With a fourth consecutive Big Ten title locked up, the Michigan Wolverines ventured to Pasadena hoping to add a Rose Bowl title and possible national championship to their already impressive list of accolades. Thus far, the 1991 season had seen Desmond Howard win the Heisman Trophy and Erick
Anderson garner the first Butkus Award in school history. However, standing in the way of Gary Moeller’s team were the Washington Huskies, a team boasting the nation’s top-ranked defense.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Huskies went ahead as Billy Joe Hobert faked to Beno Bryant and
ran off left tackle for two yards and the touchdown. Howard, an electrifying player, would then add another
clip to his collegiate highlight film on Michigan’s ensuing drive as he snared a leaping, 35-yard reception over eventual NFL first round selection Dana Hall. Three plays later, Elvis Grbac connected with Walter Smith on a nine-yard touchdown pass. Two Travis Hanson field goals made the score 13-7 Huskies at halftime.
Washington extended its lead in the third quarter on an 80-yard touchdown drive. Hobert completed
a five-yard TD toss to Mark Bruener and the two-point conversion to Aaron Pierce.
Facing a 21-7 deficit, the Wolverines were again unable to manage a first down and were forced to punt. Excellent field position awaited the Washington offense again, with the ball resting on the Michigan 48. On the second play of the final quarter, Hobert gave a play-action fake and found Pierce in the back of the endzone for a twoyard touchdown. The Wolverines found themselves trailing 27-7.
Michigan started the next drive at its own 29-yard line, and moved the ball out to the 38-yard line before a
Grbac keeper on fourth-and-one was stopped. Washington took only six seconds to find the endzone again, as Mark Brunell hit Mario Bailey
streaking down the right side for the Huskies final score of the game.
Tyrone Wheatley, a freshman, capped off an outstanding afternoon (68 yards on nine carries) and
closed the scoring on a 53-yard touchdown run, and J.D. Carlson’s 126th consecutive PAT.
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SCORING
Second Quarter
WA Hobert, 2-yard run (Hanson kick)
M Smith, 9-yard pass from Grbac (Carlson kick)
WA Hanson, 24-yard field goal
WA Hanson, 23-yard field goal
Third Quarter
WA Breuner, 5-yard pass from Hobert (Pierce, pass from Hobert)
Fourth Quarter
WA Pierce, 2-yard pass from Hobert (Kick failed)
WA Bailey, 38-yard pass from Brunell (Hanson kick)
M Wheatley, 53-yard run (Carlson kick)
Team Stats UM UW
First Downs 10 19
Net Yards Rushing 72 123
Net Yards Passing 133 281
Total Plays 61 85
Total Yards 205 404
PA/PC/Int 28/14/1 42/25/1
Punts-Avg 10-37.8 6-41.8
Return Yards 144 95
Fumbles/Lost 3/0 0/0
Penalties/Yards 8/62 6/50
Rushing — (M): Wheatley, 9-68; Johnson, 4-30; Howard, 1-15;
Powers, 10-10; Collins, 1-( - 9); Grbac, 8—( - 42)
(WA): Bryant, 15-38; Barry, 13-37; Kaufmann, 6-26;
M. Jones, 3-22; Turner, 1-3; Hobert 4-( - 1); Brunell, 1-( - 2)
Passing — (M): Grbac, 13-26-130; Collins, 1-2-3
(WA): Hobert, 18-34-192; Brunell, 7-8-89
Receiving — (M): Howard, 1-35; Wheatley, 3-30; VanDyne, 4-22;
R. Powers, 3-18; McGee, 1-14; W. Smith, 1-9; J. Johnson, 1-5
(WA): Bailey, 6-126; Pierce, 7-86; Bryant, 5-22; Gaspard, 1-5;
McKay, 1-12; M. Jones, 2-7; Turner, 1-6; Bruener,1-5; Barry, 1-2
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