Michigan Hurdles Florida State, 20-18

Michigan saved its best for last.

Track star Thomas Wilcher came off the bench in the final quarter and scored on a seven-yard run with 1:27 left Saturday to give the fifth-ranked Wolverines a 20-18 victory over No. 20 Florida State before 105,507 fans at Ann Arbor, Mich.

“They put a fresh back in there,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said, “and he hurt us. He had a lot of zest and power.

“We slowed their other two backs, but they had one more to go to. I thought the extra power and speed made a difference in their offense.”

Wilcher, the NCAA 55-meter hurdles champion last year, gained 53 yards in 9 carries in the fourth quarter and was the key to a drive that gave Michigan (3-0) a 20-10 lead.

After Wilcher’s score, the Seminoles (1-2-1) drove 67 yards in 6 plays behind reserve quarterback Danny McManus, who threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to split end Herb Gainer with 16 seconds left.

“Wilcher came in and sparked us on the drive, but we probably scored too quickly,” Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler said, only half in jest. “We scored on second downs. We should have waited until fourth downs, I guess.”

McManus, who replaced starter Chip Ferguson for the final drive, passed to Pat Carter for the two-point conversion, but the Seminoles failed in their bid to recover an onside kick, and Michigan ran out the clock.

Bowden said he would switch quarterbacks sooner if he had it to do over again.

“I would have been smarter,” Bowden said. “It was my fault.”

Michigan’s defense, led by strong safety Ivan Hicks, returned to the form that made it one of the country’s best last season. The Wolverines intercepted three passes, recovered a fumble and held the Seminoles to 285 total yards.

“We were faking blitzes,” said Hicks, who had two interceptions. “We knew we had to come together.”