Page 4 -The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday - November 25, 1991 ] I C H I 0 A 3 1 Defense Player C Wallace Wa re Williams Brown Dottin Ritter Morrison Anderson Townsend Walker Marshall Stanley Henderson M Davis Aghakhan Dyson Evans B Powers Tac Ast Tot 4 1 5 2 1 2 4 16 10 4 2 3 1 1 3 2 5 1 5 2 5 3 2 2 7 17 10 6 2 4 1 1 5 3 5 1 Passing Player C-A Yds TD 1nt Sollom 1-1 2 0 0 Grbac 8-14 123 0 0 Totals 9-15 125 0 0 *OHO ., R ece ivin g Player No Yds La TD Wheatley 1 1 1 0 R Powers 1 -6 0 0 H oward 3 96 50 0 J Johnson 1 8 8 0 VanDyne 2 24 17 0 MeThornas 1 2 2 0 Totals 9 125 50 0 R ushing Player Att Yds Avg Lg Wheatley 12 79 6.6 24 RPowers 8 35 4.4 14 :oward 1 8 8.0 8 JJohnson 11 61 5.5 27 Legette 2 1 0.5 1 MeThomas 5 14 2.8 4 Totals 39 198 5.0 27 Player No Yds Avg La FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK Cooper gets three-year contract extension by Phil Green and Matt Rennie Daily Football Writers After losing to Michigan for the fourth straigh umuL in our-year career at the Buckeye helm, Ohio State coach John Coo, ' would seem- ingly have little to celebrate. However, Ohio State athleL director Jim Jones gave Cooper something to smile about by extending Cooper's con- tract for three years. The extension was somewhat of a surprise. Cooper had been under fire from Buckeye fans ever since Ohio State tailback Robert Smith quit the team in August, accusing the Buckeye coaches of not giving players enough time to study. Expectations were already high for Cooper to have a cham- pionship season, and the loss of Smith hindered that possibility. Moreover, Cooper has never beaten Michigan, a feat essential to be popular with Buck- eye fans. "I'm obviously very happy," Cooper said. "I've been on pins and needles all season. I never want to go through another season like this one." Cooper did not inform his players of his contract extension before the Michigan game. GOING, GOING GONE: Desmond Howard started breaking records a long time ago, and he still hasn't stopped; his 93-yard punt return was the longest in Wolverine history. It was also Howard's third kick return for a touchdown, tying him with Tom Harmon and Gil Chapman for third place on the Michigan all-time list. Gene Derricotte and Dave Brown hold the record with four touchdown returns in their careers. Howard's other two were kickoff returns, the first last season against Michigan State and the second this season against Boston College. YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN: Last week, Glenview, Ill., native Erick Anderson felt he could easily go home for Thanksgiving after the Wolver- ines shutout Illinois. Following Saturday's victory over Ohio State, the Michigan's Ohio players experienced that same feeling. "Now I can go to Ohio and eat comfortably," Howard said. For linebacker Brian Townsend, the victory proved especially gratify- ing. He had the opportunity to defeat his longtime friend Carlos Snow, the Buckeyes' leading running back. "I wanted to meet him afterwards and talk with him. But I'm sure I'll talk to him next Wednesday when we get home because I usually see him at a couple parties and stuff," Townsend said. "We'll go and hang out. At least I'm allowed to go home, I don't know about him." _ _ _ _ .NFIH LLEH/DaIv Inside linebacker Erick Anderson sacks Ohio State quarterback Kent Graham in the first half. Anderson ended the day with a season-high 16 solo tackles, while assisting on another. CORPS KEYS STELLAR DEFENSE inebackers make impact by Phil Green Daily Football Writer Early in the season, while Michigan's offense piled up loads of points, the defense received criticism for giving up loads of points to the opposition. Following a 51-point outburst by Florida State, the defense really took its lumps. Since then, it has tightened, recording shutouts against both Purdue and Illinois. But the true culmina- tion came in Saturday's 31-3 victory over Ohio State, thanks largely to the linebackers. "Defensively, there's no way we could have played any better, except maybe to get a shutout," senior linebacker Erick Anderson said. "You couldn't ask us to play any better defensively than we have the past few weeks." In the final game of his collegiate career, the Butkus Award finalist played one of his best games, leading the Wolverines with 17 tackles - including three for losses - one sack, and one fumble recovery. He completed the season as the Wolverines' leading tackler, becoming the only player ever to do so four times; his 419 career tackles put him second to Ron Simpkins on the all-time list. Michigan fans have come to expect such excellence from the defensive captain. But against the Buckeyes, Anderson wasn't the only Wolverine linebacker that frustrated the Ohio State offense. Senior Brian Townsend played perhaps his finest game at Michigan. The Cincinnati native totalled 10 tackles, also with three for losses. In addition, Townsend got in the faces of Ohio State quarterbacks Kent Graham and Kirk Herbstreit throughout the af- "Every play I gave it all I had, and it's a great feel- ing to walk out of the stadium with those results per- sonally and team-wise," Townsend said. "Brian Townsend played tremendous," Anderson said. "I'm so happy for him to play so well against Ohio State - he can go home proud." The outstanding linebacking didn't stop with the two seniors; theyounger players did their job as well. Steve Morrison and Marcus Walker rotated effectively next to Anderson at the other inside spot, and were the Wolverines' next two leading tacklers, contributing 13 between them. Outside linebacker Matt Dyson also provided neces- sary defensive support. This was especially critical in the second half when Michigan lost to injuries starter Neil Simpson (knee) and reserve Martin Davis (head). Both were kept out mainly for precautionary reasons and are expected to be fine. "I thought our linebackers as a unit played really well," Michigan coach Gary Moeller said. "With Simpson and Davis banged up I thought we'd be in trouble. But they all played real well." "I think our linebackers played exceptional," Anderson said. "They have a good offensive line, and I think it's the best game we've played." But while Saturday may have marked the best game the unit has played this season, it has been making the plays all year, especially in recent weeks. Led by the linebackers, the defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown since the second quarter of the Indiana game, and has only given up 23 points in the last five games. ternoon, frequently causing hurried, scramble out of bounds. poor passes or a BUCKEYES Continued from page 1 tween them, six for losses), used fierce hitting and timely turnovers to stymie the Buckeye attack. They held Ohio State's heralded rushing game to 43 ground yards in the first half on 25 carries. This forced Ohio State to go to the air, for which the Wolverine pass rush and defensive backs were ready. "We forced them into a game they were uncomfortable playing - passing. Anytime you get a team in that situation you've got an advan- tage," Anderson said. "You've got to give the credit to the defensive line. They put a lot of pressure on them." A Lance Dottin interception set up another Wolverine score - a one-yard run by Jesse Johnson. And on Ohio State's next possession, Otis Williams recovered a Carlos Snow fumble to set up a Carlson field goal, putting the Wolverines up, 14-3. Michigan's defense didn't cause a turnover on Ohio State's next series, but it did force the Buckeyes to punt, which set up Howard. The ju- nior kick returner fielded Tim Williams' punt at the Michigan seven-yard line, followed timely blocks by Alfie Burch and Dwayne Ware, and darted up the sideline for a Michigan record 93-yard punt re- Azcona Punt Howard Kicko Player ' Howard Washing Total Re 4 144 36.0 41 .turns lo Yds Avg Lc 1 93 93.0 93 ff Returns No Yds Avg La 1 16 16.0 16 ton 1 1 1.0 1 2 17 8.5 16 turn touchdown. "It happened so fast," Howard explained. "I wasn't really sup- posed to catch the ball and I had thought about fair catching because they came a little close, but the punt return team threw some excellent blocks. It was just excellent execu- tion by the punt return team." "I thought it was a pretty good kick," Ohio State coach John Cooper said. "We were trying to kick it to- ward the sideline. Once he got the ball, it was over. What can you say?" That play essentially guaranteed Michigan's fourth consecutive vic- tory over the Buckeyes, while solid- ifying Howard's Heisman Trophy chances even further. In the second half, Michigan sandwiched two long passes from Grbac to Howard around a well-ex- ecuted running game. Howard spec- tacularly pulled down the second pass above double coverage in downpouring rain. Meanwhile, the defense em- ployed its bend-but-don't-break schc ne to perfection. The Buckeyes rai , two long drives, but each time (ming away empty. "This one will be well enjoyed, believe me. It's been a long season for us with many ups and just one down. Everything really, really worked out for us," Michigan of- fensive tackle Greg Skrepenak said. "It's kind of like icing on the cake for me and my fifth-year teammates, because we've won the last four years in the Ohio State game. And to win convincingly today, it makes us just that much more happy because we did work hard." Scoring Summary 1st Quarter: Legette 1-yd run (Carlson kick), 9:54. Michigan 7, Ohio State 0 2nd Quarter: J Johnson 1-yd run (Carlson kick), 8:25. Michigan 14, Ohio State 3 Carlson 37-yd field goal, 6:22 Michigan 17, Ohio State 3 Howard 93-yd punt return (Carlson kick), 4:15. Michigan 24, Ohio State 3 3rd Quarter: Wheatley 5-yd run (Carlson. kick), 4:01. Michigan 31, Ohio State 3 Michigan quarterback Elvis Grbac completed 8 of 14 passes for 123 yards against the Buckeyes Saturday. Anderson was quick to note that when a team goes undefeated in the Big Ten, 10-1 overall, there aren't many people who would be embarrassed to go home. "Everyone on the team can go home and be proud ... except maybe J.D. (Carlson from Tallahassee, Fla.)," Anderson said. INJURY UPDATE: Starting Wolverine tight end Dave Diebolt did not dress Saturday because of neck spasms. Tony McGee got the start, and Marc Burkholder also saw added playing time in Diebolt's absence. Diebolt is expected back in plenty of time for the Rose Bowl, Jan.1, against Washington. Michigan suffered four injuries during Saturday's contest, though none were serious and each player should be ready for the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines' top two tailbacks, Ricky Powers and Jesse Johnson, head the list of injured players. Powers hurt his ribs, but he did return to action in the fourth quarter; Johnson bruised his sternum and sat out the remainder of the game. Defensively, outside linebacker Neil Simpson hurt his knee and fellow outside linebacker Martin Davis was shaken up, causing them each to sit out most of the second half. Defensive lineman Chris Hutchinson, who missed the last three games with a sprained knee, is also expected to be ready for the New Year's Day matchup. SKREPENAK THE GREEK: Last Monday, Michigan offensive tackle Greg Skrepenak surprised the media and his teammates when he guaran- teed a Wolverine victory over Ohio State. While some of his teammates were upset that he provided extra incentive for the Buckeyes, Michigan coach Gary Moeller didn't mind. "He better say were going to win," Moeller said. "If he didn't I'd get a new tackle in there." Fellow captain Anderson added: "His comments said to us, 'We have to go out and play.' It made us concentrate and get ready for this game." Even after the success of his Ohio State prediction, Skrepenak refrained from making any New Year's picks. "I don't have to be put in that position right now to say we will beat Washington. All they've been saying is they are going to meet Miami half way," he said. "They've still got to play Michigan and be ready for us. They are a great team; I really haven't seen a lot of film on them." Rookie tailback Tyrone Wheatley pulls away from the Ohio State defense Saturday. Wheatlev led all Wolverine rushers with 79 yards.