Error processing SSI fileNo. 25 Michigan 33, No. 21 Northwestern 17
U-M rolls on night shift
Wolverines stay in the Big Ten hunt as defense contains the Wildcats' offense in second half.
Cornerback Grant Mason, left, congratulates linebacker Dave Harris on a second-half tackle.Related links
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Running back Jerome Jackson did a solid job substituting for injured Mike Hart. Jackson, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime last week against Iowa, had 24 carries for 105 yards Saturday night.
Freshman Kevin Grady, who got the start at running back, rushed for 64 yards and a 1-yard run.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- This one was about defense.
Northwestern entered its homecoming game against Michigan with the nation's fourth-rated offense, averaging 529 yards and 37 points.
In another test of Michigan's defense against a highly efficient spread offense, the Wolverines passed easily with a 33-17 victory at Ryan Field on Saturday night.
U-M is 6-3 overall and has qualified for a bowl game for the 31st consecutive season. And, at 4-2 in the Big Ten and riding a three-game winning streak as they head into a much-needed bye week, the Wolverines remain in contention.
Northwestern, which had won three straight and entered the top-25 polls last week for the first time in four years, is 5-3 and 3-2.
"The big story of this game was what our defense did," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "Against an outstanding offensive team, I think our defense came up with its best performance of the year."
Clearly, the second half was the key for Michigan. It held Northwestern scoreless and to 94 total yards in the half. For the game, the Wildcats, who were averaging 214 rushing yards, were held to 89 yards.
Except for two big plays allowed -- a 62-yard touchdown pass from Brett Basanez to Mark Philmore in the first quarter, and a 34-yard touchdown reception by Philmore with 11 seconds remaining in the first half -- Michigan held Northwestern.
And the Wolverines did that without their top defensive player, LaMarr Woodley, out for the second straight week because of an arm injury. With Woodley idle, Pierre Woods started, and the defense rotated several players to remain fresh.
The defensive game plan was simple.
"Our goal this whole week was to not give up big plays," senior nose tackle Gabe Watson said. "We came into the half and said eliminate the big plays and we have a chance to shut them out in the second half."
Senior Garrett Rivas kicked four field goals, including two in the fourth quarter that provided the Wolverines' only second-half points.
With sophomore tailback Mike Hart out because of an ankle injured suffered a week ago at Iowa, freshman Kevin Grady got a start. He had 20 carries for 64 yards and a touchdown, and junior Jerome Jackson, who scored the winning touchdown at Iowa, had 24 carries for 105 yards.
The Wolverines wanted to keep Northwestern's offense off the field, and they succeeded, possessing the ball nearly 16 minutes more.
Coach Randy Walker said he thinks Northwestern's surge in publicity last week might have been an issue.
"I think we had a lot of distractions," he said. "We spent more time talking on TV and talking to reporters than I've seen here in a long time ... maybe Michigan just outplayed us. But I would feel better if I felt we had done the right things to get to the right places, and I'm not sure we're a mature enough team to handle the attention we got. I didn't feel comfortable last week."
Michigan's first two drives of the second half started with ideal field position in Northwestern territory, but it came away empty-handed both times.
The Wolverines started their first drive on the Northwestern 46-yard line but failed to convert on fourth-and-6 at the 23, when Chad Henne threw incomplete on a poor pass. Henne was 17-of-30 for 174 yards and a touchdown, with three interceptions.
"Some of it has to do with field position," Carr said of his decision to go for it on fourth down. "It's a changing game. It's a new era. When I look at gaining 14 yards on a punt, it's not easy to do. I just think sometimes you don't want to give the other team the ball back and you might take some risk, but the rewards are pretty good, too."
The Wolverines led 27-17 at halftime. But they squandered two first-half drives in the red zone, settling for field goals both times.
Michigan reached the Northwestern 9 with 9:09 left in the second quarter, but fullback Will Paul dropped a critical pass on third-and-long, and Rivas kicked a 26-yarder to give U-M a 17-10 lead.
Much like the Wolverines' patient, time-consuming scoring drive at the start of the game, they put together another to take a 24-10 lead. They went 71 yards in 11 plays, and tight end Mike Massey scored his first career touchdown on a 10-yard reception.
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