NCAA Football Recap (Notre Dame-Michigan)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 9:36 p.m. EDT
Michigan's defense negated three turnovers in its
own half of the field in the fourth quarter and overcame its
clumsy offense to escape with a 21-14 victory over Notre Dame,
which has lost three straight for the first time in 12 years.
The Wolverines (3-0) scored two touchdowns in the first 5:39 of
the second half to erase a 14-7 deficit. Brian Griese and Tai
Streets connected on a 41-yard catch-and-run 24 seconds in and
Chris Floyd, who was suspended for last week's rout of Baylor,
found a crease on the left side and rumbled into the end zone
from 14 yards for the go-ahead points.
"It was a win, that's all it was," Griese said. "It was a great
win in a great series, but it wasn't the way we wanted to play.
Against Penn State and Ohio State, we will need to play a
perfect game."
Down the stretch, it was Michigan's defense that answered the
bell. After a fumble by Aaron Shea gave the ball to Notre Dame
at the Michigan 47, cornerback Tommy Hendricks thwarted a
Fighting Irish drive with a diving interception in the end zone
with 10:34 remaining.
"It looked like a corner route," said Hendricks. "(The
receiver) had me beat by a couple of yards, but I got back. It
was a low throw, but I scooped it up like a shortstop. I was
trying to pick it off, I didn't want to give them another chance
to throw or let them get a field goal."
Notre Dame (1-3) got another chance to tie the game less than
two minutes later when linebacker Ronnie Nicks pounced on a
loose ball at the Wolverines 42. But Michigan's defense forced
a punt after a three-and-out.
However, the Wolverines were determined not to put the game
away. After Griese called a timeout, he and Chris Howard
botched a handoff from the shotgun formation and Notre Dame
linebacker Jimmy Friday recovered at the Michigan 28.
The Fighting Irish looked like they were going to go for the tie
after Autry Denson slashed his way for seven yards on the first
play. But three more carries by Denson netted one yard and
another save by the Michigan defense.
Howard rattled off carries of 27, seven, nine and eight yards as
Michigan ran out the final 3:26.
"To turn the ball over in our end and stop them each time says a
lot for the character and determination our players have," said
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. "I was concerned that we didn't take
care of the ball, that's something we've stressed all year."
The Fighting Irish, who travel to Stanford next week, have lost
three straight for the first time since the end of the 1985
season. A loss to the Cardinal would mark Notre Dame's longest
skid since dropping their final five games under coach Hugh
Devore in 1963.
"We gave ourselves every opportunity to win this game, but we
didn't take advantage of the situation," said first-year coach
Bob Davie, whose record is the same as Lou Holtz during his
first year at Notre Dame in 1986. "Our offense did not move the
ball. We played better, but we came up here to win the ballgame.
That's what I talked to the team about. Be honest why we lost.
Did Michigan really beat us or did we beat ourselves? We
could've won this game, but talk is cheap."
Notre Dame had control of the game in the first half, opening
the scoring late in the first quarter. Powlus engineered a
12-play, 78-yard drive on the Irish's second possession and
capped it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Brown, who made
a twisting catch by the left sideline in the end zone.
The Wolverines answered as Clarence Williams barreled in from
four yards out to finish an 11-play, 66-yard drive.
The Fighting Irish were backed up to their own 2 late in the
first half, but responded with a season-best 98-yard drive,
using 11 plays.
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