Michigan
1-0
Vanderbilt
0-1
Hart, Defense Help Michigan Stop Vanderbilt in Opener
9/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team (No. 14 AP, No. 15 USA Today) won its 13th consecutive season opener at Michigan Stadium, defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores 27-7 in front of 109,668 fans Saturday afternoon (Sept. 2). Powered by a relentless defense, the Wolverines finished with 11 tackles for loss, including six sacks and two forced fumbles.
Leading the defense was fifth-year senior defensive end Rondell Biggs (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup HS) with six tackles, with four tackles for loss (12 yards) including two sacks (eight yards). Senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) helped out on the other side of the line with four tackles, including three tackles for loss for 19 yards and two sacks. Not to be outdone was the secondary as junior cornerback Jamar Adams (Charlotte, N.C./Butler HS) tallied six tackles and a sack to go along with one pass breakup. Junior cornerback Charles Stewart (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison HS) chipped in with four tackles.
Junior quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) completed 10 of 22 passes for 135 yards and two second-half touchdowns. Henne's primary receiver on the afternoon was fifth-year senior Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS), who had four catches for 68 yards. Sophomore receiver Mario Manningham (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) complemented Breaston's effort with three catches for 44 yards and one touchdown, and fifth-year senior tight end Tyler Ecker (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge HS) had a 14-yard touchdown grab.
The Wolverines offense was directed by a running attack that finished with 246 yards. Junior running back Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) finished the day with 146 yards on 31 carries, while sophomore running back Kevin Grady (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids HS) came through with five carries for 30 yards and one touchdown.
The Michigan offense started out hot in Mike DeBord's return as offensive coordinator. Driving 81 yards in the game's first 10 plays, the Wolverines controlled the ground as Hart grinded out 38 yards on six carries. On third-and-three, Grady took his first carry of the season and raced to the right before darting left for the first U-M points of the season on a 19-yard touchdown scamper. Senior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) connected on the extra point to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead at 10:12 of the first quarter. Henne completed both of his pass attempts on the drive for 23 yards, including a six-yard completion to Manningham on third-and-six from his own 35.
Almost eight minutes later, following a fumble recovery by sophomore defensive tackle Terrance Taylor (Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon HS) in Vanderbilt territory, the Wolverines stretched the lead to 10-0 thanks to a 33-yard field goal by Rivas with 2:25 remaining in the first quarter. The score capped off a seven-play, 17-yard drive, which featured a seven-yard Henne run on third-and-six to move U-M into field goal range. The Taylor recovery came after the strip of scrambling Commodore quarterback Chris Nickson by junior defensive tackle Alan Branch (Rio Rancho, N.M./Cibola).
It looked as if the Michigan lead would be stretched by another three at the beginning of the second quarter, but Vanderbilt turned the Maize and Blue away, blocking a 42-yard field goal attempt by Rivas. The Commodores took advantage on their ensuing possession, scoring on a 30-yard wide receiver pass from Earl Bennett to receiver Marlon White. The touchdown cut the U-M lead to 10-7 with 12:26 remaining in the half.
The Wolverines quickly got back on track with Rivas' career best 48-yard field goal with 7:37 left in the second quarter. Breaston made the key play of the drive, weaving through the Vanderbilt defense for 29 yards, moving U-M across midfield. The play was the longest for Michigan in the first half. Sixteen rushing yards moved U-M closer to the end zone, but a sack for a loss of nine yards caused Michigan's drive to stall.
The Woodley-led defense kept the Commodores pinned deep in their own territory for the remainder of the half. Woodley had back-to-back tackles for loss and then David Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich./Ottawa Hills) stuffed the run, forcing Vanderbilt to punt from its own end zone. Woodley earned his second sack of the day on VU's final drive before intermission.
Michigan's second drive of the second half was productive, ending in an Ecker touchdown reception with 2:29 left in the third quarter. The 10-play, 41-yard drive ate up 4:08 on the game clock. U-M received superb field position after the defense forced Vanderbilt to go three-and-out for the fourth straight drive. Hart rushed five times for 22 yards on the drive before Henne threw a 14-yard pass to Ecker in the back of the end zone for his first TD pass of the season. Rivas hit the extra point to make it 20-7 in favor of the Wolverines.
Both teams continued to fight throughout the second half but failed to reach the end zone. That changed with 2:11 left in the game, as on third-and-10 a 27-yard Henne strike to Manningham in the back of the end zone capped off a 27-7 Wolverine victory. On the drive Hart carried the ball four times, and Manningham brought in an 11-yard pass on third-and-six to move the chains. The possession was set up by a forced fumble by senior safety Brandent Englemon (Covington, Ky./Holmes HS) and the recovery by senior cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) at the VU 43-yard line.
The Maize and Blue will remain home for next Saturday's (Sept. 9) contest against Central Michigan. Kickoff is at noon, and the game will be televised on ESPN Local.
Media Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
VU 0, MICH 7
MICH - Grady, Kevin 19 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 10 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:48
VU 0, MICH 10
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 33 yd field goal 7 plays, 17 yards, TOP 2:51
VU 7, MICH 10
VU - WHITE,Marlon 30 yd pass from BENNETT,Earl (HAHNFELDT,B kick) 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:22
VU 7, MICH 13
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 48 yd field goal 10 plays, 53 yards, TOP 4:49
VU 7, MICH 20
MICH - Ecker, Tyler 14 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 10 plays, 41 yards, TOP 4:08
VU 7, MICH 27
MICH - Manningham, M. 27 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 2:22
