Michigan, who had taken its lumps on the defensive side of the ball during a 7-4 regular season, stuffed Colorado State when it recorded a 24-14 win at Jack Murphy Stadium that helped ease the sting of some painful late-season losses.
CSU nearly mirrored the Wolverines in total yardage (341-340), but gained just 51 yards rushing against a Michigan defense that forced four turnovers and had a key goal-line stand in the second half.
U-M struck first on the game’s opening drive on Todd Collins’ four-yard TD pass to Amani Toomer with 8:51 left in the opening quarter. The Rams took the ensuing kickoff and turned in a nineplay, 66-yard drive to tie the game, 7-7.
The drive was culminated by Paul Turner’s 32-yard TD reception.
All-American Remy Hamilton booted a 34-yard field goal with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter to put Michigan ahead 10-7. A blocked punt by freshman Chris Howard gave U-M
the ball deep in Rams territory with less than two minutes left before halftime. Collins then connected with Mercury
Hayes for a 16-yard TD strike to put UM ahead 17-7 with 1:28 left in the half.
The Wolverines forced a turnover on CSU’s first drive of the second half, taking over on the Rams’ 17-yard line.
Tyrone Wheatley made short work four plays later with a three-yard plunge into the endzone. That gave U-M a 24-7
lead with 11:58 left in the third quarter.
Midway through the third quarter, a 42-yard pass play helped CSU move the ball from its own 13-yard line to inside the Wolverine 10. A pair of pass interference calls against U-M
gave the Rams seven plays to attempt to go eight yards into the endzone.
Four plays from the Michigan twoyard line turned up nothing for Colorado State, as a two-yard loss and incomplete pass on fourth down helped the Wolverines turn away the high-scoring Rams.
Michigan held a 24-7 advantage after three quarters and held that lead until 1:18 remained in the game. CSU finally cracked the stubborn U-M defense with an 18-yard TD pass by Anthony Hill to complete the scoring.
Collins threw for 162 yards (14-for-24) and two touchdowns, earning the game’s offensive MVP honors. The Michigan defense tallied 11 tackles for loss, driving the CSU offense
back 61 yards.
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SCORING
First Quarter
M Toomer, four-yard pass from Collins (Hamilton kick)
CSU Turner, 32-yard pass from Hill (McDougal kick)
M Hamilton, 34-yard field goal
Second quarter
M Hayes, 16-yard pass from Collins (Hamilton kick)
Third quarter
M Wheatley, three-yard run (Hamilton kick)
Fourth quarter
CSU Burkett, 18-yard pass from Hill (McDougal kick)
Team Stats UM CSU
First Downs 18 20
Net Yards Rushing 179 51
Net Yards Passing 162 289
Total Plays 60 75
Total Yards 341 340
PA/PC/Int 24/14/3 40/22/2
Punts/Avg. 5/28.0 4/35.5
Return Yards 74 117
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/2
Penalties/Yards 11/97 8/72
Time of Possession 27:40 32:20
Rushing — (M): Wheatley 16-80; Biakabutuka 9-70;
E. Davis 1-13; Howard 3-9; Hayes 1-8; Floyd 1-2;
Collins 6-(-3)
(CSU): Watson 17-47; Ward 1-8; Carn 1-4; Brown 3-(-3);
Hill 14-(-5).
Passing — (M): Collins 14-24-162
(CSU): Hill 22-40-289.
Receiving — (M): Toomer 5-63; Hayes 3-41; Foster 2-32;
Richards 2-20; Wheatley 1-5; Cooper 1-1
(CSU): Shull 3-101; Burkett 5-62; Turner 4-62;
Olsen 3-29; Watson 6-23; Ward 1-12.
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