Wolverines Headed to Rose Bowl Despite Loss at OSU

Saturday, November 20

Columbus, Ohio

1:00 PM

Michigan

9-2 , 7-1

Ohio State

7-4 , 4-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Ohio State

11/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State won the 101st renewal of college football's greatest rivalry and ended the No. 7 University of Michigan football teams bid for the outright Big Ten title with a 37-21 victory Saturday (Nov. 20) at Ohio Stadium. The Wolverines (9-2, 7-1 Big Ten) finished the regular season with a 9-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) snapped Michigan's 13-game Big Ten winning streak and ended the Wolverines seven-game winning streak this season. Michigan earned a share of its league-leading 42nd Big Ten title with its win last weekend. Iowa's 30-7 win over Wisconsin later Saturday evening made the Hawkeyes co-champions with the Wolverines, and Michigan will represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.

Senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) caught a game-high 11 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown, setting a school record for single-season receptions (87) and single-season receiving yards (1310). Freshman quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) tied his career-high with 328 yards passing, completing 27 of his 54 attempts with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Henne's 54 pass attempts are the third highest total in school history. Freshman tailback Michael Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) gained 100 combined yards with 61 rushing and 39 receiving.

Defensively the Wolverines were led by linebacker LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) with a career-best 12 tackles, including two tackles for loss and two pass break-ups. Senior outside linebacker Lawrence Reid (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington HS) added a season-high 10 tackles, two for loss, and one pass break-up. Sophomore safety Ryan Mundy (Wilkins Township, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) and junior defensive lineman Larry Harrison (Troy, Mich./Detroit Martin Luther King HS) both registered career-bests with seven tackles.

Ohio State struck quickly as quarterback Troy Smith tossed a 68-yard touchdown pass down the middle to receiver Anthony Gonzalez one-minute and 13 seconds into the game (13:47). The five-play, 80-yard drive saw the Buckeyes gain one first down prior to the third-and-12 scoring strike, the first on Gonzalez's career. Smith finished the game 13-of-23 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 145 and one touchdown on the ground.

Michigan answered the Buckeyes score with an 87-yard drive capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Avant in the back right corner of the end zone. The nine-play scoring drive consumed 3:16 and tied the score at 7-7 at the 10:25 mark of the first quarter. Henne completed five-of-six passes for 77 yards, including three passes for Edwards for 34 yards and a 39-yard screen pass down the left sidelines to Hart. U-M converted one third down on a 16-yard hookup between Henne and Edwards.

The Wolverines gained a 14-7 advantage as Hart took the ball over the goal from a yard out at 6:03 of the opening quarter. Hart carried three times for 22 yards on the drive, including runs of 11 and 10 yards, and Henne completed a 19-yard pass to senior wide receiver Jermaine Gonzales (Pontiac, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS). U-M started its second series of the game at Ohio State's 43-yard line following a 21-yard punt by the Buckeyes.

Ohio State drove 99 yards in 12 plays to tie the score, 14-14, as Troy Smith kept the snap and dove over the top for the two-yard touchdown. The 4:35 scoring drive saw Smith rush four times for 24 yards and fullback Brandon Joe added four carries for 21 yards. Smith hit receiver Ted Ginn for 17 yards and tossed a 34-yard pass to receiver Santonio Holmes on a fly pattern down the right sideline. Ginn ended the game with five receptions for 87 yards and four punt returns for 123 yards.

The Buckeyes threatened for the second straight series but senior cornerback Marlin Jackson (Sharon, Pa./Sharon HS) batted down a pass intended for Holmes on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. The Wolverines stopped the Buckeyes on four straight plays from inside the two-yard line. Ohio State moved 69 yards in seven plays, with key Smith passes distributed to Ginn (42 yards) and tight end Ryan Hamby (20).

After holding the Wolverines without a first down, the Buckeyes gained possession at U-M's 32-yard line after a 13-yard punt return by Ginn. OSU moved inside the two-yard line once again but Michigan's defense held firm once again. The Buckeyes grabbed a 17-14 lead with 2:16 left in the second quarter on a 21-yard field by kicker Mike Nugent.

Nugent increased the Buckeyes' lead to 20-14 with a 42-yard field goal at the buzzer. The eight-play scoring drive covered 46 yards in 71 seconds. Smith tossed a seven-yard screen to tailback Lydell Ross at the outset of the series and added an 18-yard keeper that moved the ball inside Michigan territory. OSU moved into field goal position on a 26-yard pass from Smith to Ginn into the left flat.

Ginn extended the Buckeyes lead to 27-14 on an 82-yard punt return for a touchdown at 9:56 of the third quarter. It was Ginn's fourth punt return for a score this season, breaking the Big Ten record of three touchdowns shared by Michigan's Gene Derricotte (1947), Wisconsin's Ira Matthews (1976) and Iowa's Tim Dwight (1997).

Ohio State added seven points as Smith hit Holmes on a quick slant for the 12-yard touchdown. and a 34-14 lead with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. The Buckeyes increased their lead to 34-14 with 1:53 remaining in the third quarermoved 97 yards in 10 plays and consumed 6:06. Smith had three carries for 65 yards on the drive, including a 46-yard scamper down the left sideline to the Wolverines' 18-yard line.

Michigan had an opportunity to cut into the deficit but Henne's pass intended for Edwards in the end zone was intercepted by cornerback Ashton Youboty at the goal line. U-M moved inside OSU territory as Henne tossed 46-yard pass that Edwards out jumped the defender at the Buckeyes' 14-yard line. Ohio State was assessed a personal foul late hit penalty after the play setting up the Wolverines' first-and-goal situation at the seven-yard line. Henne was intercepted by Youboty on first down.

U-M struck in 64 seconds following a defensive stop to trim the deficit to 34-21 at 10:56 of the fourth quarter. Henne tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass to Edwards on a fly pattern down the left sideline. The four-play scoring drive covered 62 yards, with Henne completing a six-yard pass to junior tight end Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS) and a 13-yarder to Avant in the left flat prior to the scoring play. Hart added a three-yard run and the Buckeyes were called for an interference penalty.

After holding Michigan on a fourth down incompletion, the Buckeyes gained possession at the Wolverines' 29-yard line. Ohio State was unable to gain a first down but managed to extend its lead to 37-21 as Nugent connected on a 48-yard field goal.

Michigan marched down the field but was unable to come away with any points as Henne's fourth-down pass fell incomplete at Ohio State's 32-yard line. After the Wolverines held the Buckeyes to the three-and-out, Michigan gained possession of the ball at the 30 yard line, but was only able to advance out to midfield. Nate Salley's interception on fourth down allowed Ohio State to run out the clock.

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