Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
5-5 , 4-3
Michigan
9-1 , 7-0
Northwestern Falls to No. 9 Michigan, 42-20
11/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 13, 2004
Final Stats
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Noah Herron ran for a game-high 156 rushing yards and scored a touchdown on a season-long 68-yard scamper, but it was not enough as ninth-ranked Michigan exploded in the second half for a 42-20 victory over Northwestern.
The Wildcats (5-5, 4-3) have to beat Illinois and win at Hawaii for a second straight bowl bid and fifth in 10 years. Most teams need six wins to be eligible for a bowl, but the 'Cats need seven because they are playing 12 games this season.
"That's the way it is. There's no alternative," said Noah Herron, who ran for 156 yards and a TD on 23 carries. "If we want to play postseason ball, we have to get two."
Michigan's Michael Hart ran for 151 yards and a season-high three touchdowns as the Wolverines scored the first five times they touched the ball in the second half.
Hart, a freshman, has run for 975 yards in his last five games. He has 1,311 yards on the ground heading into the regular-season finale at Ohio State.
With Michigan State's 49-14 win over Wisconsin, Michigan can win the Big Ten title outright by defeating Ohio State next weekend. Wisconsin and Iowa are tied for second place at 6-1 in the league, while the Wildcats and Michigan State are tied for fourth at 4-3.
"This is for our season. We want another ring on our finger," Michigan's LaMarr Woodley said. "Ohio State doesn't really have much to lose -- and we have a lot to lose."
The Wolverines (9-1, 7-0 Big Ten) led the Wildcats by only one point at halftime before putting the game out of reach with scores on the ground, through the air and on a punt return. Michigan has won 15 straight games at home and 13 conference games in a row.
"We came out flat," Hart said. "But in the second half, we picked it up and put some points on the board."
Two freshmen led Michigan -- again.
In addition to Hart's performance, Chad Henne was 19-of-26 for 187 yards with two TDs.
"If it were not for Mike Hart and Chad Henne, I don't know where this team would be," said senior receiver Braylon Edwards, who had seven catches for 54 yards and became the first Big Ten player with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons. "They've played tremendous roles."
Steve Breaston scored twice in 35 seconds -- catching a 10-yard pass and returning a punt 67 yards -- to give Michigan a 42-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Breaston, who had foot surgery in July, had 272 all-purpose yards on 49 yards receiving, 32 yards rushing and 191 yards on punt and kickoff returns.
"I think the bye week was great for him," Carr said. "You saw an explosiveness that you have not seen this year. His foot is probably as close to normal as it's been since he injured it."
Hart's second TD came on a 4-yard run to put Michigan ahead 14-6 on the first drive of the second half. Hart surpassed the 100-yard mark during the possession and moved past Ohio State's Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards) into third place on the Big Ten list for single-season rushing by a freshman.
Quarterback Brett Basanez was 23-of-43 for 211 yards and a score. Brandon Horn caught a 9-yard pass late in the game to make it 42-20. Mark Philmore, Northwestern's leading receiver and punt returner, missed his second straight game with a sprained right knee.
The Wildcats drove deep into Michigan territory three times in the first half but had just two field goals and a blocked field-goal attempt to show for it. Joel Howells kicked for the first time this season in place of Brian Huffman.
The Wildcats trailed just 14-13 early in the third quarter after Herron ran through a hole in the middle of the line and scored on a 68-yard run. But Michigan then broke the game open.
"I'm disappointed with the outcome but not at all discouraged with this football team," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "We played hard and competed with a great Michigan team that was obviously on their game, especially in the second half.
"When it came to crunch time, they know how to crunch," he said.
The Wolverines set an NCAA record this season by averaging 111,025 fans per game at Michigan Stadium.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
Team Stats
NU 3, MICH 0
NU - Howells, Joel 23 yd field goal 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 5:05
NU 3, MICH 7
MICH - Hart, Michael 34 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:38
NU 6, MICH 7
NU - Howells, Joel 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:02
NU 6, MICH 14
MICH - Hart, Michael 4 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:43
NU 13, MICH 14
NU - Herron, Noah 68 yd run (Howells, Joel kick), 1 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:18
NU 13, MICH 21
MICH - Avant, Jason 14 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:11
NU 13, MICH 28
MICH - Hart, Michael 15 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 1:38
NU 13, MICH 35
MICH - Breaston, Steve 10 yd pass from Henne, Chad (Rivas, Garrett kick) 8 plays, 54 yards, TOP 4:08
NU 13, MICH 42
MICH - Breaston, Steve 67 yd punt return (Rivas, Garrett kick)
NU 20, MICH 42
NU - Horn, Brandon 9 yd pass from Basanez, Brett (Howells, Joel kick) 15 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:26
