Michigan
0-2
Oregon
2-0
Michigan Cannot Slow Oregon in Second Straight Loss
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Oregon 39, Michigan 7
Records: U-M (0-2), Oregon (2-0)
Attendance: 109,733
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sep. 15 -- vs. Notre Dame (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m.
Boxscore | Player Participation | Postgame Notes | Quotes | Photos
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team suffered a 39-7 loss at the hands of the University of Oregon on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 8) in front of 109,733 fans at Michigan Stadium. Scoring just seven points on six offensive trips into Oregon territory in the first half, the Wolverines (0-2) were unable to overcome an Oregon offensive attack that averaged 8.1 yards per play and amassed 624 total yards, including three long passing touchdowns of 85, 61 and 46 yards.
U-M senior quarterback Chad Henne(Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) completed 12-of-23 passes for 172 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Henne left the game due to injury and his replacement, freshman Ryan Mallett(Texarkana, Ark./Texarkana [Texas] HS), who played the entire second half, finished 6-of-17 for 49 yards and an interception. Junior receiver Mario Manningham(Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) led all U-M receivers with eight catches for 117 yards, while senior Adrian Arrington(Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) hauled in six catches for 69 yards and Michigan's only score. Senior running back Mike Hart(Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) added 127 yards rushing on 25 carries.
Defensively, senior linebacker John Thompson(Detroit, Mich./Crockett Technical HS) and junior defensive back Brandon Harrison(Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne HS) both recorded nine tackles. Fifth-year senior Shawn Crable(Massillon, Ohio/Washington HS) chipped in with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Oregon (2-0) opened the scoring with an eight-play, 39-yard scoring drive, capped off with a 25-yard field goal by Matt Evenson. The Ducks' first possession of the ballgame came courtesy of a Henne interception by defensive back Matthew Harper, who returned the ball from the end zone to the U-M 45-yard line. Oregon was thought to have scored an early touchdown on the series, but a false start penalty negated the rushing score and the Ducks settled for the field goal.
Michigan grabbed a 7-3 lead at 5:29 of the first quarter on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Henne to Arrington. The pass appeared to be overthrown, but the athletic Arrington stretched out to haul in the reception in the back of the end zone while simultaneously dragging his back foot to stay inbounds. The highlight-reel catch was Arrington's ninth touchdown of his career. The drive covered 71 yards in 10 plays and included a 35-yard completion from Henne to Manningham.
Oregon answered with a touchdown of its own as quarterback Dennis Dixon tossed an 85-yard catch-and-run to receiver Brian Paysinger. The Ducks' scoring drive covered 89 yards in just two plays. A two-point conversion following the touchdown, out of extra-point formation, gave Oregon the 11-7 advantage with 4:40 left in the first quarter.
After trading possessions, the Ducks widened their lead to 18-7 on a two-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart at 10:33 in the second quarter. Oregon featured an aggressive rushing attack on the series, tallying four runs of at least 10 yards. The 11-play, 71-yard drive only chewed 2:11 off the clock. The Ducks would go on to score points on their following two possessions to enter halftime with a 32-7 lead. The first score of the pair came on a nine-yard touchdown run by Dixon on a fake statue of liberty play to the right, capping a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The score was followed by a 61-yard touchdown pass from Dixon to Walter Thurmond III on the first play of the Ducks' next possession.
Oregon capped off its scoring on a 46-yard touchdown completion from Dixon to Jaison Williams with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter. It was the second time in the game that Oregon went deep following a short run on first down. The score was Dixon's third touchdown pass of the afternoon, giving the Ducks the 39-7 lead. Dixon finished the afternoon 16-of-25 in the air for 292 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 76 yards on 16 carries, including one touchdown.
The Wolverines take on Notre Dame at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 15) in a 3:30 p.m. contest. The game will be aired on ABC.
Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
ORE 3, MICH 0
ORE - Evenson, Matt 23 yd field goal 8 plays, 39 yards, TOP 3:07
ORE 3, MICH 7
MICH - Arrington, A. 7 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Gingell, Jason kick) 10 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:17
ORE 11, MICH 7
ORE - Paysinger, B. 85 yd pass from Dixon, Dennis (Dickson, Ed rush) 2 plays, 89 yards, TOP 0:49
ORE 18, MICH 7
ORE - Stewart, J. 2 yd run (Padilla, Daniel kick), 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:11
ORE 25, MICH 7
ORE - Dixon, Dennis 9 yd run (Evenson, Matt kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:25
ORE 32, MICH 7
ORE - Jones,Derrick 61 yd pass from Dixon, Dennis (Padilla, Daniel kick) 1 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:08
ORE 39, MICH 7
ORE - Williams, J. 46 yd pass from Dixon, Dennis (Evenson, Matt kick) 2 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:29
