4B --_The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 13, 2000
I 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
PSU
16
34/177
230
69
407
59
19/35/4
3/33.3
2/1
5/48
26:01
MICH
22
50/232
212
79
444
18
14/29/3
7/32.9
1/0
6/40
33:59
PE N N STATE
PASSING
Player
Casey
Senr:eca
Totals
.UStHING
Player
McCoo
Casey
L. Johnson
Senneca
Cerimele
Easy
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
McCoo
Drummond
Stewart
T. Johnson
Easy
B. Johnson
L. Johnson
Watson
Totals
C-A
16-28
3-7
19-35
Yds 7V
158 0
72 -
230 1
Att
9
6
10
2
2
2
34
No.
6
3
3
2
2
1
19
PUNTING
Player
Royer,
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
L Johnson 1
Watson 2
Blosser1
Totals 4
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Branch 1
Totals 1
DEFENSE
Player
Gatten
Boyd
Adams
Jones
Tes
Pettigrew
Scott
Kurpeikis
Capone
Jue
Graham
Dodd
Kennedy
Branch
IEasy
Finney
Casey
Hlaynes
Gholston
Yds
102
37
35
8
O
-4
177
Yds
51
42
21
35
12
50
12
7
230
No.
3
3
Yds
24
16
9
49
Yds
10
10
Solo
7
8
6
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
Yds
3
0
11
14
Avg
11.3
4.6
?.5
4
0
-2
5.2
Avg
8.5
14
7
17.5
SO
12
7
12."
Lg
45
12
14
1
1
45
Lg
14
35
13
31
8
50
11
7
50
int
3
4
TD
O
0
0
0
0
0
O
0
O
0
0
O
0
1
1
Yds Avg Lg
1 00 33.3 42
100 33.3 42
Avg
24
8
9
12.3
Lg
24
17
9
24
Avg Lg
10 10
10 10
Asst
2
G
0
1
0
0
C.
C
G
TD
0
0
0
0
TO
0
0
Tot
10
9
7
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
1
TO
0
a 0
4 0
PASS DEFENSE
Player 1
Pettigrew
Krpeikis
Kennedy
Totals.
Int
t
3
Lg
3
0
11
11
Brk-up
i1
4
Seniors get
one last shot at
championship
By Stephanie Offen
Daily Sports Editor
As the Michigan seniors walked through the tunnel
Saturday for the last time ever at The Big House, they
looked toward closing their careers out with either an
Alamo or Outback Bowl berth. Sights of a Big Ten
championship were virtually out of reach for these play-
ers who began their four years at Michigan with two
consecutive conference championship rings.
But as those same seniors walked out of the tunnel for
the last time ever after the Wolverines' 33-1 1 victory over
Penn State, their season had taken a turn they didn't
expect. Two teams that weren't present in Michigan
Stadium on Saturday handed the Wolverines one final
chance for a third Big Ten championship in four seasons.
All Purdue had to do to ensure that the Wolverines
would not share the Big Ten title was defeat Michigan
State and Indiana - the two teams that Michigan's
defense (sixth in the Big Ten) shut out.
But the Boilermakers' 30-10 loss to Michigan State
on Saturday gave Michigan a window of opportunity
that it began to seize with its victory over the Nittany
Lions.
Northwestern, a team that devastated the Wolverines
with a last-minute 54-51 upset, could have taken sole
possession of that first-place spot with a victory over
perennial conference bottom-dweller Iowa. But instead
of the much-anticipated victory, the Wildcats could only
manage 17 points against the 10th-ranked defense in the
conference.
The Michigan seniors were given a gift. But in a Big
Ten season where upsets have become the norm and
wacky offenses have gained popularity, no one seemed
surprised with one more odd twist - especially when it
went in Michigan's favor.
"I was happy (that Purdue and Northwestern lost)
because it opened the door for us," said Jeff Backus, one
of the senior anchors on the offensive line. "Now we just
have to go in and do our job."
That job is to capture a victory this weekend at Ohio
State. The winner of that game will at least share the
title of Big Ten champion. Michigan's Rose Bowl hopes
are still alive but farfetched. In order for the Wolverines
to reach Pasadena, Michigan must not only beat Ohio
State but Purdue and Northwestern must also lose this
weekend.
But at least Michigan-Ohio State will once again be
worth more than simply a chance to go to the Outback
Bowl.
"The- winner of that game will get a Big Ten ring,"
Backus said. "That's the way it should be up at a
Michigan-Ohio State game -- going for a champi-
onship"
This is the third time in the past four seasons that the
Ohio State-Michigan game will have direct Big Ten title
implications.
In 1997, the undefeated Wolverines beat the fourth-
ranked Buckeyes en route a national championship. In
1998, Ohio State beat Michigan, taking sole possession
of the title from the Wolverines.
A second national championship is out of the realm of
possibilities for this year's senior class. But a Michigan-
Ohio State matchup for a Big Ten title will be the
biggest game of the season for any Wolverine.
"I'm really excited," said running back Chris Perry,
who will play in his first Ohio State game this weekend.
"Everybody has been talking about it all week and next
week it will be even more of a focus."
And that was said before he learned that both Purdue
and Northwestern had lost. After Perry learned of the
two upsets, his eyes lit up, but his sentiments didn't
change.
" Wewould have played hard regardless, Big Ten
championship or not," Perry said. "But of course there
will be more on the game if it's for a championship.
When the seniors walked into the tunnel after the
victory, they thought it was Perry who had given them
their farewell gift. Perry made it possible for Backus to
say, "My last play on Michigan Field was a touch-
down."
Even before that touchdown, and even before the
players learned of the conference upsets, the day had
already found its place in the memories of the Michigan
seniors.
"The tunnel seemed a little different today, the fans
seemed a little louder and the grass seemed a little
greener today," senior captain Steve Hutchinson said. "It
was a perfect way to end at home."
But after the game, when the seniors gathered in the
lockerroom, they realized that Purdue and Northwestern
gave them another goodbye present - making their
goodbye to Michigan Stadium that much sweeter.
Michigan seniors Steve Hutchinson and Eric Wilson embrace after their final game at the Big House. MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
01
M I C H I G A N
PASSING
Player
Henson
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Thomas
Henson
Perry
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
Terrell
Seymour
Jopru
Askew
Welker
Thomas
Totals
C-A
14/29
14/29
Yds TO
212 2
212
Att
25
14
50
No.
3
3
3
2
2
i
14
PUNTING
Player
Epstein
Henson
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
P~erry
Total
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Bellamy t
Totals
DEFENSE
Player
Patmon
Diggs
oote
Sobson
Joward
Curry
.:olma:
Rumishek
Casseus
Wilson
Bellam
fBrand
Rozi
f Jordan
Epstein
Seymour
Hutchinson
Bowman
Walker
Fargas
Williams
Stevens
Yds
171
-4
65
243
Yds
45
27
14
59
21
46
212
No.
6
7
Yds
21
21
Yds
-3
.3
Solo
8
r3
4
0
G
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
A
A+
11
Yd
19
3
23
Avg Lg
4.9 19
-4 0
i.6 ,2
4.6 32
4vg Lg
15 25
9 15
47 8
!9.5 40
1.5 17
46 46
5.1 46
s Avg
3 32.2
7 3'
0 112.a
Avg Ig.
21 21
21. 21
Avg Lg
-3 0
3 0
Ass
3
5
0
1
C.
2
.0
C
0
G
-1
1
1
1
Int
O
0
TV)
1
0
1
2
TD
0
1
0
0
C
2
Lg
47
37
47
STD
TO
fD
O
CO
Tot
1'
8
S
2
1
1
1
1
1
~1
MissedF
hurt Penn State
LIONS
Continued from Page 1B
Thomas two-step to perfection -- seizing a 7-3
lead and never relinquishing control.
The Wolverines tacked on 10 more points before
the half, and benefitted from three botched field
goals on the other side of the ball. Penn State
coach Joe Paterno replaced placekicker Ryan
Primanti with David Kimball after Primanti
missed two, but Kimball's 38-yard miss apparent-
ly prompted Paterno to bring Pramanti back.
He had one more chance in the second half, but
the kick was blocked - totaling four misses on the
day for the Nittany Lions.
Meanwhile, Michigan junior Hayden Epstein
returned to go 2-for-2, his longest from 33 yards.
Henson threw his first, second and third inter-
ceptions of the season, but his two touchdown
passes led the Wolverines over Penn State for the
fourth straight year. Michigan becomes the first
team to defeat Paterno in four consecutive sea-
sons.
"They've done a great job keeping that team
together this season," Carr said. "I've listened to
most of (Paterno's) press conferences, and I just
really respect the way he handled all the things that
came his way."
Penn State (3-4, 4-7) has never lost this many
games in a season, but players said they would
remember Michigan's final punch Saturday, which
elicited loud cheers from the Michigan Stadium
crowd.
"I told some of the underclassmen that if they
get the chance next year to repay the favor," Penn
State senior James Boyd said. "Those kind of
things come back to haunt you sometimes."
Carr would not talk about his decision to score
the extra touchdown instead of killing the clock,
which Penn State chose to do on its final play.
HOME SWEET HOME /
What a difference a change in
scenery makes. The Wolverines'
defense has given up an average
of 35 points a game on the road.
At home - Michigan's defense
gives up only five points on aver-
age. Here's the scoop on the road
woes for the defense.r
DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
Home: (6-0 record):
Bowling Green, Rice, Wisconsin,
Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State
Away (1-3 record):
UCLA, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern
Pts allowed
Pts allowed/game
TDs allowed
Home
35
5.8
4
140y
35.0
16
ffI
*r
LINEBACKER
LARRY FOOTE.
Rushing Yards/game
Home: 121.8
Away: 173.5
Passing Yards/game:
Home: 199.3
Away: 307.0
Total yards/game
Home: 321.1
Away: 480.5
/I
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Daily
I
FRANCESCUTTI
Continued from Page 1B
the realm of possibility for the
Buckeyes.
THiRD: This weekend is Ohio State's
season. Ma and Pa will cash their wel-
fare checks to buy some "Muck
Fichigan" T-shirts for the kids. Ohio
State students who live in Ohio
Stadium (they really do have dorms
inside the Horseshoe) will take a break
from their first-grade phonics classes to
steal batteries from the local WalMart
to throw at Michigan fans.
Yes, the Buckeyes take this rivalry a
little more seriously than the
Wolverines, who have other big rival-
ries (Notre Dame and Michigan State)
with which to deal.
So Michigan fans, don't even think
about naming your price to William
Shatner for L.A. tickets. The
Wolverines need a genie with three
wishes to make it to Pasadena, and I
don't see Robin Williams around any-
where.
This week, you can buy some roses
for a special someone, but if you're
thinking of buying something fitting
for Michigan's bowl trip, plan on rent-
ing a car at Alamo, eating at Outback
Steakhouse, or buying some Florida
citrus fruit.
- Mark Francescutti' is oniv pes-
simistic about the Michigan football
team and the Detroit Lions. He can be
reached at nmfrances@mnich.edit.
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Foote,
Howard
Bowman
Whitley
int
1
2
0
1
Yds
21
0
13
Lng
2.
13
Brk-up
2
2
TO
0
0
0
0
Totals 4 35 21 6 O
........................... .................................
PLAYERS OF TH4E GAME:
STAFF PICKS
WEEK 10 SELECTIONS
ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD.
HOME TEAMS IN CAPS.
MICHIGAN (-15) vs. Penn State-
Wisconsin (-6) vs. INDIANA
Purdue (-8) vs. MICHIGAN STATE
Northwestern (-12) vs. IOWA
Ohio State (-7) vs. ILLINOIS
MIAMI (FLA.) (-21) vs. Pittsburgh
NOTRE DAME (-9) vs. Boston College,
David
Den Herder
Chris
Duprey
Michigan
Wisconsin
Purdue
Northwestern
Illinois
Miami (Fla.)
Notre Dame
Mark Stephanie
Francescutti Offen
This week's results:
MICHIGAN 33, Penn State 11
Wisconsin 43, INDIANA 22
MICHIGAN STATE 30, Purdue 10
Ohio State 24, ILLINOIS 21
IOWA 27, Northwestern 17
MIAMI (FLA.) 35, Pittsburgh 7
NOTRE DAME 28, Boston College 16
KANSAS STATE 29, Nebraska 28
Oklahoma 35, TEXAS A&M 31
FLORIDA 41, South Carolina 21
Oregon 25, CALIFORNIA 17
Oregon State 33, ARIZONA 9
WASHINGTON 35, UCLA 28
TEXAS CHRISTIAN 24, Fresno State 7
CENTRAL MICHIGAN 21, Western Michigan 17
Duprey climbs atop the .500 mark and his 0-
10
Penn State
Indiana
Michigan State
Northwestern
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Notre Dame
Michigan .
Wisconsin
Purdue
Northwestern
Illinois
Miami (Fla.)
Notre Dame
Michigan
Wisconsin
Purdue
Northwestern
Ohio State
Miami (Fla.)
Notre Dame
M lo.inM,
i