SOONERS ESCAPE WOLVERINES CLAWS 22-19

Intradivisional games began this week with Oklahoma hosting the Michigan Wolverines. Both teams entered the contest with 1-1 records on the young season. Michigan had Heisman winning RB Michael Hart (15-69) on a mission to prove that the Sooner defense could be moved on. On the other side of the ball, the Sooners defense was chopping it to bits to get their hands on Hart. Oklahoma would need to cut down on its fumbles (16 and lost 11 through 2 games) and force UM to have long drives. Michigan also knew that the wishbone would not be easy to stop.

Things got off to a quick start for the Wolverines as WR Steve Breasten (7-71) returned the opening kickoff 58 yards back to the Sooners 38 yard line. A personal fould penalty was tacked on and now Michigan would begin its opening drive at OU's 21 yard line. Already the OU defense was in a bad situation due to its special teams breakdown, but hey at least it wasn't due to a fumble by the offense. After 3 straight attempts to at least get a first down the Wolverines were forced to bring in Garrett Rivas to kick a 35 yard field goal. In less than a minute the Wolverines led 3-0. OU would punt to Michigan on its first two possessions of the game sending the Sooners a message loud and clear that they had come to play. Michigan would miss an opportunity to go up 6-0 on its second drive but Rivas was unable to convert the 49 yard field goal.

Midway through the opening quarter Michigan would silence the crowd here at Gaylord Memorial Stadium by going up 10-0 on Chad Hennes touchdown pass to Adrian Arrington with only 1:58 left in the opening quarter. Rivas would come on to start to second quarter by hitting a 49 yard field goal to now put the Wolverines up 13-0 created by a Sooner fumble at its own 31 yard line. OU would finally put together a nice drive but penalties killed it and OU was forced to bring in RD Lasher to kick the 35 yard field goal. That lead would go to 16-3 after yet another Michigan field goal, this time from only 29 yards. Lasher prior the half ending would put OU within 8 at 14-6.

OU would open up the 3rd quarter and get some help along the way to keep the drive going. The costly one though came on an attempted OU field goal. The field goal was missed badly, but Michigan would be called for "climbing over the back" of a defender in an attempt to block the kick. Now instead of it being 4th and 11 it was now a makeable 4th and 1. OU opted to take the field goal team and go for it. Patrick Collins would smash off right tackle for a 3 yard gain and a Sooner first down. 5 plays later Eric Mitchell would go in from 5 yards out cutting the UM lead to 16-10. By the end of the 3rd the Sooner team was starting to take the game over.

Michigan would retake the lead at 19-16 early in the 4th quarter. Again penalties would hurt OU as midway through the 4th forcing OU to overcome a 2nd and 22 when Holieway was called for intentional grounding. 6 plays later OU got its first lead of the game on seldom used Damon Stells 5 yard run. The extra point was missed and OU now only led by 3 at 22-19. The game would end this way as now OU goes to 2-1 and Michigan dropped to 1-2 on the young season.

Michigan coach Tom Davis stated after the game "I wasn't thinking right and earlier in the 4th quarter should have opted to kick a field goal as I was thinking I was down by 4.".

Good luck to Michigan the rest of the way. --submitted by Bill Vogt--