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Henne regains form, composure
Sophomore rebounds from subpar game vs. Notre Dame to pass for 147 yards and 3 scores.
Jason Avant, who had eight catches for 93 yards, hauls in the first of his two touchdown receptions from Chad Henne. The touchdown, on a 14-yard play, gave Michigan a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.Related links
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ANN ARBOR -- A week after his weakest performance at Michigan, sophomore quarterback Chad Henne appears to have regained his form.
Henne played the first half of a 55-0 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday, completing 13 of 19 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
He clearly showed the poise that was missing in Michigan's 17-10 loss to Notre Dame.
"My confidence was fine (against Eastern Michigan)," Henne said. "Saturday (against Notre Dame) it didn't feel right, but there's another day.
"Just going through last week, not playing ever like that before ... (you) just pretty much got to ignore it and move on and be more prepared than you were last week."
Coach Lloyd Carr said he did not concern himself with whether Henne could regain his composure.
"I don't worry about him bouncing back," Carr said. "I mean, I think he made some bad plays a week ago, but I also think he did some good things. What I hear is that it's like he lost the game. Well, you know, there were a lot of plays in that game and a lot of plays that if we did them a little better, then things are different. It's a combination of a lot of things. It wasn't just the quarterback."
Gutierrez had fun
Backup Matt Gutierrez played most of the second half, completing 7 of 9 passes for 86 yards. All of the totals were career highs for him.
"It felt really good to be out there and actually get some time to throw out of the pocket and get a feel for the drop-back game," Gutierrez said. "That was fun."
Gutierrez was named the starter for the 2004 opener but missed most of the season because of a shoulder injury. He said he wasn't nervous during Saturday's game and gained more confidence with each snap.
"It was OK," Gutierrez said when asked to grade his performance. "... The main thing is getting that experience -- a couple of drives and getting a chance to get back there and throw it."
Aches and pains
Starting right guard Matt Lentz, who suffered an injured left knee against Notre Dame but returned to play the second half, was in uniform but did not play against Eastern Michigan. Starting right tackle Mike Kolodziej missed his second straight game because of an undisclosed injury.
U-M featured its third starting lineup in three games on the offensive line, with Adam Stenavich making his 30th start at left tackle, Leon Henige at left guard, backup center Mark Bihl at center, Adam Kraus at right guard (he had played center) and Rueben Riley at right tackle (his second straight start).
During the game, Michigan mixed assignments on the line, shifting Bihl and Kraus. Stenavich left the game late because of an apparent injury to his left lower back.
Stenavich did not return for the second half, forcing U-M to change the offensive line again. Alex Mitchell went in at left tackle, Henige at left guard, Bihl at center, Kraus at right guard and Riley at right tackle.
"I think he's fine," Carr said of Stenavich.
But Carr admitted to wondering what else could possibly happen to a line that has been decimated by injuries.
"Well, I (thought), 'Who's next?' " he said. "They're not going to cancel the games. You've got to get ready to go."
Getting a start
Freshman Mario Manningham made his first career start at receiver, replacing Steve Breaston, who started the first two games. Manningham had two catches for 35 yards.
Getting into the game
Freshman Antonio Bass (Jackson High) made his Michigan debut late in the first quarter.
Bass, a high school quarterback who is converting to receiver, had three carries for 20 yards after lining up behind center. Carr said Bass was injured early in the season and this was his first chance to play. He did not consider redshirting Bass.
First time for everything
Brian Thompson, who arrived at Michigan as a linebacker in 2002 before switching to fullback, scored his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
Thompson, left uncovered in the right side of the end zone, caught a 6-yard pass from Henne for the Wolverines' fifth touchdown.
Cornerback Morgan Trent, who made a position switch from receiver during spring drills this year, made his first career interception. EMU's Matt Bohnet had entered the game with a streak of 69 passes without an interception.
Trent said one of the reasons the adjustment has been smooth is he's faced Jason Avant and Steve Breaston in practice.
"Going to practice every day and going against Jason Avant and Stevie B. and all of them," Trent said. "They're some of the best receivers in the country. They make it a lot easier for me practicing against them every day."
James Bloomsburgh, a senior from DeLaSalle (Calif.) Catholic, got got the first points of his Michigan career with a 21-yard field goal on the opening drive of the second half.
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at angelique.chengelis@detnews.com. Detroit News staff writer Jim Spadafore contributed to this report.
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