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Michigan Holds Off Ninth-Ranked Wisconsin

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan celebrated its 500th game at the Big House with the first big win of the Rich Rodriguez-era.

The Wolverines rallied from a 19-point halftime deficit, and when Wisconsin's Allan Evridge misfired on a 2-point conversion pass with 13 seconds left, Michigan had sealed a 27-25 victory against the ninth-ranked Badgers on Saturday.

Wisconsin (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten)seemed to tie the game and set up overtime with David Gilreath's 22-yard touchdown catch and Travis Beckum's reception for 2, but the conversion was negated by a penalty and the retry was a pass through the end zone.

Michigan (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten) had five turnovers in the first half, leading to a 19-0 deficit, and didn't score until late in the third quarter.

By the time the comeback was complete, Rodriguez's team rallied from the biggest deficit the Wolverines have overcome since they started playing at their storied stadium in 1927.

The Badgers also had a shot to potentially tie the game on their next-to-last drive, but Evridge fumbled inside the Michigan 10.

PENN ST. 38, ILLINOIS 24

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Derrick Williams dazzled in one of the best performances Penn State football has ever produced.

The speedy senior caught a touchdown pass, ran for a TD and returned a kick 94 yards for another score as the Nittany Lions stayed unbeaten with a 38-24 win Saturday night against No. 22 Illinois.

Penn State (5-0, 1-0) rolled to four nonconference victories by easy margins, lighting up the scoreboard like a pinball machine. This time, they faced an offense that could keep pace - though Illinois was held back by a bunch of mistakes.

Arrelious Benn caught touchdown passes of 54 and 33 yards from Juice Williams who finished 13 of 24 passing for 183 yards. But Williams also threw an interception that foiled one drive.

OHIO ST. 34, MINNESOTA 21

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Beanie and Terrelle show debuted to rave reviews.

Tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells rushed for 106 yards in his first game in a month and quarterback Terrelle Pryor ran for two scores and threw for another to lead No. 14 Ohio State (41, 1-0 Big Ten) past Minnesota (4-1, 0-1).

It was the first time the two had started in the same backfield.

Wells, out after injuring his right foot in the season-opener, carried 14 times and showed his old form by racing for 28 yards on his second attempt.

MICHIGAN ST. 42,

INDIANA 29

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Javon Ringer rushed for 198 yards and scored one touchdown, while Brian Hoyer ran for one TD and threw for two more to lead Michigan State past Indiana.

There were two safeties, three replay reviews, a blocked punt, and Hoyer and Hoosiers quarterback Kellen Lewis each threw career-long touchdown passes.

But the strangest, and most important play, came late in the third quarter when Indiana's backup quarterback, Ben Chappell, connected with Terrance Turner for a 97-yard touchdown pass that appeared to give Indiana (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) the lead. Instead, right guard Cody Faulkner was called for holding in the end zone, giving Michigan State (4-1, 1-0) a safety and a 36-29 lead.

NOTRE DAME 38, PURDUE 21

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Jimmy Clausen threw for a career-high 275 yards and three touchdowns, Armando Allen Jr. ran for a career-best 134 yards, and Notre Dame (3-1) on Saturday matched its win total from a year ago with a victory against Purdue (2-2).

The Fighting Irish (3-1), who hadn't scored in the third quarter in their first three games, scored on their first two possessions of the second half to open a 28-14 lead, then added another TD late in the quarter to go ahead 35-21.

NORTHWESTERN 22,

IOWA 17

IOWA CITY, Iowa - C.J. Bacher threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns and Northwestern rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Iowa (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) and improved to 5-0 for the first time in 46 years.

Rasheed Ward added a career-high 10 receptions and a touchdown for Northwestern, which kept Iowa out of the end zone on four chances inside the Wildcats' 10-yard line with less than 2 minutes left..

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