The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - September 30, 1996 - 58
GAME STATISTICS
Irons' injury contributes to
Michigan s first loss of season
By Ryan White
Daily Sports Writer
EVANSTON - Facing a
Northwestern team with offensive
weapons like Darnell Autry and
D'Wayne Bates is tough enough, but
doing so with your defensive leader at
less than 100-percent is daunting.
Michigan, however, did just that
Saturday afternoon.
Linebacker, co-captain and Butkus
Award candidate Jarrett Irons injured
his ankle during pre-game warm-ups
Saturday, and his mobility was limited
the rest of the day.
Irons said he had problems dropping
back on pass coverage, and was limp-
ing noticeably when he left Dyche
Stadium.
The injury was most noticeable on
the final play of the third quarter.
Northwestern quarterback Steve
Schnur attempted a pass over the mid-
dle to tight end Joel Stuart. Irons
dropped back and had a shot at an
interception, but didn't appear to be
able to elevate as well as normal and
the ball bounced off his finger tips.
The interception would have
stopped the Wildcats' first scoring
drive.
Irons finished the game with just
five tackles, and was on the field for
fewer plays than normal.
Aside from the ankle, Irons was also
bothered by a case of turf toe which he
suffered last Wednesday in practice.
"I've been having a bad week,"
Irons said.
A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A
FINAL IMPRESSION: Michigan nearly
received a major break at the end of
Saturday's game.
Northwestern kicker Brian Gowins'
first attempt at the game winning 39-
yard field goal was called back.
The officials ruled the ball had not
been whistled into play, and as a result
the kick didn't count.
"When it came down to the second
kick, I felt it would be blocked,"
Michigan tackle Thomas Guynes said.
The kick wasn't blocked, however.
and when the officials did signal the
ball in play, Gowins nailed the game-
winner.
"We heard a whistle on the side-
line," said Barnett, who felt the first
kick should have been good. "But it
doesn't make any difference."
ONE-YEAR ITCH: There's no doubt
that after last year's 19-13 loss to the
Wildcats, Michigan was looking for-
ward to a chance for redemption.
However, Northwestern was appar-
ently looking forward to the chance to
prove it was for real.
"These kids have been waiting for
Michigan for a year," Northwestern
coach Gary Barnett said. "They told
me Tuesday that maybe thinking about
this game cost them the earlier game."
The Wildcats lost their season open-
er to Wake Forest 28-27.
So why did Northwestern put that
much focus on the Michigan game?
"Because they knew Michigan was
looking forward to it," Barnett said.
MR. CONSISTENT: Heading into the
game, it seemed that if any defense
was going to stop Northwestern run-
ning back Darnell Autry, it would be
Michigan's.
Wrong.
Autry made Michigan the 18th-
straight team to allow him more than
100-yards rushing.
Autry rushed the ball 30 times for
107 yards. His longest gain was only
11 yards, but he lost only two yards on
the day..
It was a rushing performance simi-
lar to that of his team.
"It wasn't magic," Autry said of
Northwestern's win. "It was a hard-
nosed type of game."
NOT sO RoSEY: How big of a blow
did Michigan's Rose Bowl hopes take
Saturday?
Well, considering the last two Big
Ten representatives in Pasadena made
it through the conference slate
unscathed, things don't look good.
Realistically, Michigan would have
to win out and hope Northwestern
loses twice. This is also the second-
straight season the Wildcats don't play
Ohio State.
Northwestern does, however, have
to play at Penn State and at Wisconsin
before the year is out.
"It was a Big Ten game, and the road
through Pasadena came through here,"
Michigan defensive end David
Bowens said. "We prepared hard and it
just slipped away."
PASSING
Player C-A V
Dreisbach 20-28 2
Totals 20-28 2
RUSHING
Player Att Yds
C. Williams19 56
Howard 17 47
T. Brooks 1 14:
Dreisbach 3 -1
Totals 40 116
RECEIVING
Player No. Yds
Streets 12 150:
Tuman 4 30
Howard 2 8
C. Williams 1 6
Shaw 1 20:
Totals 20 214:
PUNTING
Player No.1
Peristeris 3 1
KICKOFF RETURNS
Yds
214
214
Avg
2.9
2.8
14.0
-0.3
2.9
Avg
12.5
7.5
4.0
6.0
20.0
10.0
Yds
114
TD
0
0
Lg
6
9
14
2
14
Lg
41
14
5
6
20
41
Avg
38.0
lmt
0
0
TD
0
0
1
TO
TD
0
0
0
0
0
0
58
TD
o
0
0
Player
Shaw
Floyd
Total
No.
2
1
3
.1
JOE WESTRATE/Daty
aturday afternoon. Autry was a key reason why the Wildcats defeated Michigan
ainst a Michigan defense that hadn't allowed 100 yards to an opposing rusher
State worst loss in
k isps Spartans
in the end zone with darted down the left sideline for a 46-yard return to
and the Spartans at the the Michigan State five. One play later, Sherman hit
Shaw for the touchdown pass that tied the game 23-
wn for more than 150 23.
ree games, hit 10-of-19 The Spartans then mounted a 75-yard drive, with
er for scoring tosses of 10 of the 11 plays on the ground, and took their last
ng Shaw for a five-yard lead at 30-23 on Sedrick Irvin's three-yard touchdown
vith 9:47 left in the run with 4:19 left in the third quarter. It was the first
time in three games that Michigan State scored in the
nded the Hawkeyes for second half against Iowa's defense.
ie ground, hurt itself on Iowa countered with a 76-yard drive of its own,
imes on kickoff returns. capped by Tavian Banks' one-yard touchdown run
:a punt 69 yards for a with 52 seconds left in the third.
hose fumbles, the most Illinois 46, Indiana 43, 2OT
fourth quarter when he Scott Weaver threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to
'c Thigpen. Jason Dulick in the second overtime series, and the
Iowa at the Michigan Illini beat the Hoosiers, 46-43, Saturday in the Big
dived in from the one Ten. It was Weaver's fourth touchdown pass of the
g score - and Iowa's game for Illinois (1-1, 2-3).
1 Indiana (0-2, 2-3) had tied the game at 33 with just
in to ruin Iowa's home- 47 seconds to go on Chris Dittoe's 12-yard touchdown
t three times, including pass to Dorian Wilkerson and a two-point conversion
from Burke to Nigea pass to Ajamu Stoner.
by Chris Gardner and Both teams scored touchdowns on their first over-
touchdown plunge. time series - the Illini on an 11-yard run by Robert
n making his second Holcombe and the Hoosiers on a three-yard run by
Long with a 41-yard Alex Smith.
re Kanu's interception But Indiana was called for a false start on third-and-
ichigan State to a 23-10 five at the 20 on the next series and had to settle for a
ame within reach with 47-yard field goal by Bill Manolopoulos.
row to Knipper and Purdue 30, Minnesota 27
oal in the second quar- Kendall Matthews rushed for a career-high 131
yards and scoring twice as Purdue defeated
rke's pass on Michigan Minnesota, 30-27, Saturday.
third quarter and Iowa, Matthews had run for only 73 yards in Purdue's
tate 26, climbed back to first three games, but he took over the running attack
touchdown reception. when fullback Edwin Watson bruised his leg on his
nversion, breaking his first carry of the game and sat out the rest of the half.
r kicks. The 6-foot, 205-pounder powered into the end zone
to punt on the ensuing on runs of eight and one yards as the Boilermakers
broke four tackles and opened a 27-19 halftime advantage.
Up next
Who: Indiana (62 Big Ten, 2-3 overall).
Where: Michigan Stadium
When: Oct. 19, 12:30 p.m., EDT
Series: Michigan-leads all-time, 41-9
DEFENSE
Player S
Bowens
Taylor
Ray
Sword
Hankins
Irons
Huff
Swett
Woodson
Copenhaver
Carr
Steele
FeazellI
Winters
Mayes
Gold
Hall
PASS DEFENSE
Player Int1
Bowens 0
Ray 0
Hankins 0
Irons 0
Feazell 0
Yds
45
-10
35
Solo
3
5
4
4
4
1
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
0
1
Yds
0
0
0
0
0
Asst
5
2
3
2
1
4
1
2
1
2
1
2
0
0
1
0
Tot
8
7
7
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
0
1
Avg
22.5
-10.0
6.25
L9
27
0
27
in--- .sport s imUF Ftio-
The 14th-ranked Wolverines have next weekend off before welcoming the
Indiana Hoosiers to town for a homecoming battle. Michigan owns a 72-23
record in homecoming games, but has dropped three of the past six. The
Wolverines enjoy a six-game winning streak in the series against the Hoosiers
dating back to 1987, and Indiana has not won in Michigan Stadium since
1967. The Hoosiers are led by running back Alex Smith, who gained 769 yards
on the ground last season. Indiana has dropped three in a row after a 2-0 start.
n
0
0
0
0
0
B-up
1
2
2
1
2
TO
0
0
0
0
0
Michigan
Aug. 31 ILLINOIS
Sept. 14 Colorado
Sept. 21 BC
Sept. 28 UCLA
Oct. 5 Northwes
Oct. 19 INDIANA
Oct. 26 Minnesot
Nov. 2 MICHIGAP
Nov. 9 Purdue
Nov. 16 PENN STA
Nov. 23 Ohio Stat
stern
a
N S
ATE
e
W 20-8
W 20-13
W 20-14
W 38.9
L .16-17
12:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
ATE Noon
1 p.m.
Noon
Noon
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
uerffel,
quelch R
ssociated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Danny
uerffel threw four touchdown passes,
hree of them to Reidel Anthony, as top-
anked Florida broke open a close
ame early in the second half to beat
kansas, 42-7, Saturday.
[ators
zorbacks
sured first down inside the 12 before
the Florida defense took over.
Ed Chester tackled Oscar Malone
after a one-yard gain. On second down,
Johnny Rutledge knocked down
Malone for a three-yard loss. Burks'
third-down pass was too long, and Todd
Latourette missed a 30-yard field-goal
IVIA=