Sept. 18, 2004
By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
Associated Press Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Braylon Edwards caught eight passes for 130 yardsand two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the third quarter, to lead No.17 Michigan past San Diego State 24-21 on Saturday.
The Wolverines (2-1) bounced back after last week's loss at Notre Dame, butit wasn't easy. The Aztecs (1-1), who entered the game three-touchdownunderdogs, forced four turnovers and missed two fourth-quarter field goals thatcould have tied the game.
Chad Henne's 7-yard TD toss to Edwards less than five minutes into the thirdquarter provided the winning margin and was the lone score of the half.
San Diego State's "Dark Side" defense, which ranked eighth nationally aseason ago, kept the Aztecs in the game in the second half, but Garrett Palmercould not convert 46- and 49-yard field goal attempts.
Michigan again went with a running-back-by-committee approach, with fourbacks getting a shot. Freshman Michael Hart came up with the big game theWolverines needed, running for 121 yards on 25 carries. His 11-yard run onthird-and-9 with less than two minutes to play allowed the Wolverines to runout of the clock.
Henne, a freshman, was picked off three times and completed 11 of 24 passesfor 162 yards and the two scores to Edwards.
Michigan went ahead 17-7 with less than three minutes left in the firstquarter when Roy Manning stripped the ball from San Diego State quarterbackMatt Dlugolecki, and Lawrence Reid scooped it up at the 5-yard line, took acouple of steps and dived into the end zone.
San Diego State needed only three plays and 81 seconds to answer. After a61-yard pass play from Dlugolecki to Robert Ortiz put the Aztecs at theMichigan 12-yard line, Michael Franklin took a pitch, then fired a halfbackpass to Jeff Webb in the corner of the end zone to make it 17-14.
Dlugolecki threw a 14-yard TD pass to Ortiz with less than eight minutesleft in the half to put the Aztecs ahead 21-17.
Dlugolecki finished 26-of-42 for 277 yards, one TD and one interception.Ortiz caught seven passes for 125 yards, and Webb caught 11 passes for 107yards.
After Ernest Shazor picked off Dlugolecki, Michigan took possession at theSan Diego State 21-yard line leading 7-0. But on the next play, Henne was hitas he threw, and Antwan Applewhite picked it off and returned it deep intoMichigan territory.
Three plays later, Franklin scored on a 4-yard run to tie the game with10:37 to play in the first quarter.
Franklin, who ran for 39 yards on 16 carries, was filling in for LynellHamilton, a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago who is still recovering from a brokenleg and ankle injury.
The Wolverines scored on their first play from scrimmage when Henneconnected with Edwards from 54 yards. Edwards caught Henne's pass at the 15,twirled around and dragged San Diego State cornerback Hubert Caliste into theend zone.