48 - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 9, 1998 Michigan .) Penn State 27 1 1 M 1 1 r Michigan player of the game: The Michigan defense After a horrible start to the season, the Michigan defense (led by coordina- tor Jim Herrmann) has been the Wolverines' sparkplug. The defense has not allowed more than 10 points since Michigan State scored 17 on Sept. 26. 0 Stat line: Pts. allowed Sacks 0 4 Fumbles 1 Interceptions 3 GAME STISTIMS MICHIGAN PASSING Player Brady Henson Totals RUSHING Player Williams Thomas Fargas Brady Cross Totals RECEIVING Player Shea Streets Tuman Thomas Johnson Knight Williams Campbell Terrell Thompson Totals PUNTING Player Vinson Totals C-A 17-30 1-1 1831 Att Yds 24 83 11 36 8 25 1 0 3 0 47 147 No. YS 3 58 3 38 3 28 2 46 2 18 1 25 1 5 1 3 1 3 1 0 18 224 No. 5 b Yd's TD 224 2 0 0 282 1 Avg t4 3.5 11 3.3 12 3.0 5 -2.0 0 -1.7 C 2.9 12 Avg LA 19.3 26 12.7 16 9.3 13 28 41 9 9 25 25 5 5 3 3 3 3 0 0 12.3 41 Yds Avl 174 34.8 174 34.8 i 1 .2 5 0 0 Z s s 3 1 9 5 5 3 3 0 1 kit 1 0 0 TD 0 1 0 0 0 1 TD 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 01 kg 8 41 A 41 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Fargas 1 Totals 1 PUNT RETURNS Player No Knight 1 Totals 1 DEFENSE Player Gold Peterson Hendricks Hall Jontes Patmon Ray Sword Feazell Weathers Brackins Whitley Renes Schanski Shea Frysinger Wilson Sechler 1. Williams Epstein Jackson Coleman Totals PASS DEFENSE Player int Peterson i Patmon 1 Copenhaver 1 Whitley 0 Frysinger 0 Totals 3 Yds 29 29 Yd's 7 7 S10 8 6 1 4 2 3, 3 3 2 3, 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 49 Yd's 0 0 0 0 0 0 Avg 29 29 Avg 7 is 29 29 L9 7 7 Asst 1 0 1 2 3 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1s TD 0 10 t 0 0 Tot 9 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 65 p TO 0 0 0 0 0 0 L 0 By Sharat Ragu Daily Sports Writer Against Penn State last season, Michigan defensive back Daydrion Taylor made a crushing tackle. The hit, replayed across the coun- try as one of the biggest of the sea- son, ended Taylor's playing career. He sustained a neck injury on the play. But before Saturday's game, Taylor stepped onto the Michigan Stadium surface again, flanked by co-captains Jon Jansen and Juaquin Feazell, and strode out to the middle of the field. As an honorary captain, Taylor took part in the opening coin toss. "It brought back a few memories for me out there," Taylor said. Taylor did win the toss for the Wolverines, and Michigan went on to win bigger things. Namely, the game. But the toss had deeper significance for the Wolverines than a mere pos- session of the ball. "It lets me know that they haven't forgotten me," Taylor said. Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who made the decision to name Taylor an honorary captain, said that Taylor has maintained a strong relationship with the team despite being unable to physically compete. "This guy comes to practice every day," Carr said. "I think our team has a great love for that kid. It's good to see him go on with his life. He's going to graduate." WHOA, NELLIE!: Michigan Stadium. The Big House. The names are synonymous and have been for years. Why? Because of one man - ABC broadcaster Keith Jackson. For over two decades, Jackson has been the voice of college football. With his descriptive commentary, distinct, excited voice, Jackson was well-loved by fans across the coun- try. Earlier this year, Jackson pro- claimed that this will be his final season broadcasting the biggest col- lege football game of the week. Saturday marked the final game that Jackson will broadcast from the stadium he nicknamed. As a tribute, the Michigan Marching Band's halftime show con- cluded by spelling out "Thanks Keith" across the field. After band announcer Carl Grapentine stated that the game is Jackson's last in the Big House, the 111,019 fans turned toward the press box, stood up and cheered for the commentator. As part of the halftime tribute, former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler presented Jackson with a jersey with "The Big House" across the front and a Michigan foot- ball helmet. THE BLOCKING MAN: Michigan linebacker James Hall is a master of blocking kicks. In the first quarter on Saturday, Hall denied kicker Travis Forney from connecting and breaking the shutout early in the game. The block was the third he has on the season and the fifth of his career. "I've got to give credit to Rob Renes for getting good penetration on the play," Hall said. "He made it easier for me." Hall blocked an extra-point attempt by both Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan this season, and did the same against Iowa and Washington State in the Rose Bowl last season. SHEA DAYs: Fullback Aaron Shea caught the first and, therefore, game- winning touchdown on Saturday - a 26-yard reception. With that catch, Shea has two career touchdowns - the other one was against the Lions in Michigan Stadium two seasons ago. That time, it was a 25-yard recep- tion. If Shea manages to redshirt anoth- er season just for fun, he will be able to catch a 27-yard touchdown in 2000 against Penn State in Michigan Stadium. There's not really a record being broken there, but it would be pretty weird. WARREN ZINN/Daily James Hall was not to be denied in the first quarter of Saturday's game as he blocked this 34-yard field goal attempt and forced a fumble - all In the first 15 minutes. One ear later, Talor still contributin to Wolverines Sidelined senior who gave his career for the team against Penn State spends afternoon as honorary captain L9 0 0 0 0 0 0 Br"Pit 0 0 0 1 0 1 Team Stats First Downs Rushes/Yards Passing Yards Offensive Plays Total Offense Return Yards Comp/Att/Int Punts/Avg Fumbles/lost Penalties/Yards Time of Poss MICH 18 47/136 224 78 360 36 18/31/1 5/34.8 1/1 10/81 34:50 PSU 13 35/106 94 61 260 61 8/26/3 4/36.0 2/2 5/44 25:10 Senior Williams starts at tailback, gains 83 yards PENN STATE PASSING Player Thompson Casey Totals RUSHING Player Eberly Mccoo Casey Cerimele Harris Easy Thompson Totals RECEIVING Player Jones B.own Cerimele Eberly Totals C-A Yds 8-21 94 0-5 0 9-26 94 At 10 11 1 3 3 1 6 35 No. 3 2 2 1 8 PUNTING Player1 Pidgeon Toets KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Mccoo 2 Drummond 1 Luke Totals 3 DEFENSE Player Morson Arngton Short Brown Fox Mackln Scioli Adams Fleischhauer Jue Boyd Kurpeikis King Jones Bell Lee Graham Janes Stankewicz Daniels. Gatten Ttals Vs 55 47 20 6 6 1 .29 106 Yds 45 34 10 5 94 4 4 YOa 33 17 16 94 Soo 10 6 5 6 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 62 Avg 5.5 4.3 20 2 2 1 4.8 30 Avg 18 16 7.5 5 11A YdS 144 144 Avg 16.5 17.0 16.0 31.3 TD 0 0 0 L9 18 11 20 5 3 1 8 20 Lg 25 19 5 5 25 Int 2 1 3 TO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TD 0 0 0 0 0 By Mark Snyder Daily Sports Editor Outside the lockerroom after losing to Minnesota, Michigan offensive coordinator Mike DeBord scanned the group of assembled reporters searching for answers about Michigan's minus- 23-yard rushing effort. One week later, after the Wolverines methodi- cally, but effectively, controlled the ball on the ground and in the air, excuses were no longer nec- essary. "We ran the ball finally the way we're capable of running," said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who improved his record against Top 10 teams to 8-0. "We played with a tremendous amount of intensi- ty today and all week in practice. This was the way that these guys are capable of playing." "These guys" are players who have taken inor- dinate amounts of abuse. On the sports pages in newspapers in Michigan and Pennsylvania last week, discussion centered on the inability of Michigan's backs to move the ball for positive yardage against an Minnesota's average Big Ten defense. No such problems existed on Saturday. With Clarence Williams getting the starting call at tailback, Michigan sought to try something new. Williams fumbled in a couple crucial situations earlier this season, extending Carr to the end of his patience rope. Although not at Carr's request, Williams spent one whole game carrying a foot- ball on the sideline and after Anthony Thomas and Justin Fargas were ineffective last week, Williams was the choice. "I spent a lot of time (last) Monday talking to the older guys" Carr said. "Clarence had a good "We ran the ball finally the way we're capable of running. This was the way these guys are capable of playing." - Lloyd Carr Michigan football coach career at Michigan, but didn't play as well as he would have liked (this season.) I asked him what his attitude was and he said, 'I want to win.' A lot of guys up front had confidence in him." The confidence of his coach improved relations on the sidelines, but Williams almost did his part to relinquish the confidence. On a monster hit by Penn State's Butkus boys - linebackers Levar Arrington and Brandon Short - Williams coughed up another fumble. But this time the coach was ready to let him off the hook. "The fumble was nothing but a great defensive play" Carr said. "He made up his mind to run hard." That extra effort - an attribute Carr contended was missing the week before - gained Williams 86 hard-fought yards as he led the team to 136 on the ground. "It's fun to get out there and be with my team- mates," Williams said. "I decided to get out there today and contribute." i. Avg Kg 36.0 47 36.O 47 LS 24 17 16 35 TD 0 0 0 0 AM 2 3 4 0 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 19 Tot 12 9 9 6 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 63 MP~AART MYERS~/Daily After getting the start at talback, Clarence Williams re-established Michigan's running game against Penn State. He ran for 83 yards of the team's 136 yards on the afternoon. Ray's return fires up 'M' defense * Big Ten Standings Team Conf. Overall Wisconsin MIchIgan, Ohio State Purdue Penn State, Michigan State Iowa Illinois Minnesota, Indiana Northwestern 6-0 4-2 3-2 3.2 2-4 2-5 1-5 90 7-2 8-1 6.4 6-2 54 3-6 3-7 3-6 28 By Sharat Raju Daily Sports Editor Marcus Ray was listed second on the depth chart at free safe- ty behind DeWayne Patmon, but Ray definitely saw more play- ing time than most second-stringers. After returning from his 'half-season' suspension, Ray took part in a mammoth defensive effort, shutting out Penn State. The preseason All-American played early and often, starting on the second defensive series. "It felt real good to go out and play" Ray said. "It was great to go out there with the fellas." The intensity and natural football instincts Ray displayed last season came forth as soon as he entered the game. Ray defend- ed a pass that fell incomplete on his first play. On the very next play, Michigan linebacker James Hall sacked Penn State quar- After recovering a fumble by Michigan tailback Clarence Williams, Penn State had a first down on- Michigan's 20 yard line. Some unimaginative playcalling by Joe Paterno led to an eventual first-and-goal on the five yard line. Michigan's 10-man defensive front thwarted Penn State tail- back Eric McCoo on three consecutive plays. On fourth down, the Lions lined up to kick a field goal as the first quarter ended. When the second quarter began, however, the Lions lined up to run a play. Thompson handed off to fullback Aaron Harris on a typical dive play. Michigan linebackers Sam Sword and Ian Gold, along with strong safety Tommy Hendricks, broke through the line and converged on Harris, stopping him short of the endzone. Goal line stand complete. "It was a will of manpower out there," Sword said. The stand was reminiscent of a similar one the Wolverines r ~a - u ~uN w&rinin~ ~'~u .