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Michigan's Win
Tuesday, 2005 October 18 - 1:15 am
A memorable day in Michigan football history.

I'd just about lost hope in Michigan football.

Prior to October 15th, the season was pretty much a bust already. At 3-3, with two conference losses, the odds of Michigan going to a decent bowl game seemed slim. It was possible that they wouldn't go to a bowl at all. With Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern, and Ohio State still left to play this season, things didn't look so good.

So while I was in New York, I didn't go out of my way to watch the Michigan-Penn State game. I was TiVo-ing it at home, and I wasn't sure I'd want to see the outcome anyway. But as it happens, I was in front of the TV as the fourth quarter of the game unfolded.

Michigan had taken a 10-0 lead, but then Penn State charged right back with 18 unanswered points. Michigan tied it with a long touchdown pass and a two-point conversion, then re-took the lead with a 47-yard field goal. But just as Michigan seemed poised to close out the game, Penn State scored a go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds left in the game.

My heart sank. I'd seen this too many times before. Michigan would try a desperation last-minute drive that would end in a humiliating sack or interception. We just didn't have it in us to win a game like this, not this year.

The announcers said: "Let's see if Steve Breaston can pull out a miracle." Breaston is Michigan's star kick returner.

On the ensuing kickoff, Breaston ripped off a 41-yard return to give Michigan great field position. Quarterback Chad Henne guided Michigan towards the end zone with a series of crisp passes.

With 30 seconds left in the game, Michigan called time-out. The clock ran down to 28 seconds, and Coach Lloyd Carr argued heatedly with the officials, until they relented and restored the clock time to 30 seconds. The extra two seconds would turn out to be pivotal.

Michigan got a first down at the 16-yard-line with 18 seconds left. The announcers commented on how inefficient Michigan had been in the "red zone" this year, just second-to-last in the conference in scoring efficiency after reaching the 20-yard-line. An incomplete pass made it second down, with twelve seconds left. A short completion to the sideline left it third down with six seconds left. One more incomplete pass made it fourth down with just one second remaining in the game. The ball sat on the Penn State 10-yard-line. Michigan called its last time out.

Coming on to the field, Michigan's top receiver Jason Avant was lined up split left. Tim Massaquoi was the tight end; Steve Breaston and freshman Mario Manningham were both lined up wide to the right. Mike Hart was the lone running back in the backfield. Penn State had a nickel defense: four down linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. What came next was one of the most amazing plays I've seen in Michigan football, not because of some unbelievable feat of athleticism or wacky bounce of the ball, but from the sheer perfection of its execution. I've tellustrated the play because I'm so thrilled about it.



Massaquoi and Breaston crossed paths, drawing their underneath zone defenders with them. Breaston ran into the strong safety's zone, drawing him away from the outside cornerback. Manningham gave a terrific fake and got inside position on the cornerback. Massaquoi and Breaston's patterns had opened a passing lane for Henne. Henne threw a dart right into the arms of Manningham, and Michigan scored one of the most dramatic touchdowns in its history, with :00 showing on the clock. Penn State, previously undefeated this season, were stunned to find themselves on the short end of a 27-25 final score.

I feel bad for my Penn State friends, who have suffered mightily these past few years. And Penn State played a hell of a game. No doubt they'll win many more games this year. But this Saturday was Michigan's day.

Coach Carr would later say that if Manningham hadn't taken exactly the right position and run exactly the right route, the play would not have worked. I can now see why; the passing lane opened up by the other receivers was just a tiny little crease, a hole in the zone defense not more than a couple of yards wide. The margin for error was small. But Michigan somehow, amazingly, pulled off the miracle.

Ahhhhhh. Now there's talk that Michigan is still in the hunt for the Big Ten championship. It's an outside chance, to be sure, but the possibility is there. Dare we raise our hopes again? After a win like this, it feels like anything could happen.
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Posted by Ken in: sports

Comments

Comment #1 from olafandyjon (Guest)
2005 Oct 18 - 9:10 am : #
I was truly, truly stunned at how easy the last play looked. That just doesn't happen for us.
Comment #2 from Dan (Guest)
2005 Oct 19 - 6:20 pm : #
Nice wrapup. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to beating my head with a brick. It helps dull the pain.

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