The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - Monday, November 8, 1993 - 5
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EITDAII UnITEDIV
GAME STATISTICS
IUUI UILL nuI LDUUR PASSING
Player
Pike
Blue overcomes another Trefzger
slow start on offense
C-A
3-5
17-28
20-33
Yds
19
195
214
TD Int
0 1
1 0
1 1
Saturday in the Wolverines' 25-10 victory over Purdue. The true freshman, originally from Zaire but who has lived
io State takes control Big Ten
Swith 1414 tie Wisconsin
By'ANDY DE KORTE
DAILY FOOTBALL WRITER
Despite the 25-10 victory over Purdue Saturday, the Michigan offense contin-
ued its trend of sluggish starts. Dropped passes and lethargic rushers stalled the
offense for the entire first half, resulting in only three points for the Wolverines at
the half.
However, the rushers exploded in the second half. Tim Biakabutuka led the
onslaught, going from 58 yards to 140 yards for the game. Fullback Jon Ritchie
also improved from four yards to 36 yards total.
Quarterback Todd Collins completed 76.9 percent (10-for-13) of his passes in
the opening 30 minutes, yet he still improved. He went a perfect eight-for-eight in
the second half to finish the game with 177 yards passing.
Mercury Hayes showed the most dramatic - both figurative and literal -
improvement in receiving yards. Although in tight man-to-man coverage, Hayes
managed to reel in a 49-yard reception.
MIXING THE 'D': While the offense struggled early, the defense on the other
hand, started strong and did not let up. The disappointment with the defense after
last week's loss to Wisconsin spurred a big change in its play Saturday.
"Coach (Lloyd) Carr said this week in practice that whether you're a three-
year starter or a freshman, the toughest players would play," Michigan defensive
captain Buster Stanley said. "If you don't practice hard, you don't play."
Stanley moved from tackle position to nose tackle, among many lineup
changes. Stanley managed five tackles, including a sack for an eight-yard loss.
IRON MAN: In this season of expanded freshman contribution to Michigan
football, Jarrett Irons set a new mark for freshman tackles in a season with 12
tackles Saturday.
The nine solo tackles and three assists ran his season totals to 87 tackles, which
broke the mark of 77 set by Erick Anderson in the 1988 season.
Irons' big game against Purdue typified his efforts this season. His 12 tackles
were a team high, the fifth time in the last six games Irons has led his team in
tackling.
Early in the second half, Irons also showed his receiving abilities with an
interception. He proceeded to return his first career pick over 27 yards, the
longest return by a Wolverine this season.
BiAKABuwHo?: After the game, Purdue coach Jim Colletto gave his defense
as much credit for Biakabutuka's performance as he did to the freshman runner.
"They ought to give us a game ball or something," Colletto said. "Every year
we come in here and make a hero out of someone I never heard of. Last year, it was
Jesse Johnson, this year it was (Biakabutuka)."
Purdue defensive Ben Metzger summarized the emergence of Biakabutuka.
After a half-hearted attempt at his pronouncing the long name, Metzger was asked
if he could pronounce it.
"No, I can't say it," Metzger said. "I just heard it a lot today."
In fact, every time the public address announcer said "Biakabutuka" the crowd
exploded with cheers, punctuating the 146-yard rushing performance.
GurrY PERFORMANCE: Purdue quarterback Rick Trefzger started his third
game of the season despite feeling sick to his stomach Saturday morning. Playing
all of the first half, Trefzger threw for 101 yards on nine passes. However, Colletto
felt moved to replace Trefzger with Matt Pike in the second half after Trefzger
took some big hits and became less effective.
Nonetheless, Trefzger's saga continued. When Pike hurt his shoulder in the
opening series of the third quarter, he had to be replaced. Trefzger came back in
and still managed 94 passing yards, 195 total despite heavy pressure from the
Wolverine defense.
SouR GRAPES: With 2:08 left in the game Purdue only trailed, 18-10. A
defensive stand brought Michigan to a fourth down and a chance for the
Boilermakers to get the ballback. Fortunately for Michigan, when Chris Stapleton
punted away, the referees flagged Purdue for having 12 men on the field. Michigan
regained possession of the ball and drove down the field to score the final
touchdown.
Colletto wanted to blame Michigan for the problem but still took responsibility.
"There is a lot of discussion in the league about (Michigan's) substitution
patterns up here. Sometimes there are even 12 men in the huddle, but they don't
call anything," Colletto said."Once the ball is in play you have to be ready and we
weren't, that's my fault."
NUMBER CRUNCHER: Collins passed his way past another milestone Saturday.
With his 177-yard performance he became only the third Michigan quarterback to
throw for over 2,000 yards in a season. His 2,106 passing yards trails only Jim
Harbaugh (2,729 in 1986), and Elvis Grbac (2,085 in 1991).
Collins only needs 156 yards to become the fourth Michigan passer to crack the
3,000-yard career barrier. His 18 completions on 21 attempts improved his career
completion percentage, already a Michigan best, to 64.6 percent.
QUINT-A-CENT HOME WIN: Saturday's victory in Michigan Stadium represented
the 500th home victory in Wolverine history. The 295 Michigan Stadium victories
leads all venues. Detroit (12), Ann Arbor (18), Regents Field (87) and Ferry Field
(88) also contributed to the tally, starting in Detroit in 1879.
RUSHING
Player Att
Alstott 10
Rogers 9
Pike 1
Trefzger 5
Totals 25
RECEIVING
Player No.
Thorton 2
J. Hill 5
Alstott 1
Rogers 6
Green 3
Ross 2
Stephens 1
Totals 20
PUNTING
Player No.
Deignan 6
Totals 6
Yds
37
80
3
39
25
22
8
214
Avg Lg
13.520
16.019
3.0 3
6.5 9
8.310
11.014
8.0
10.720
Yds Avg Lg
25041.746
250 41.746
Yds Avg Lg
29 2.97
19 2.1 7
(-)8 (-)8 (-)8
(-)32(-)64 6
8 .3 7
PUNT RETURNS
Player No. Yds
Ross 2 17
Totals 2 17
Avg
8.5
8.5
Lg
10
10
KICKOFF
Player
'Samuel
Ross
Totals
RETURNS
No. Yds Avg Lg
2 5226.0 38
2 2814.0 17
4 8020.0 38
lianaon Saturday and crushingthe Hoo-
rs' Rose Bowl hopes.
Indiana rallied twice from 14 points
* to tie the game and appeared
d to another score until Tony
:tman intercepted John Paci's pass
the 7 with 71 seconds to play.
The Hoosiers (4-2, 7-2) were off to
ir best start since their 1967 Big Ten
ampionship season. They ran into a
nn State team that hadn't scored a
ichdown in six quarters..
Penn State (3-2, 6-2) found the of-
isive balance it had lacked in losses
l*higan and Ohio State. The Lions
hed for 208 yards against a team that
s giving up only 114 a game and
ew for 215.
Iowa 54, Northern Illinois 20
Ryan Terry and Cliff King each
red two touchdowns Saturday to
d Iowa past Northern Illinois, 54-20,
t LeShon Johnson shredded Iowa's
e with 306 yards on 32 carries.
e Hawkeyes (1-5 overall)
iassed 566 yards and scored on four
their first five possessions to bolt to
4-10 halftime edge against the Hus-
:s(4-6 overall). But they didn't come
>se to bottling up Johnson, the nation's
ding rusher coming into the game
th 1,611 yards.
Johnson, who scored on runs of 26
I81 yards, showed good power and
g speed around the corners as he
ke the Huskies' single season rush-
mark of 1,719 yards set in 1973 by
rk Kellar, the nation's leading rusher
it-year. The 6-foot, 205-pound senior
o smashed the Big West Conference
hing record of 1,789 yards set by Cal
State-Fullerton's Obie Graves in 1978.
Johnson also eclipsed the Kinnick
Stadium rushing record of 286 yards
set in 1968 by Ed Podolak.
Michigan St. 31, Northwestern 29
Michigan State tailback Craig Tho-
masrushed for 163 yards and two touch-
downs as the Spartans used a punishing
ground game to beat Northwestern 31-
29 in Big Ten play Saturday.
Michigan State blew a two-touch-
down lead in the first half but scored
10 points in the final quarter to hang
on for the win.
Michigan State (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big
Ten) handed Northwestern its sixth
straight loss and dropped the Wildcats
to 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the conference.
The Spartans rolled up 414 yards
in offense, including 300 on the
ground. Thomas ran for 62 yards in
the first quarter, the Spartans' biggest
play of the year, and 17 in the second
for his two scores.
Reserve tailback Steve Holman put
Michigan State ahead in the fourth quarter
on a one-yard run. Holman was the work
horse on a the 70-yard, 15-play drive. He
caught a 15-yard pass from quarterback
Jim Miller and carried the ball nine times
during the drive.
The Spartans took a 10-point lead
with 1:44 to go on a 24-yard field goal
by Bill Stoyanovich.
But Northwestern closed the gap
when reserve quarterback Steve Schnur
hit wide receiver Dave Beazley with a
16-yard pass with 1 second left. Full-
back Bobby Jackson plowed into the
end zone for the two-point conversion.
Northwestern had the ball on the 1
before the touchdown, but a 15-yard
bench penalty pushed the Wildcats
back after a brawl erupted on the field
and several Northwestern players left
the bench to join in.
Northwestern had one other chance
to score in the second half. Sam
Valenzisi missed a 46-yard field goal
when the ball hit the right goal post.
Each team took advantage of turn-
overs in the first half to score.
Northwestern picked of a Miller
pass and returned it to the Michigan
State 45 and tailback Dennis Lundy
put Northwestern on the board with a
four-yard run.
Michigan State answered with a four-
play drive, keyed by Thomas' 62-yard
touchdown run. It was Michigan State's
longest play this year and the third longest
run of Thomas' career.
Michigan State tailback Duane
Goulbourne scored on a two-yard run
after Miller connected with tight-end
Bob Organ for a 38-yard pass play.
Michigan State took a 21-7 lead in
the second quarter. The Wildcats had
forced Michigan State to punt, but
punt returner Lee Gissendaner fumbled
on the return and Spartan punter Chris
Salani recovered at the Northwestern
35.
A pass interference call gave
Michigan State a first down at the
Northwestern 17. On the next play,
Thomas took the handoff and started
right, then darted to the left, untouched,
for his second score.
Quarterback Len Williams kept
Northwestern in the game in the first
half with a 37-yard touchdown toss to
Gissendaner.
Rogers
DEFENSE
Player
Jackson
Batten
Nolan
Pike
Hagins
Young
Lohman
Phipps
Hall
Kingsbury
Maciag
WnnAlin
reboard until the end of the third
arter, taking pressure off of the slow-
,g Michigan offense.
e defensive line's strong rush
Purdue quarterbacks Rick Trefzger
d backup Matt Pike (three sacks) as
l as the different looks of the sec-
dary had the Boilermakers reeling.
"Thev'rereallv onfngino in the
Tac
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6
4
1
2
9
4
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Ast
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3
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2
1
0
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2
8
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:~~*