The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 1, 1999 - 58 1ast play evokes nightmares of past seasons 'itley prevents miraculous Indiana victory .J. Berka Sports Editor .OOMINGTON - As Antwaan Randle desperation heave to the end zone on the 3lay of Saturday's game rose into the clear ma sky, images were flashing through the s of the Michigan players on the field. the ball reached its apex, flashes of 1994 v) Kordell Stewart connected with iacTWestbrook on a Hail Mary pass in the zone to beat the Wolverines - were gain- n strength. 'he coaches always refer back to the rado game in 1994 in practice," corner- James Whitley said. "They said that it ehed because one player missed their ;nment. I wasn't going to do that." as Randle El threw the ball from the left mark, Whitley sprinted from the right in@f the end zone over to the glut of icrs'and Wolverines stationed on the other of the field. saw Randle El sprint toward the left and v thd ball,' Whitley said. "In most cases, I d stay and contain the receiver on the :side of the field. But they lined all their vers up on the other side, so I starting run- as fast as I could." t as he was sprinting, the ball was hurtling iward toward the end zone in the direction di a wide receiver Jerry Dorsey. Dorsey b a thorn in Michigan's side all after- ,catching five passes for 154 yards - ding a 70-yard touchdown reception to tie ame at 31 with five minutes to go at the looked as if Dorsey would get the last again, as the ball fell from the sky and i square in the arms. - a split second, some Michigan players lt that Dorsey had pulled a Westbrook tothe game. t&rght he caught the ball," linebacker old said. "He had it in his hands. But then ,one of the DBs rip it out." it DB was Whitley. As the ball hit Dorsey, ey hit him, too. Dorsey, who was strug- gling with safety DeWayne Patmon, saw the ball drop from his hands on to the Memorial Stadium turf after the Whitley hit. "He actually had the ball," Whitley said. "I, sort of deflected it. I was just trying to make a play. When you have a three-point lead with four seconds left, you have to go all out." BLOCK SOME PUNTS, WILL YA?: Coming into Saturday's game with Indiana, Michigan had only blocked one punt all season. But in one series Saturday, the Wolverines came up with two blocked punts against Indiana's Drew Hagan. With Michigan up 10-0 in the second quar- ter, Indiana faced a fourth-and-two at its own 28. As Hagan was attempting to punt, line- backer Anthony Jordan broke through the line and blocked the kick. But Jordan blocked the ball into Hagan's chest. After catching the ball, Hagan ran four yards to the right sideline for a first down. "I don't remember ever blocking a punt and allowing the other team to get a first down," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "I've never seen that before." That just delayed the inevitable, though, as Cato June broke through the Indiana line and blocked another Hagan punt four plays later. June recovered the ball at the Indiana 15 and Anthony Thomas rushed for a touchdown on the next play to put Michigan ahead, 17-0. But Michigan's punt blocking prowess cost them later in the quarter. With 26 seconds left and Indiana seeming content to run out the clock, Michigan called a timeout - Carr thought the Wolverines had another block in them. The Hoosiers, thankful for the extra time, converted the third down and drove from their 34-yard line to the Michigan 6 during the last seconds of the half, resulting in a 23-yard Andy Payne field goal and a 17-10 halftime score. "I made the decision at the end of half to give us a chance to flock another punt," Carr said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't stop them on third down." FIRsT QUARTER: On the game's first possession, Michigan march- es 77 yards in 11 plays, highlighted by a 36- yadbom fro m ready toMrus Knight. drive and caps it off with a one-yard toucthd- own run. Michigan 7. Indiana 0 On the ensuing possession, Indiana fumbles at hit Davi Terrell o 17-yard gainto the IHoosier 1 4-yard line. Michigan's drive stalls at the 5-yard line, so Hayden Epstein nails a 22- yard field goa. Michigan 10, Indiana 0 SECOND QUARTER: |On lndiana's second possession of the second | quarter, the Hoosiers are forced to punt. Cato June storms through and blocks the punt. giv- ig Michign the bal at te ndiana 15-yard paydirt on a 1 5-yard run. * Michigan 17, Indiana 0 aIndiana rebounds immediately on the next posses- asion. Antwaan Randle El connects on two long I seven yards for the kidiana touchdown. Michigan 17. Indiana 7 After a Michigan punt pins Indiana at their own 15, the Hoosiers move downfield again. Randle- 1 l it Jrr Drsey tice in a rofirst fo 39 Michigan 6-yard line with 10 seconds left. Aftr a timeout, Randle-EI throws incomplete, so the Hoosiers settle for a 23-yard field goal. * Michigan 17, Indiana 10 ITHIRD QUARTER: IFrom their own 25-yard line, the Hoosiers Isteaddly move downfield. Randle El repeatedly for 14 to put the ball at Michigan's 14-yard lne. calls a timeout with eight seconds left in the Iquarter, but Randle-EI is only able to pick up a yard on first-and-goa, and the quarter ends. * Michigan 17, Indiana 10 FOURTH QUARTER: I SThe Hoosiers waste little time in scoring. After Jonsn Rand Elis Johnson on furh Sand-goal with a one-yard touchdown pass. I | Michigan 17. Indiana 17 SOn the ensuing kickoff, Thomas fumbles at the 1 Michigan 9-yard line, and Indiana recovers. After a false-start penalty pushes the Hoosiers I back to the 14, Randle El runs twice down to , the 4-yard line. On the next play, Randle El con- Snctswit Dosona -yrd touchdown pass, a ~Michigan 17, Indiana 24 The Wolverines immediately respond to *Indiana's touchdown. Brady hits Thomas for 16 *yards, up to the Indiana 49-yard line. Two plays te Hsers 8. O n seodand-gal Brdyhits aBennie Joppru for a 7-yard touchdown. Michigan 24.,Indiana 24 Michigan continues their attack on the Indiana I d fe se T ree Thom as rush sfr2 yad line. A Brady-to-Cross 16-yard pass places the Wolverines in the red zone, and is followed by ",,,of whihri fora touchdown MIchigan 31. Indiana 24 IThe Hoosiers respond on the next dnive. A 70- yard pass from Randle El to Dorsey ties the game. Michigan 31, Indiana 31 a On the following Michigan drive, Brady com- pletes to Terrell and Knight for 13 and 14 yard a passes. Two Indiana personal fouls move the a Wolverines to the Indiana 28-yard line. On sec- and down Thomas runs for 23 yards to the 5- yard line. After three failed attempts to punch it in, Epstein~s attempt from 20 yards with 18 sec- onds remaining is good. Michigan 34, Indiana 31 r ..................................................... DANA INNANE/Daily Anthony Thomas had a career day for himself, rushing 42 times for 197 yards and helping to prevent a third straight loss. STAFF PICKS: I picks made against e spread. ome teams in CAPS. TJ. Berka lichigan (-17) vs. INDIANA Indiana enn State (-16.5) vs.ILLINOIS Penn State /isconsin (-22) vs NORTHWESTERN' Wiscoisin" JrW(-2.5) vs MINNESOTA Purdue Ho STATE (-22) vs. owa Ohio State orida (-14) vs. Georgia* Georgia orida'State (-13,5) vs.; VIRGINIA Florida State irginia Tech (-22) vs. PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh ENNESSEE (-33) vs. South Carolina Tennessee OTRE DAME (-27) vs. Navy Navy m - Rick Freeman. Michigan Penn State Josh Kleinbaum Andy Latack Indiana Michigan Penn State Penn State Wisconsin Purdue Ohio State Georgia Virginia Virginia Tech Tennessee Navy Rice. Boston College NC.State Washington Navy 6-8 (0-1) 5564-3(44) Wisconsin. Purdue Ohio State Florida Florida State Pittsburgh South Carolina Navy Rice' Syracuse NC. State Stanford Ohio State 9-5 (1-0) 54-55-3 (3-5) Wisconsin .Purdue Ohio State Florida Florida State Pittsburgh South Carolina Navy SMU Syracuse N.C. State Washington Purdue 104 (1-0) 59-50-3(4.4) HOOSIERS Continued from Page 18 trashing his two-quarterback rotation and opting to play the senior the entire game with Drew Henson remaining on the sidelines. Brady completed 17 of his 29 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. But despite Thomas' Ironman-like effort, Michigan's offense couldn't pro- duce points when it needed them most. Michigan built a 17-0 first-half cush- ion behind two Thomas touchdowns, but then proceeded to take a two-quarter nap. After Thomas' 15-yard touchdown run with 7:44 left in the second quarter, the Wolverines were kept off the board until they began their furious come- from-behind rally in the fourth quarter. But while Michigan was keeping Epstein's punting leg busy - he took over all punting and field goal duties in the game - Randle El was driving the Michigan defense crazy. Randle El threw for four touchdowns on the day, including two within ninety seconds of each other in the fourth quar- ter. After Randle El found fullback Jeremi Johnson on a play-action pass on a fourth-and-goal from the one, Thomas fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Indiana recovered at the Michigan nine. Four plays later, Randle El's lob to wide receiv- er Jerry Dorsey put Indiana up, 24-17. Just as the situation appeared haunt- ingly like the disaster against the Illini, Brady led the Wolverines back. He marched Michigan on a methodical four-play scoring drive, eventually find- ing tight end Bennie Joppru for a seven- yard touchdown pass, ending the Wolverines' 27-minute scoring draught and tying the score at 24. But after Thomas leaped into the end zone four minutes later to give Michigan a 31-24 lead, Randle El started a scoring drive of his own. Four plays later, he found Dorsey on a 70-yard touchdown strike, making the score 31-31. But after the Wolverines got the ball back with 1:28 remaining, Indiana shot itself in the foot. On a first-and-ten at the Michigan 48, Indiana defensive tackle Jason Czap drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty for pulling Brady down by his face mask after he released a pass. Two plays later, Indiana cornerback O.J. Spencer dragged wide receiver David Terrell down from behind as Terrell was chasing a Brady pass. The ten-yard holding penalty gave Michigan a first-and-10 at the Indiana 28 - already in range for one of Epstein's booming field goals. But Thomas sealed the game by scampering 23 yards down to the five, setting up Epstein's second - and most crucial -- field goal of the day. Ce (-11) vs. SMU t'RACUSE (-19) vs. Boston College E1 TECH-7.5) vs. N.C. State A~ NGTON (-3) vs. Stanford est Bet his week verall at Jacksonville Rice Boston College N.C.State Stanford Rice 8-6 (0-1) 62-47-3 (1-7) --- «.- Top 25 konda State, Virginia Tech survive scares, stay perfect HARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Winke shook off three first-half rceptions and hit Marvin Minnis for go-ahead 20-yard touchdown in the d quarter as Florida State beat inia 35-10. he Seminoles continue to start slow nsively, relying on their defense to ti -m in the game. They trailed at f .e second consecutive game. einke's pass to Minnis with 3:16 in the quarter was the second scor- hookup for the pair and gave the inoles (7-0 ACC, 9-0 overall) a 14- lead. They padded that 2:46 later n Travis Minor scored on a 6-yard t up the middle. irginia (3-3, 4-4), which led 10-7 at ime lost quarterback Dan Ellis n was hit hard on consecutive s .the end of the first half. Ellis dhed the second half from the side- as junior David Rivers took over. o. 3 VIRGINIA TECH 30, PITT. 17: inialTech rode its running game to -point lead, then held on for a vic- r over Pittsburgh even as Pitt quar- year, 20-17. No. 4 TENNESSEE 30, S. CAROLINA 7: Tennessee didn't play its best against South Carolina, but it hardly mattered. The Volunteers were good enough to extend the Gamecocks' losing streak to 19 games, longest in the nation. "We played like the game was against an 0-8 team sandwiched between Alabama and Notre Dame" Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. Jamal Lewis led the Volunteers (4-1 SEC, 6-1 overall) with 146 yards rush- ing, including a 70-yard touchdown, the longest of his career. No.S FLORIDA 30, No. 10 GEORGIA 14: Florida's offense wasn't always in gear in the hard rain that plagued "the world's largest outdoor cocktail party," in Jacksonville, but the defense closed the door on Georgia's chances. Spurrier earned his 100th victory as Florida coach in the most fitting way imaginable. Not only did the win come against Georgia, the team Spurrier loves to beat most, but it came in the same manner the Bulldogs used to stick touchdowns as the Wildcats remained unbeaten and inched closer to their Nov. 13 showdown with Nebraska. No. 7 GEORGIA TECH 48, N.C. STATE 21: After winning two straight squeakers, Georgia Tech avoided anoth- er tense ending. Joe Hamilton passed for 212 yards and three touchdowns and added 83 yards on the ground before sitting out the final quarter as the Yellow Jackets cruised past North Carolina State. No. 8 NEBRASKA 24, KANSAS 17: Despite a surprisingly tough fight, Eric Crouch's 49-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Newcombe with 3:24 left lifted Nebraska over Kansas. It was the Cornhuskers 31st consecutive victory over the Jayhawks. The fourth-quarter victory allowed Nebraska (4-1 Big 12, 7-1 overall) to stay in Big 12 North contention. They are currently tied with Colorado for second place behind Kansas State in the North. No. 12 TEXAS 44, IowA STATE 41: Texas kicker Kris Stockton kicked an Marshall improved its winning streaks to 12 games overall and 29 straight-at home, both tops in Division I-A. The Thundering Herd is off to an 8- 0 start for the second straight season. No. 14 ALABAMA 35, No. 20 SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 14: Alabama had a surprisingly easy win against Southern Mississippi considering they were without their two biggest stars on offense, Shaun Alexander and Andrew Zow. Shaun Bohanon ran for two touch- downs, Reggie Myles returned one of his two interceptions for a score and Freddie Milons had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown to spoils the Golden Eagles' upset hopes. No. 16 BRIGHAM YOUNG 27, AIR FORCE 20: A pre-game inspirational speech by long time Brigham Young coach Lavell Edwards motivated his team to top Air Force. Edwards, in his 28th year, improved his career record to 250-92-3. He needs five victories to tie former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne for sixth place on despite being outgained 363 yards to 223, but couldn't close out Houston until Adams snared Jason McKinley's pass, eluded traffic and stumbled into the end zone as three Houston defend- ers met him there. No. 22 TEXAS A&M 21 OKLAHOMA STATE 3: Randy McCown, playing despite a separated shoulder to his non- throwing arm, threw touchdown passes of I1 and 14 yards to Matt Bumgardner as Texas A&M held off Oklahoma State. One week after an embarrassing 51-6 loss to Oklahoma, the Aggies (3-2 Big 12, 6-2 overall) won the 600th game in school history, the 17th Division I-A school to reach the milestone. No. 23 MIAMI 28, WEST VIRGINIA 20: Kenny Kelly limped his way to completing 21 of 34 passes for 268' yards and two second-half touchdowns as Miami nipped West Virginia, the Hurricanes' second come-from-behind victory in as many weeks. Miami (2-0 Big East, 4-3 overall) trailed 13-0 at halftime, the first time it had been scoreless at home at halftime , . c .n i' i ' . . M, e i t . e E 1 i ' 1 1 I 1 t 0 i i { l 1' i i 1 1 i i i i 1 1 1 1 i t i } r BIG TEN STANDINGS Team Penn State Wisconsin Michigan Michigan State Ohio State Purdue Indiana Minnesota Illinois Northwestern Iowa Big Ten 5 0 5 1 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 3 1 4 14 0 5 Overall 9 0 7 2 ,6 2 6 2 6 3 6 3 4 5. 5 3 4 4 3 5 1 7 THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS Michigan 34, Indiana 31 Penn State 27, Illinois 7 Ohio State 41, Iowa 11 Purdue 33, Minnesota 28 Wisconsin 35,.Northwestern 14 NEXT WEEKEND'S GAMES Northwestern at Michigan, 12:10 Illinois at Iowa Ohio State at Michigan State Minnesota at Penn State Wisconsin at Purdue