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Jerome Jackson (24) ran for 11 carries and 44 yards, and none was bigger than the 1 yard he gained for the winning touchdown in overtime.Michigan 23, Iowa 20 (OT)
U-M plays home wrecker
Jackson's plunge ends Iowa's run at Kinnick
Herb Grigsby (4) of Iowa reaches over the pylon for the first of his two touchdown receptions -- a 13-yarder in the first quarter. He added a 4-yard scoring catch in the second quarter.
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IOWA CITY -- It wasn't enough that unranked Michigan was trying to preserve its already shaky contender status in the Big Ten race while at Iowa, where the Hawkeyes had won 22 straight.
The Wolverines had to do so without their top defensive player, rush linebacker LaMarr Woodley, and starting tailback Mike Hart.
But fourth-string tailback Jerome Jackson, who did not get a carry until the fourth quarter, scored on a 1-yard run in overtime to give Michigan a 23-20 victory at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolverines are 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten, and have won two in a row for the first time this season. They are 5-0 in overtime games, including two this season. Iowa also is 5-3 and 3-2.
It was the 100th victory for Lloyd Carr, who is in his 11th season as coach.
"This was an awfully, awfully important for this team, because we have been inconsistent ... and yet we're still in it," Carr said of the Big Ten race.
"Everything is not under our control, but if we just keep battling and keep fighting, I think positive things can happen. Of course, it doesn't get any easier, but this gives us another chance to play another game that has great meaning. We had to make a statement that we can do something from a consistent basis, and I think we did that."
Iowa, which forced overtime on a 32-yard field goal as time expired, scored first in overtime on a 28-yard field goal by Kyle Schlicher.
Michigan's winning drive was set up on the second play of the series when Jason Avant caught an 18-yard pass from Chad Henne to Iowa's 5-yard line.
"It was a great catch," Carr said. "Chad threw a rocket, the ball was behind Jason, and Jason has a way of making some of those catches. I don't think we had a bigger play all day."
Two plays and a Michigan timeout later, the Wolverines were determined to put the game away on a third-down play.
"I made up my mind when they told me how close the spot was that we were not going to kick down there," Carr said. "We were going at 'em two cracks, and (offensive coordinator) Terry Malone said, 'Let's end it right now.' That's what they did."
Jackson ran and scored behind right tackle Jake Long, playing for the first time this season after recovering from an injured ankle.
"I knew we were going to win," Long said, smiling. "They told me they were going to run behind me, and I said, 'All right' and just dug in."
Carr credited running-backs coach Fred Jackson for sticking with Jerome Jackson, a Saginaw native, who finished with 11 carries for 44 yards.
"I knew my linemen were going to do their job," Jerome Jackson said. "I knew they were going to give me a great push. They said in the huddle, 'We're going to get you in, Jackson,' so I believed in them and they believed in me.
"I'm a strong believer. I always knew my time was going to come. I just thank my coaches for giving me the opportunity and believing in me and putting me in the game in a tight situation."
Hart left the game after suffered a sprained right ankle on a 9-yard reception toward the end of the first quarter. He gained 3 yards on the next play but was limping noticeably as he left the field. Kevin Grady was the first back in and had 18 carries for 64 yards. Max Martin had one carry, on which he fumbled but recovered.
Woodley participated in two plays but was never expected to be a factor. He suffered a deep bruise in his right arm during practice last week. Pierre Woods got increased playing time in Woodley's absence.
Woods had four tackles, including a sack, and broke up Drew Tate's first pass attempt in overtime.
Iowa had 242 yards of offense and led 14-7 at halftime. But the Hawkeyes managed only 72 yards in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Michigan scored on a 26-yard field goal by Garrett Rivas early in the third quarter after freshman Brandon Harrison intercepted a Tate pass on the opening series of the half to set up the drive. That cut the Wolverines' deficit to 14-10.
The Hawkeyes opened the fourth quarter on the Wolverines' 27 after officials reversed a call on the field, saying Michigan's Antonio Bass fumbled. Iowa failed to convert on a Michigan turnover for the second time.
U-M then drove 88 yards, scoring on a 52-yard pass from Henne to Steve Breaston to take its first lead, 17-14. It was the first time in 46 quarters that the Hawkeyes had trailed at home.
Henne was 14-of-21 for 207 yards, with two interceptions, and Avant had seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Cornerback Grant Mason led the defense with 12 tackles and Prescott Burgess had 11, including a sack.
"We needed to win, because our season, we've had some ups and downs, but I think we did the things we needed to do," Carr said. "We had some guys, their team needed them to step up, and they did."
You can reach Angelique S. Chengelis at angelique.chengelis@detnews.com.
Cornerback Grant Mason made a Michigan-high 12 tackles, including a vicious hit on Iowa running back Albert Young. The Hawkeyes had won 22 consecutive games at Kinnick Stadium.
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