Hart, Henne Lead Comeback Win Over No. 13 Gophers

Saturday, October 9

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

5-1 , 3-0

Minnesota

5-1 , 2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Minnesota

Michigan

10/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan football team used a late fourth-quarter drive to defeat the No. 13-ranked Minnesota 27-24 and retain the coveted Little Brown Jug before a crowd of 111,518 Saturday afternoon (Oct. 9) at Michigan Stadium. The victory marked the 16th straight win for the Wolverines against the Golden Gophers in the Little Brown Jug series.

Hart rushed for 160 yards to set a U-M freshman record.

With Michigan (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) on its own 13-yard line with 3:04 left in the fourth quarter, the U-M offense began its march down the field. Playing against the clock, the Wolverines efficiently completed first downs to make their way to the Minnesota end zone. The six-play, 87-yard drive was highlighted by two passes over the middle to junior wide receiver Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) for a combined 37 yards. On second-and-one on the Minnesota 31, true-freshman quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) then found junior tight end Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS) for the game-winning touchdown. Ecker scampered 31 yards and broke two tackles to score his first career touchdown, giving the Wolverines a 27-24 lead.

With 1:57 remaining, Minnesota opened with a incomplete pass on a deep attempt to Gopher wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright. On second-and-10, the Wolverines broke through to sack quarterback Bryan Cupito for a loss of six yards. The Gophers opted to run on third-and-16, gaining 14 yards for fourth-and-two on their own 28-yard line. Cupito's attempted pass was broken up by U-M senior linebacker Scott McClintock (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon HS) to give the ball back to the Maize and Blue. Henne then took a knee on the next two plays to secure the victory.

Henne had a career day passing, setting new career highs in completions (33), attempts (49) and yards (328). He also had two touchdown passes including the game-winning touchdown to Ecker. True-freshman running back Michael Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) played a major part in the victory, as he had 160 yards on 35 carries including one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) also had a strong game both rushing and receiving. He caught 10 passes for 98 yards and had two rushes for 23.

Michigan got off to a steady start at the outset of the contest. After allowing Minnesota a 22-yard pass on the opening play of the game, the U-M defense shut down the Gophers in three plays to force the punt. The Wolverines came back with an efficient nine-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. Henne utilized the run-after-catch throughout the touchdown drive, completing three passes to Edwards for a combined 26 yards, as well as a screen pass to Hart for 18 yards. U-M's touchdown came on an eight-yard run by Hart up the middle to put the first score on the board. Kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) split the uprights for the PAT and a 7-0 Michigan lead with 9:39 remaining in the first quarter.

The Gophers responded on the first play of their next drive with a 12-yard pass for a quick first down. Minnesota continued at a steady pace, taking another first down on a 24-yard run by Laurence Maroney through the right side. But when the Gophers attempted to run the same play on the following snap, the Michigan defense shut down the Minnesota runner for a two-yard loss. The Gophers were unable to recover, and found themselves in a fourth-and-three on the Michigan 30-yard-line. Minnesota opted to try for the first down but was unsuccessful after a pass to the first-down marker on the right side of the field was broken up by Michigan sophomore cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS).

The score remained at a standstill until the Wolverines took over at their own 44 with 4:05 left on the clock for the quarter. Henne again used short passes and the running game to move down the field. On the eighth play of the drive at third-and-five, Henne completed a two-yard pass over the middle to Edwards, but it was not enough for the first down. Rivas' attempt at the 38-yard field goal was good, and the Wolverines increased their lead to 10-0 with 42 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Michigan's 10-point lead did not stay intact for long, however, as the Gophers responded on the next play with an 80-yard touchdown run to close the gap. Maroney found a hole through the middle and ran the ball to the end zone for a quick six points. The extra point was good as the Gophers cut the Maize and Blue lead to 10-7.

The Wolverines came back with another long and steady touchdown drive, going 76 yards in 14 plays. Henne again mixed up the short passes with the running game, going to Hart for 27 yards. After reaching first-and-goal at the Minnesota four-yard-line, Henne threw on target to a leaping Edwards in the deep right corner of the end zone for U-M's second touchdown of the afternoon. The reception marked the 200th of Edwards' career, keeping him atop the Michigan leaderboard with the most receptions in Wolverine history. Rivas stayed perfect with the successful extra point to give Michigan the 17-7 lead with 10:34 remaining in the half.

The Gophers bounced back on their next drive, going deep on the opening play for 39 yards to the Michigan 41-yard-line. Minnesota ran the football for 19 yards on six plays, capped off with a quarterback sneak on third-and-one for a first down. Gopher running back Marion Barber III then found a hole through the left side for 19 yards and Minnesota's second touchdown of the contest. The successful extra point attempt put the Gophers within three, cutting Michigan's lead to 17-14 at 7:32 in the half. Possession would go back and forth without any score for the remainder of the first half, and the two teams went to the locker room with Michigan still leading 17-14.

The Wolverines were unable to establish themselves at the start of the second half. An intercepted pass on their opening drive and a three-and-out on their second drive gave Minnesota the ball on the Michigan 35-yard line with 10:24 remaining in the third quarter. It took the Gophers five plays and 34 yards to find the end zone, scoring on a 26-yard bomb after a tripped-up Michigan defender left Minnesota receiver Jared Ellerson open for the catch. The extra point attempt was good to put the Gophers on top for the first time in the game with a 21-17 lead.

Neither team was able to put anything together for the remainder of the third quarter. The Gophers then caught a break at the beginning of the fourth, recovering a U-M fumble on a punt return and taking possession on the Michigan 9-yard line. The Gophers went three and out but kicked a 27-yard field goal to lead Michigan by seven with 13:14 remaining.

Michigan responded with a strong drive, reaching first down on six of nine plays. But the Wolverines were not able to reach the end zone after a quarterback sack on third-and-six forced Michigan to go for the field goal. Rivas' 29-yard attempt was good to put the Maize and Blue within four. At 9:36 left in the contest, the Gophers led the Wolverines 24-20.

With Michigan unable to score on its next possession, time became an issue for the Maize and Blue. The Gophers took the ball with 4:57 left in the forth, and U-M used two of its three timeouts in the first two plays. The move paid off for the Wolverines, as Michigan's superb defense held Minnesota in the next four plays, forcing the punt at fourth-and-20.

With 3:04 remaining, Michigan marched 87 yards in six plays, as Henne hit Ecker on the game-winning 31-yard pass play as the Wolverines retook the lead and eventually secured the victory.

U-M begins a two-game road swing against Illinois on Saturday (Oct. 16). Game time is set for 11 a.m. CDT (noon EDT) at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. The television network is yet to be announced.

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