolverine drive stalled at the 42-yard line, but the Wolverines ran the clock down and Hayden Epstein's (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) 47-yard punt put the Badgers at their own 21-yard line with just 0:08 left. On the ensuing play, Howard grabbed his second interception of the game after he picked off Bollinger's desperation pass at the Michigan 44-yard line to seal the victory.

Michigan travels to West Lafayette, Ind., next Saturday (Oct. 7) for a Big Ten matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers. The game can be seen on ABC Sports, with the time slot being determined by the network Monday (either 12:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. EDT).

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