4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - October 2, 2000 GAME STATISTICS 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 WISC 14 42/180 98 60 278 93 8/18/3 4/54.5 2/1 5/45 29:44 MICH 18 44/118 257 71 375 53 15/27/0 5/41.0 2/2 3/20 30:16 M' shuts down W I S C O N S I N PASSING Player Bollinger Evans Totals RUSHING Player Bennett Bollinger Totals RECEIVING Player Chambers Kuhns Davis Evans Bennett Totals C-A 8-17 0-1 8-18 Att Y 30 1 12 42 No. Yc 3 2 1 1 1 8 9 Yds 98 0 98 TD 1 0 1 Yds Avg 4g 23 4.1 17 57 4.8 19 80 4.3 17 int 2 1 3 TD 0 0 0 TD TO 1 0 0 1 'Eraser Man' 2ds 27 13 34 28 -4 98 Avg 9.0 6.5 34.0 28.0 -4.0 12.3 Lg 11 8 34 28 34 PUNTING Player Steike Totals KICKOFF RETURNS Playe rNo. Davis 2 Anellti1 Faulkner t Totals 4 PUNT RETURNS Player No. Davis 3 Totals 3 DEFENSE Player Echols Gnesen Doenng Bryant Kolodziej Favret Thompson Mack Fletcher Boese Knight Davis Mahlik Kuhns McGrew Herbert Marks Tucker No. Yds Avg Lg 4 218 54.5 65 4 218 54.5 65 Yds 34 18 16 68 Yds 25 25 Solo 9 6 4 4 S 3 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Yds 0 0 Avg 17.0 18.0 16.0 17.0 Ls 18 18 16 18 Avg Lg. 8.3 15 8.3 15 Asst T 5 2 4 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TD 0 O O 0 TD TO 0 Tot 14 8 8 6 5 5 4 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .By Chris Duprey Daily Sports Editor Throughout last week, the Michigan defense made sure it paid proper attention to the big-play potential of Wisconsin running back Michael Bennett. At each practice, time was spent on wrapping up Bennett early in his runs, leg-tackling him as opposed to grabbing at his arms and not allow- ing him to gain steam into the sec- ondary. There was no lack of respect for the Big Ten track champion in the Michigan camp. The Wolverines even gave him a nickname - Eraser Man. "Any bad play he can erase,sbecause of his speed," Michigan safety De Wayne Patmon explained. Eraser Man almost erased a Wolverines victory. Part of the con- cern with Bennett was that he would wear down Michigan's already-thin defensive line, and that as the fourth quarter drew on, he could break a run that could decide the game. On Wisconsin's last full drive, the Wolverines clinging to a 13-10 lead with over five minutes remaining, Bennett began to take the game into his own hands, A 17-yard run, followed by a 15- yarder, put the Badgers into position at the Michigan 31-yard line to either tie or take the lead. Both could have turned into big-gainers, but the Michigan secondary pursued well and kept Bennett from finding day- light. Bennett had just one more carry in the game, for no gain on the next play. And that was it for Wisconsin's ground threat. He had no impact on the final series of the game. The Wolverines had taken him out of the contest, just like they had wanted. "It was tough," Bennett said, in a statement that seemed to sum the afternoon for himself and for the Badgers. "They say I'm a big-play running back, and if I can't break it, I'm in the dumps about that." Bennett was gracious in giving credit to the Michigan defense, which allowed him just 123 yards on 30 carries. Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez was befuddled, however, by the slip- pery nature of the Prescription Athletic Turf. Saturday's game was Wisconsin's first on grass this season - the Badgers had played four games at home on the artificial sur- face of Camp Randall Stadium, and none on the road. I0* Julius Curry and the rest of the Michigan defense allowed Wisconsin one touchdown, but basically shut down star running back Michael Bennett. "On a beautiful day like that,.I can't understand why it's slick," Alvarez said, adding that he didn't think Bennett's lack of footing decid- ed the game in any way. Bennett did everything he could to master the Michigan Stadium grass. He even changed cleats in the secogd quarter to try and get a better grip for cutting and slicing. Still, "three Qr four times" he slipped as he was about to hit a large hole. t Patmon thought the turf was playable. "Grass isn't too secure, but it's good enough," he said. On any other day, Bennett would have been just a part of the Wisconsin offense. Saturday, he was all of it. Wisconsin's most prolific receiver was Nick Davis, whose one catch was good for 34 yards. The highly touted Chris Chambers finished with three catches for 27 yards. Quarterback Brooks Bollinger strug- gled in the red zone and everywhere else, throwing for just 98 yards. That made Bennett the only viable option as the fourth quarter went on. And for a while, it appeared that Bennett could win the game all by himself. "He struggled with the footing, but I thought he played pretty well," Alvarez said. No matter how well Bennett played, Saturday turned into a mem- ory he'd like to Erase. PASS DEFENSE M PSSING Player Henson Totals RUSHING Player A Hanson Totals 4 RECEIVING Player N Walker Thomas Totals Z int 0 0 Ig 0 0 Brk-up 1 TD 0 0 Terrell proves his greatness MICHIGAN C-A 15-27 15.27 1 att 2s 9 3 44 40. 7 S 2 1 1I PUNTING Player Epstein Totals KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Cross 1 Fargas1 Total 2 PUNT RETURNS Player No. Bellamy 2 Totals 2 DEFENSE Player Hobson Brackins curry LeSueur Patmon Whitley Petruziello Jordan Kashama B. Williams Rumishek Bowman Orr Fargas Brackins D. Williams Howard Stevens Yds 82 31 3 2 0 118 Yds 130 96 22 9 257 No. 5 5 Yds 22 19 41 Yds 12 12 Solo 5 5 5 5 5 4 3 2 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 Yds 0 0 0 0 0 Yds 257 257 Avg 2.8 15.5 0.3 0.7 0.0 2.7 Avg 18.6 19.2 11.0 9.0 17.1 TO 1 1 Lg 9 16 13 1 0 16 Lg 45 33 22 9 45 Int 0 0 TD 0 0 0 0 0 0 TO 0 0 0 0 1 BADGERS Continued from Page 1B tackles each. The trio also held Michael Bennett to just four yards per carry, after he averaged six against Northwestern. Del Verne provided the first points in the second half, hitting his second field goal in the third quarter. Wisconsin took a 10-6 lead on a 13-play, 71-yard drive, culminated by a five-yard screen from Bollinger to fullback Chad Kuhns. Down by a touchdown, the Wolverines spread their offense, abandoned the running game, looked for number one and tried to stay away from number two. At issue - the marquee matchup of Terrell and top defensive back Jamar Fletcher, which eventually ended in the receiver's favor, despite Fletcher halting Terrell in man coverage for most of the game. Before the first play, Fletcher and Terrell shook hands. They trash-talked. They fought hard, and for more than three quarters it looked as if Fletcher would finally earn his victory in the matchup. But after only two catches in the first two quarters, a frustrated Terrell decided to break out on Michigan's touchdown drive grabbing three passes for 56 yards. "I was open all day," Terrell said. "I don't think he was on me that well." The prettiest catch may not have been the touchdown. Instead, Terrell leapt sky high to grab a ball on a crucial third down play to keep the drive going. "I can't dunk, but I gotta pretty good vertical," Terre l said. "When you're out there, sometimes you make plays that you normally can't." Then the climatic touchdown not only gave Michigan i 13-10 lead, its 800th win (only two away from all-time leader Yale), and a 2-0 conference record to take to Purdue. All on a prayer into the endzone. "There was no diagram," Henson said. The coaches were saying 'Put the ball up and make a play' It wasn't perfect throw. "But that's why you have 'great' receivers." Yds Avg Ig 205 41.0 47 205 41.0 47 Avg 22.0 19.0 20.5 Lg 22 19 22 Avg Lg 6.0 14 6.0 14 Asst 7 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 TD 0 0 O TD 0 0 Tot 7 7 7 6 5 S 4 3 2 2 2 1T 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 Can catckhup' work forever? DEN HERDER Continued from Page 18 no different. Michigan won the third- quarter possession battle, holding the ball for 8:33. But the Wolverines only managed three points. So, when Bollinger put seven points on the board early in the fourth, Michigan was playing catchup again. With time for Michigan's counterat- tack now at a premium, the playbook finally began to open up. Luckily for Michigan, David Terrell won what looked like a playground game of "500" in the endzone, and put the Wolverines on top. So it was a typical Saturday after- noon in Ann Arbor. But is that necessarily the best thing for the Wolverines? Michigan has proven that possessing the ball can double as a defense. The "just enough to pull it out" philosophy seems just as valid as any other. After all, a win is a win is a win. But playing catchup in every game - living by the sword - can, and has, resulted in disaster. I am haunted by the words of Steve Hutchinson, deep in the Rose Bowl tunnels two weeks ago, as I wiped the 1 10-degree sweat from my brow. "We've done it so many times before," he said. "I really thought we were going to come back and win. It was kind of sad" Keep in mind the Wolverines came within several feet - wide left - of a tie game and possible overtime Saturday. The spread offense in West Laffayette next Saturday will not for- give a low point total on Michigan's behalf. So the Wolverines are left with an option as they travel to Ross-Aide Stadium. Thomas' success on the draw last week at Illinois proves that establishing the pass can be just as effective as establishing the run. Michigan could put more faith in Drew Henson, be more creative on the offensive end and put points up early. Or, the Wolverines could do what the Wolverines have done. Run the ball, run the clock, and rally. And'pray for rain. - David DenHerder can be reached at dden@)9nich.edu. t PASS DEFENSE Player Howard Patmon Rumishek Hobson Totals Iit 2 0 3 Lng 0 0 0 0 0 Brk~up 2 1 PETER CORNUE/daiy David Terrell trash talked Fletcher with words and burned, him with actions, posting almost 100 yards in the game. PLAYER OF THE GAME: DAvID TERREL: Once again Terrell proved he could win the matchup of the game. Covered by star cornerback Jamar Fletcher, Terrell managed 96 yards on five catches, including ale Alt=idaW, VS. / THE BADGER HERALD WEEK 4 SELEcToNS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. HOME TEAMS IN CAPS. MICHIGAN (-7.5) vs. Wisconsin Purdue (-13) vs. Penn State MINNESOTA (-) vs. illinois MICHIGAN STATE (-11.5) vs. Northwestern INDIANA (44.5) vs. Iowa Florida (-7.5) vs. MISSISSIPPI STATE Kansas State (-6.5) vs. COLORADO OREGON (-3.5) vs. Washington UCLA (-7.5) vs. Arizona State MISSISSIPPI (-7.5) vs. Kentucky Georgia (-4) vs. ARKANSAS Southern Cal (-5.5) vs. OREGON STATE Tennessee (-9) vs. LOUISIANA STATE Al ARAMA -71 c qvthC(rNlina David Den Herder Chris Duprey Wisconsin Purdue Illinois Northwestern Indiana Florida Kansas State Oregon Arizona State Kentucky Georgia Southern Cal Tennessee Cnijth Carnlina Wisconsin Purdue Illinois. Michigan State Indiana Florida Kansas State Washington UCLA Kentucky CGeorgia Southern Cal Tennessee Cnujth Carnlina Michigan Purdue Illinois Northwestern Indiana Florida Colorado. Oregon UCLA Mississippi Arkansas Oregon State Tennessee South Carnlina Wisconsin' Purdue Illinois Northwestern Indiana Florida Kansa State Washington UCLA Mississippi Georgia Southern Cal Tennessee. Alabama, Mark Stephanie Francescutti Offen Johnny Daly Badger Herald Wisconsin Purdue Illinois Michigan State Indiana Florida Colorado Washington Arizona State Kentucky Arkansas Oregon State Tennessee Alahama Andy Bitter Badger Herald Wisconsin Purdue Illinois Northwestern Iowa Florida Kansas State Oregon UCLA Kentucky Georgia Southern Cal Tennessee South Carnlina iI i I . I