Michigan
5-1 , 3-0
Purdue
4-1 , 2-1
Michigan Stifles Purdue, Remains Undefeated in Big Ten
10/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team avenged last season's heart-breaking last-second loss to Purdue by beating the Boilermakers 24-10 on Saturday (Oct. 13) in front of a homecoming crowd of 110,450 at Michigan Stadium. The win kept Michigan (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) undefeated in Big Ten Conference play, while the Boilermakers (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) suffered their first loss of the season.
The Michigan defense turned in another impressive performance, limiting a dangerous Purdue offense to only 10 points. Purdue quarterback Brandon Hance was sacked seven times and his Boilermakers were held under 300 yards total offense for only the second time this season. Fifth-year senior Jake Frysinger (Grosse Ile, Mich./Grosse Ile HS) led the way with two sacks. The Boilermakers were also hampered by 15 penalties -- one shy of the school record -- for 105 yards.
On offense, Michigan's Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger HS) atoned for two first-half turnovers by amassing 249 all-purpose yards, including seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown as well as seven punt returns for 112 yards. Quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) was an impressive 21-of-27 passing for 233 yards.
Purdue opened up scoring on its first possession. Forced into a third-and-long situation by the Michigan defensive unit on three separate occasions, Hance completed passes of 25 and 23 yards to wideout John Standeford and 22 yards to redshirt freshman target Taylor Stubblefield. A Michigan holding penalty placed Purdue at the 13-yard line with a first down. Hance fumbled the snap, but recovered to find veteran tight end Tim Stratton crossing the end zone for the score.
After a series of substandard possessions, led chiefly by Walker's fumble that clipped short the Wolverines' first scoring threat, Michigan swung the game's momentum back in its favor with a successful offensive drive and defensive stand. Walker redeemed himself with a 42-yard punt return, the longest of the season for the Wolverines. Navarre then found Walker crossing the wing for a 22-yard completion that would set up Michigan's first touchdown. B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS) ran the ball into the end zone from three yards out for his sixth rushing score of the season.
Not to be outdone, Michigan's defensive unit gave the homecoming crowd more to cheer about, as it picked up its level of play. The swarming defense forced Purdue to punt as its offense failed to advance the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
In the second quarter, Walker continued to shoulder the brunt of Michigan's offensive production. Wide open behind the Boilermaker secondary, he reeled in Navarre's lofted pass and advanced nearly untouched into the end zone. The 43-yard touchdown pass put Michigan ahead for good, 14-7.
Purdue responded to the Michigan challenges by recovering a Ronald Bellamy (New Orleans, La./Archbishop Shaw HS) fumble on the 14-yard line. Sensing imminent danger, the defense clamped down and kept Hance from connecting with any of his receivers in the end zone. The success of the defense left Purdue with a field goal as its only recourse; Travis Dorsch's 45-yard kick brought Purdue within four, at 14-10, but served largely as a moral victory for the Maize and Blue.
Before the half, Askew manufactured a 13-yard gain on his catch at scrimmage. A five-yard encroachment penalty pushed the Wolverines forward, only to relinquish the ball on an interception deep in Purdue territory. Cornerback Stuart Schweigert's interception return brought his team all the way out to the Michigan 37-yard line. The Maize and Blue kept the Boilermakers at bay, however, as time slipped off the clock. With 21 seconds remaining, Purdue attempted a field goal that resulted in a block as Shantee Orr (Detroit, Mich./Denby HS) managed to get behind the line. Brandon Williams (Omaha, Neb./Central HS) recovered as time ran out in the half.
Threatening on its first drive of the third quarter, receiver Seth Morales fumbled on a catch that would have converted a long third down and sustained Purdue's scoring pressure. Michigan pounced on the opportunity to keep its opponents off the board, as Williams snatched up the loose ball for his second turnover recovery of the afternoon.
Taking the game into their own hands, Askew and Walker combined their efforts to advance the Wolverines into Purdue territory where Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) broke through the defense, running 26 yards into the end zone. The score would have broken the game wide open had the play not been called back due to an illegal formation penalty. Nevertheless, Navarre returned to his primary target to make the first down, hitting Walker for the 13-yard gain. Askew converted the possession a half dozen plays later with his second touchdown of the game. The drive, which lasted 7:48, wore down the Purdue defense. Overall, the combination of Askew and Walker accounted for 60 of the drive's 71 yards.
A frustrated Boilermaker offense looked to make something happen but found no forgiveness from Michigan's tenacious defense. Hance was sacked yet again on third down to force another punt; getting up off the ground, the Purdue signal caller was livid with his defensive protection that had flagged under the pressure of Frysinger and Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS), who led all defenders with seven tackles. Altogether, Purdue lost seven yards on the drive and left the field disheartened.
Michigan took another large chunk of time off the clock to start the fourth quarter. Navarre spread the ball around to three different receivers and utilized two other backs over 15 plays to march the ball 61 yards down field. Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) capped off the drive with a 26-yard field goal, giving Michigan a 24-10 lead with 5:44 remaining in the game.
Michigan has a bye week before returning to the field on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Iowa. The time and television network for the game between the Wolverines and Hawkeyes will be announced at a later date.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
PUR 7, MICH 0
PUR - Stratton, Tim 12 yd pass from Hance, Brandon (Dorsch, Travis kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:05
PUR 7, MICH 7
MICH - Askew, B.J. 3 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 3 plays, 28 yards, TOP 0:59
PUR 7, MICH 14
MICH - Walker, M. 43 yd pass from Navarre, John (Epstein, Hayden kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 1:55
PUR 10, MICH 14
PUR - Dorsch, Travis 45 yd field goal 4 plays, -14 yards, TOP 0:56
PUR 10, MICH 21
MICH - Askew, B.J. 1 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 15 plays, 71 yards, TOP 7:48
PUR 10, MICH 24
MICH - Epstein, Hayden 26 yd field goal 15 plays, 61 yards, TOP 6:08
