Michigan Tripped Up By Notre Dame in Road Opener

Saturday, September 11

South Bend, Ind.

2:30 PM CT

Michigan

1-1

Notre Dame

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Notre Dame

9/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame scored 28 second-half points in a 28-20 upset of No. 8 University of Michigan in college football action Saturday (Sept. 11) at Notre Dame Stadium. The Wolverines (1-1) were unable to put the ball into the end zone against the Irish (1-1) until the final three minutes of the game, when freshman quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa/Wilson HS) hit junior wide receiver Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) on a 25-yard scoring pass and a two-point conversion pass.

Until then the Wolverines could only manage four field goals by sophomore kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS). Rivas hit field goals from 38, 33, 22 and 47 yards against the Irish. He matched his career long with the 47-yarder in the third quarter and became the first U-M kicker to connect on four field goals in a contest since Jeff Del Verne against Notre Dame on Sept. 10, 1999.

Henne completed 25 of 40 passes for 240 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in his first career road start. Senior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) snared 12 receptions for 129 yards and sophomore tailback Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) paced the rushing attack with 15 carries for 32 yards.

Senior safety Ernest Shazor (Detroit, Mich./M.L. King HS) and junior defensive tackle Gabe Watson (Novi, Mich./Southfield HS) spearheaded the defensive effort with eight tackles apiece. The Wolverine defense forced four turnovers against the Irish, including three interceptions.

Michigan took advantage of the game's first turnover and notched a 3-0 lead as Rivas connected on a 38-yard field goal at 8:29 of the first quarter. Senior cornerback Markus Curry (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) set the table for U-M's offense with his third interception of the season. U-M gained one first down and moved 17 yards in seven plays after starting at the ND 37-yard line.

The Wolverines extended their lead to 6-0 as Rivas hit a 33-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the opening quarter. The drive had apparently stalled on a third-down sack by ND defensive end Justin Tuck, but he was flagged for a personal foul facemask on Henne, giving U-M a fresh set of downs. Michigan took advantage and picked up two additional first downs, and Rivas capped the 13-play, 41-yard drive with his second successful field goal of the quarter.

Notre Dame threatened to take the ,lead but the Wolverine defense stood firm at the goal line as Watson and sophomore inside linebacker Prescott Burgess (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) stopped tailback Ryan Grant on a fourth-and-goal run at the one-yard line with 6:53 left before halftime. The big play for the Irish came as Brady Quinn tossed a 49-yard pass to wide receiver Maurice Stovall on the first play of the series.

After holding Michigan inside the shadow of its goal line, Notre Dame gained possession at the U-M 30-yard line after a 14-yard punt return by Carlyle Holiday. Sophomore safety Ryan Mundy (Wilkins Township, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) made a diving interception that was tipped away from the receiver by Curry. It was the second big defensive turnover that Curry contributed on in the game.

The Wolverines used the shift in momentum to tack on another three points. Rivas pushed the lead to 9-0 on a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Henne completed all four passes for 68 yards on the drive, including a 45-yard pass play to Edwards at the outset. Michigan moved 75 yards in nine plays and consumed the remaining 3:52 of the half.

Notre Dame scored on its first possession of the second half, trimming the deficit to 9-7 at the 11:02 mark of the third quarter. Quinn completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to a streaking Matt Shelton down the left side of the field. The three-play drive covered 61 yards after Holiday had returned the Wolverines' punt 13 yards to the ND 39-yard line.

Michigan extended the lead to five points as Rivas matched his career long with a 47-yard field goal at 5:57 of the third quarter. The Wolverines' scoring play was once again set up by a ND turnover. Quinn's pass was bobbled by tight end Marcus Freeman and senior inside linebacker Lawrence Reid (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington HS) intercepted the ball and returned it four yards. Michigan gained one first down and moved 14 yards in seven plays.

The Irish gained their first lead of the game, 14-12, on a six-yard run by running back Darius Walker at 14:12 of the fourth quarter. Notre Dame received excellent field possession at Michigan's 29-yard line after intercepting a pass intended for Edwards. The six-play scoring drive covered 29 yards in 1:42.

After holding Michigan on the ensuing drive, Notre Dame's Chase Anastasio blocked fifth-year senior punter Adam Finley's (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) punt and Corey Mayes recovered the ball at Michigan's five-yard line. Walker took the toss left and scampered five yards into the end zone for a 21-12 Irish advantage.

Notre Dame extended the lead to 28-12 following a Michigan fumble at the U-M 40-yard line. The scoring play came on an eight-yard pass from Quinn to fullback Rashon Powers-Neal with 5:49 left in the contest. The key play on the drive was a 27-yard pass from Quinn to McKnight on third-and-seven that provided the first-and-goal opportunity at the 10.

Michigan returns home for its final non-conference game of the season against San Diego State on Saturday (Sept. 18). The game between the Wolverines and Aztecs will be broadcast nationally on ESPN starting at noon EDT.

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