Michigan
8-0 , 5-0
Iowa
5-3 , 2-3
Wolverines Remain Perfect With Victory Over Hawkeyes
10/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a first-half defensive battle, the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team rebounded in the second half to secure a 20-6 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday afternoon (Oct. 21) in front of 110,923 fans at Michigan Stadium.
Breaston's 64-yard kickoff return set up U-M's first TD.
The Wolverine defense allowed just 98 total yards in the first half, including 20 yards on the ground. Iowa's 41 total rushing yards on the afternoon marked the sixth time this season Michigan has held an opponent to to less than 50 yards rushing. By allowing only two field goals by the Hawkeyes, the Wolverine defense kept an opponent out of the end zone for the first time since playing Eastern Michigan last season (Sept. 17, 2005).
Junior quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) directed the offense, completing 23-of-33 for 203 yards. Henne's 203 yards moves him past 1,500 yards for the season for the third consecutive year. Henne's No. 1 target was native Iowan junior wide receiver Adrian Arrington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS), who tallied eight catches for 79 yards. Senior wide receiver Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) added seven catches for 49 yards.
Junior tailback Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) cracked the century mark for the seventh time this season, rushing for 126 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns. It was his second multi-score game of the season. Hart reached 1,000 yards rushing on the season for the second time in his career.
Junior safety Jamar Adams (Charlotte, N.C./Butler HS) led all Wolverines with six tackles against the Hawkeyes. Junior cornerback Morgan Trent (Brighton, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) added five total tackles, including a tackle for loss. Coming off his first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award, senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) came away with three tackles and two sacks, reaching the top 10 on Michigan's all-time sack list. Senior linebacker Shawn Crable (Massillon, Ohio/Washington HS) produced a career-high three sacks in the victory.
Following a scoreless first quarter, the Wolverines threatened to score on their first possession of the second quarter but were stopped on third-and-11 on Iowa's 32-yard line. Michigan gained possession on its own 41 after Crable sacked Tate and stripped the ball and sophomore safety Brandon Harrison (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne HS) scooped it up. It was Crable's second sack of the afternoon -- the first was on the previous play, a first-down attempt on the U-M 26 -- and it was the first time Tate had been sacked in 65 passing attempts. With the ball, Henne locked in on Arrington, finding him three times for 27 yards. Henne, however, was sacked two times in the team's final three plays of the drive before U-M punted the ball back to the Hawkeyes at 13:13 in the second quarter.
Michigan grabbed a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by senior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) at 7:13 in the second quarter. The score capped off a 12-play, 54-yard drive that lasted 4:17 and featured two catches by sophomore tight end Carson Butler (Detroit, Mich./ Renaissance HS) for 29 yards. Hart fueled the series, gaining a tough 13 yards on only three carries, but the drive stalled on the Iowa three after two Arrington receptions were ruled out of bounds. U-M gained possession of the ball at the Michigan 43 after forcing Iowa's first three-and-out of the afternoon, deep in their own territory. With the field goal, Rivas took sole possession of second on Michigan's career field goals made list (57).
The Wolverines carried the 3-0 lead into halftime after each team failed to score on a pair of late possessions.
Iowa knotted the game at three with a 34-yard field goal by Kyle Schlicher at 10:06 in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes gained possession of the ball on an interception by linebacker Mike Humpal at Michigan's 26. On first down, Tate connected with receiver Andy Brodell for nine yards but failed to move the ball on second or third down as Woodley provided pressure in the offensive backfield.
The Wolverines retook the lead on the ensuing drive as a nine-yard touchdown run by Hart gave the Wolverines a 10-3 lead at 6:36 in the third quarter. Michigan started the drive at the Iowa 35 following a 64-yard kickoff return by Breaston. Hart continued to be a workhorse for the Wolverines, carrying the ball five times for 27 yards on the drive. Henne converted two third-down passes on the drive, the first a six-yard completion to Breaston followed by an 11-yard catch by Arrington. The score was Hart's 20th career touchdown.
Trailing 10-3, Iowa cut the deficit to four on the foot of Sclicher, whose 22-yard field goal at 2:11 in the third quarter capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Tate completed four passes for 65 yards on the drive. Michigan matched the score on the following drive with a 37-yard field goal by Rivas at 12:55 left in the fourth quarter to gain a 13-6 advantage. On the possession, Hart carried the load with six carries for 34 yards.
Hart continued to churn out yards for the Wolverines late in the fourth quarter as his 10-yard touchdown run up the middle gave Michigan a commanding 20-6 lead with 3:59 remaining in the game. Hart carried the ball seven times on the drive for 27-yards with Henne completing two-of-two for 16 yards.
Iowa came within striking distance on the following drive, but a pass breakup by senior safety Brandent Englemon (Covington, Ky./Holmes HS) on fourth down from the Michigan 15 sealed the 20-6 Wolverine victory. The win was 110th for U-M coach Lloyd Carr and his 40th Big Ten win at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines have now won 22 of their last 26 contests in the month of October.
Michigan takes on Northwestern next Saturday (Oct. 28) at Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN starting at noon EDT.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
IOWA 0, MICH 3
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 20 yd field goal 12 plays, 54 yards, TOP 4:17
IOWA 3, MICH 3
IOWA - Schlicher, Kyle 34 yd field goal 4 plays, 9 yards, TOP 1:12
IOWA 3, MICH 10
MICH - Hart, Mike 9 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 8 plays, 35 yards, TOP 3:30
IOWA 6, MICH 10
IOWA - Schlicher, Kyle 22 yd field goal 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:25
IOWA 6, MICH 13
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 4:16
IOWA 6, MICH 20
MICH - Hart, Mike 10 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 9 plays, 43 yards, TOP 4:29
