4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - September 10, 2001
W
WASHINGTON 23, MICHIGAN* 18
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
MICH
21
37/124
248
37
372
117
26/44/2
7/33.6
O/O
9/63
32:34
WASH
13
35/69
199
35
268
27
13/22/0
6/33.0
O/0
5/37
27:26
Unexpected heroes appear
for Washington in victory
By Arun Gopal
Daily Sports Writer
M I C H I G A N
PASSING
Player
Navarre
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Perry
Askew
Walker
Navarre
Totals
RECEIVING
Player f
Walker
Joppru
Seymour
Perry ,
Bell y
Bellamy
Askew 1
Totals
C-A
26-44
28-44
Yds TD
248 2
248 2
Att
24
8
4
37
No.
15
3
2
2
2
26
Yds
95
27
13
-11
145
Yds
159
25
29
15
9
9
2
248
Avg
3.9
3.3
13
-2.8
3.4
Avg
10.6
8.3
14.5
7.5
4.5
9
2
8.1
Lg
29
6
13
2
29
L
23
15
20
16
5
9
2
23
int
2
2
TD
0
0
0
0
0
TD
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
PUNTING
Player
Epstein
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Curry1
Howard 1
Totals 2
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
Curry 4
Walker1
Totals 5
DEFENSE
Player
Foote
Diggs
June
Hobson
Orr
LeSueur
Curry, J.
Howard
Frysinger
Jackson
Rumishek
Bellamy
Cross
Brackins
Lazarus
Stevens
Curry. M.
Shaw
Spytek
No., Yds Avg Lg
7 235 33.6 44
7 235 33.6 44
SEATTLE - Prior to Michigan's game
against Washington on Saturday, fans specu-
lated about which player would be the differ-
ence-maker in the game.
Perhaps it would be Michigan senior wide
receiver Marquise Walker, some thought. Or,
maybe Washington senior defensive tackle
Larry Tripplett would come up with some
huge sacks.
Others might have expected a sophomore
running back - either Michigan's Chris Perry
or Washington's Rich Alexis - to have a
breakout game on national television.
So, at the conclusion of Washington's 23-18
victory, fans of both teams had to be asking
the same question: "Who are Omare Lowe and
Roc Alexander, and where did they come
from?"
In a statement game for two teams with big
aspirations for 2001, the loudest words were
spoken by a pair of Washington cornerbacks
- Lowe and Alexander.
Although the game was a tight defensive
struggle through the first half, it started to
look like Michigan was gaining the upper
hand as the third quarter wore on.
The Wolverines' big offensive line ground
out yardage - and ate up time - against
"The Dawgs," as the Huskies' defenders like
to call themselves. The dominance continued
into the fourth quarter, as Michigan - which
was holding a 12-6 lead - steadily drove
downfield for another score.
But, when Michigan kicker Hayden Epstein
lined up a 33-yard field goal, lightning struck
in the form of Lowe. The senior raced
untouched around the right end and blocked
Epstein's kick.
In a magnificent twist of fate, the ball
bounced right into the hands of a streaking
Alexander, who can run a 4.2 40-yard dash
and is Washington's fastest player. As a
stunned Michigan bench looked on, the sopho-
more speedster raced 77 yards down the right
sideline, and Husky Stadium exploded.
"It was very big for me," Alexander said.
"This is the first touchdown I have ever scored
in a game. I was happy and it was fun -- I am
just glad that I could go out there and do my
thing."
If Alexander was merely happy, his team-
mates were downright ecstatic. Had Michigan
kicked the field goal, the Wolverines would
have gone up by nine points with about nine
minutes left in the game.
Washington's offense - aside from a few
brilliant plays by freshman wide receiver
Reggie Williams - was nonexistent, and the
Husky Stadium crowd could sense the game
slipping away. Alexander's dramatic runback
changed everything.
"Man, I was so happy, but he was going so
fast and so far, I was like 'I can't chase you
down, Roc. I'll wait 'til you come to the side-
line,"' Tripplett said with a laugh. "Yeah, I was
excited. It was awesome."
As if things couldn't get any better for the
Huskies, they did just 51 seconds later when
Navarre tossed his second interception of the
day. His first interception'- pulled in by
Alexander -.killed a Michigan drive at the
Huskies' ten-yard line. Navarre's second inter-
ception killed Michigan's chances of winning
the game.
Facing second-and-seven from his own 23-
yard line, Navarre fired a screen pass to Perry.
But, the ball bounced off Perry's fingers and
into the hands of Lowe, who danced 21 yards
into the end zone for a 20-12 Washington lead.
Yds
19
5
24
Yds
78
15
93
Solo
7
2
7
2
4
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
Yda
0
0
O
O
Avg Lg
19 19
5 5
12 19
Avg Lg
19.5 32
15 15
17.3 32
Asst
5
6
0
5
3
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
.1o
TD
TO
0
O
TD
0
O
0
Tot
12
8
7
7
5
4
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
TD
O
0
MARJORIE MARSHALL/Dai
Washington's Roc Alexander attacks Chris Perry just like he attacked the rest of Michigan's offense.
Alexander also returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
"I knew it was coming," Lowe said in refer-
ence to the screen pass. "I saw the guy coming
out at me, and we're supposed to stay over the
top of it. I actually did the wrong thing, kind
of followed it, and it tipped off his hands and
went right into my hands, and it was just a
short little dash to the end zone."
The irony for the Wolverines was that on a
day where they throttled Washington's biggest
weapons - Tripplett, Alexis and tight end
Jerramy Stevens - two unsung Dawgs deliv-
ered the biggest blows and propelled
Washington to a come-from-behind win.
"I had chills going through my body, the
crowd and everything, it was great," Low*
said. "It kind of reminded me of high school.
PASS DEFENSE
Player
LeSueur
Totals
Int
O
0
Lg
O
0
Brk-up
1
1
Walker's career day
can' t nab W' for M'
Neuheisel sits star Stevens; Williams
runs all over Wolverines' secondary
WASHINGTON
PASSING
Player
Pickett
Totals
RUSHING
Player
Hurst
Pickett
Alexis
Wilson
Totals
RECEIVING
Player
Williams
Stevens
Elstrorn
Alexis
Walker
Collier
Arnold
Totals
C-A
13-22
13-22
1
1
1
Aft
10
10
8
4
36
No.
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
13
PUNTING
PlayerI
Waf zig
Team
Totals
KICKOFF RETURNS
Player No.
Arnold 1
Total
PUNT RETURNS
Player No.
llllitz 2
Totals 2
DEFENSE
Player
Ellis
Mahdavi
Lowe
Willis
Davis
Stevens. Jero.
Carothers
Newell
Biddle
Alexander
Tripplett
Kelley
Lobendahn
Massey
Cunningham
Cooper
Elstrom
Miller
Tuiesosopo
Stevens, Jerr.
Roberson
Yds
18
12
25
21
68
Yds
134
24
15
10
6
6
4
199
No.
5
6
Yds
17
17
Yds
10
10
Solo
7
6
8
5
2
3
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
Yds
199
199
Avg
1.8
1.2
3.1
5.2
2.0
Avg
33.5
12
7.5
5.0
6
6
4
15.3
Yds
198
0
198
TD
TO
0
L9
10
10
18
10
18
Lg
74
19
9
7
6
6
4
74
Int
0
TO
TD
0
0
0
0
0
TD
O
0
0
0
0
0
0
Avg Lg
39.6 51
0 0
33 1
By Raphael Goodstein
Daily Sports Editor
Avg Lg
17 17
17 17
Avg Lg
5.0 5
5.0 6
Asst
6
5
2
3
5
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
TD
O
0
TD
O
0
Tot
13
11
10
7
5
5
4
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
pTO
SEATTLE - While the
Wolverines will want to forget about
Saturday's loss, Marquise Walker's
performance was something for the
ages. The senior set the school
record for receptions with 15, and
finished with
159 and two FOOTBALL
touchdowns. N
"Marquise is Notebook
an outstanding
football player," Michigan coach
Lloyd Carr said. "He's a senior, he's
been around, he's been in a lot of big
games. He has great hands, he runs
great routes. The route he ran on the
first touchdown at the end of the
first half was really a textbook move.
He made a great move to the inside
and (quarterback) John (Navarre), I
thought, made some great throws."
Prior to Walker, the record was
shared by Tai Streets and Brad
Myers.
Walker also made an impact on
special teams, where he blocked a
punt in the first half that went
through the endzone for a safety.
While Walker's performance was
impressive, he was the Wolverines'
lone target - tight end Bennie
Joppru's three catches were second
most on the team - something that
the Wolverines will need to improve
upon as the season progresses.
HUSKIES' STEVENS PUNISHED:
This offseason, Washington star
tight end Jerramy Stevens was
arrested for a hit-and-run incident in
which he was drunk driving and ran
into a nursing home, before fleeing
the scene.
For the offense, the junior was
suspended for the first half of the
game, before starting the second
half.
"Publicly there are a lot of ques-
tions about his character,"
Washington coach Rick Neuheisel
carefully said while scratching the
back of his neck. "For those who do
not know him, I feel comfortable
that even though Jerramy has made
mistakes, he has realized that he is
accountable for his actions and that
he needs to make some great deci-
sions. We have some things going on
internally to help him with some of
his behavioral issues.
"I thought that given all that he
has put into making restoration for
his transgression, it was a worthy
punishment to miss the first half,"
When asked what he learned fron
the incident, Stevens said: "My les-
son learned is to put this behind me.
"Now I'm trying to move on and
more forward."
He finished the game with two
catches for 24 yards.
WILL THE THRILL: Washington
freshman receiver Reggie Williams
was the top receiving prospect com-
ing out of high school and was
recruited by nearly every school ii
the country.
Ultimately, the Washington native
narrowed his choices down to
Michigan and Washington before
choosing the Huskies.
Lined up against senior defensive
back Todd Howard, Williams consis-
tently impressed, finishing with four
catches for 134 yards.
"It was a little more than I expect-
ed," Williams said. "Michigan's "a
great program and I knew they wer
going to try and come in here an
win but that doesn't happen.
"They're a great team so you can't
take nothing from them."
PASS DEFENSE
Player
Lowe
Totals
Brk-up
Int
1
1
Yds Lng
21 21
1 21
2 '1
2 1
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
JESSICA JOHNSON/Daily
Marquise Walker catces his second touchdown of the day - a 20-yard reception that was his record-setting 15th of the day.
Despite lacking bite, Washington's
'Dawgs'still have plenty of bark
Offensive - Marquise Walker:
When times were tough for the
Wolverines, Walker put the team on#
his shoulders, catching 15 passes (a
school record) for 159 yards. His
PHILLIPS
Continued from page 113
we got the win - it was special," Tripplett said.
So it was the Dawgs, whose slogan is "Real Dawgs Wear
Purple," that got the best of Michigan.
"Anybody that watched us last year, it is the trademark
of this tnm .that when thefAurth narter rolls around we
Maybe it was al of these things, maybe it was none.
What it comes down to is this: A victory is a victory and
there is no way to avoid it. But Washington was outplayed
on Saturday afternoon in its own backyard - dubbed "The
House of Pain."
This loss really leaves Michigan and its fans scratching
their heads.
There have been manvc lne losses in the nast connle of
.i: . :;