The
surprising 9-1-1 Wolverines — equipped with the
nation’s top scoring defense — found themselves
matched against Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.
After a 21-yard run by Jamie Morris set up a 42-yard
field goal by Pat Moons to open the scoring, the Cornhuskers
got rolling. Nebraska used 10 plays to move 74 yards
for the touchdown that gave Nebraska a 7-3 lead early
in the second quarter. McCathorn Clayton hit Doug DuBose
in the endzone from five yards out for the score. The
Cornhuskers added another tally when a 15-yard run by
fullback Tom Rathman set up DuBose’s second touchdown
of the game, giving Nebraska a 14-3 halftime lead.
In the second half, an inspired Wolverine defense began
forcing turnovers to help U-M climb back into contention.
On its third play from scrimmage, Nebraska’s DuBose
fumbled, and Michigan’s Jeff Akers recovered.
A 19-yard run by Jamie Morris set up Gerald White’s
one-yard dive for a TD,
pulling the Wolverines to within 14-10 early in the
third quarter. Another fumble by Nebraska, this one
by Clayton, was recovered by Michigan’s Mark Messner
on the
next series, and White’s 19-yard run set up a
one-yard plunge by Harbaugh to give the Maize and Blue
the lead at 17-14.
The Wolverine defense forced Nebraska to punt on the
next series, and Dave Arnold rushed in untouched to
block his third punt of the season to set up a short
Moons field goal. The Wolverines scored again on their
next possession when a 14-yard run by Morris set up
Harbaugh’s second TD of the afternoon, giving
Michigan a seemingly comfortable 27-14 lead.
The excitement was not quite finished, thanks to an
elusive freshman quarterback for Nebraska. Steve Taylor
moved the
Cornhuskers 77 yards in four minutes to cut the Michigan
lead to 27-21. With the Wolverines in a hole late in
the game, Schembechler elected to take an intentional
safety,
and Nebraska was unable to mount a drive on its final
possession.
The win gave Schembechler his third bowl victory in
six years, and vaulted Michigan to the No. 2 spot (behind
Oklahoma) in the final polls.
|
 |
SCORING
First Quarter
M Moons, 42-yard field goal
Second Quarter
N DuBose, 5-yard pass from Clayton (Klein kick)
N DuBose, 3 yard run (Klein kick)
Third Quarter
M White, 1-yard run (Moons kick)
M Harbaugh, 1-yard run (Moons kick)
M Moons, 19-yard field goal
M Harbaugh, 2-yard run (Moons kick)
Fourth Quarter
N Taylor, 1-yard run (Klein kick)
N Safety-Robbins steps out of endzone
Team Stats UM UN
First Downs 16 20
Net Yards Rushing 171 304
Net Yards Passing 63 66
Total Plays 65 75
Total Yards 234 370
PA/PC/Int. 16/6/0 15/6/1
Punts/Avg. 5/43.8 3/40.3
Return Yds. 3 20
Fumbles/Lost 2/0 6/3
Penalties/Yards 8/43 7/46
Rushing— (M): Morris 22-156; White 13-38
(N): Clayton 14-68; DuBose 17-99;Rathman 9-47;
Sheppard 7-13; Taylor 10-76
Passing— (M): Harbaugh 6-15-63
(N): Clayton 4-6-51; Taylor 2-9-15
Receiving— (M): Kattus 3-38; Jokisch 1-15; Morris 2-10
(N):Frain 3-46; Smith 1-8
|
