It was supposed to be a tight, hard-hitting affair, but Saturday's Michigan-Ohio State game proved to be one-sided. The Wolverines, paced by Desmond Howard's 213 all-purpose yards and staunch defense, soundly handled the Buckeyes, 31-3.
"I thought it would be closer," Michigan guard Matt Elliott said. "I don't think Ohio State played as well as they could have. I don't think they played as well as some of the games we had seen on film."
The victory gave Michigan (8-0 in the Big Ten, 10-1 overall) its third outright conference title in four years, during which the Wolverines have not lost to Ohio State. The Buckeyes (5-3, 8-3) remained in third place with the defeat. "I guess if you're 10-1 you've got to be happy, so I'm happy," Michigan coach Gary Moeller said.
After most of Desmond Howard's 23 touchdowns this season, he has celebrated by tossing his arms in the air and jumping into the arms of a oncoming offensive lineman. But following Howard's sensational Michigan record 93-yard punt-return touchdown against Ohio State Saturday, he provided a different sort of position – that of the famous Heisman trophy he may soon possess.
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"I told my friends in Ohio that if I got in the end zone against Ohio State, I'd do something special for them," he said.
While it was impossible to miss Howard's electrifying return, only those watching Michigan's 31-3 rout over Ohio State on television witnessed his brief celebratory display – the majority of the Michigan Stadium crowd didn't catch it.
"I didn't see it," Michigan coach Gary Moeller said. "I won't believe it until I see it. One of my players would not do that."
Text: Phil Green. Photos: Jeff Schrier/MHP.
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