Big Ten Roundup : Harbaugh Has Another Big Game as Michigan Routs Illinois, 69-13

Quarterback Jim Harbaugh ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and fullback Bob Perryman and reserve quarterback Chris Zurbrugg also scored twice to lead No. 3 Michigan to a 69-13 rout of Illinois before 104,122 fans Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Michigan extended its winning streak to 12 games and its unbeaten string to 14. The Wolverines are 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten. The Illini fell to 2-6 and 1-4.

The 69 points were the most scored by a Michigan team since a 70-21 rout of Illinois in 1981.

Harbaugh, who came into the game ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency, completed 11 of 13 passes for 224 yards.

Asked about a national championship, Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler said: “I think it’s very difficult for a Big Ten team to win a national championship. You’ve got to win all your conference games, plus a couple other tough opponents.”

The Wolverines rolled up 501 yards in total offense and limited Illinois to 226. It was the third time this season Michigan has had more than 500 yards in total offense.

Perryman scored on runs of 1 and 25 yards, and Zurbrugg had touchdown plunges of 2 and 1 yards.

Michigan St. 52, Minnesota 23--Dave Yarema completed 25 of 30 passes for a career-high 321 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Spartans, and Blake Ezor and Craig Johnson added short touchdown runs in place of injured All-American Lorenzo White.

It was the third straight victory for Michigan State, 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten. Minnesota dropped to 4-4 and 3-2 with their second straight loss.

White, who has been hampered by a knee injury this season, hurt his right ankle early in the second quarter. While he was on the sideline, Ezor gained 107 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run. Johnson scored on a 3-yard run.

Purdue 17, Northwestern 16--Jonathan Briggs kicked a 17-yard field goal with four seconds left at Evanston, Ill., to give the Boilermakers the victory.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it counted for three points,” Briggs said. “I’ve kicked some pretty ones that didn’t make it.”

Briggs has kicked 10 straight field goals and connected on 11 of 13 attempts this season. Saturday’s game-winner went off his ankle and fluttered through the goal posts.

It was set up when a Northwestern punt was partially blocked by Brad Davis. Earlier, the Boilermakers blocked a punt to set up their first touchdown.

Northwestern had taken a 16-14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 52-yard kick by John Duvic, his third field goal of the game.

Purdue is 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten. Northwestern is 2-6 and 0-5.

With freshman quarterback Jeff George still ailing with a bad back, junior Jeff Huber made his first start for the Boilermakers but was unable to generate any attack. Doug Downing replaced Huber early in the second half after Huber threw an interception.

Late in the third quarter, Purdue’s Scott Kalnoski intercepted a pass. Two plays later, Downing teamed with Calvin Williams on a 69-yard touchdown play, Purdue’s longest of the season from scrimmage.

Indiana 21, Wisconsin 7--Hoosier Coach Bill Mallory wanted to wake up a sluggish offense, and his decision to start two freshmen, tailback Anthony Thompson and quarterback Dave Schnell, paid off with a victory over the Badgers at Bloomington, Ind.

Thompson ran for 207 yards, and Schnell scored on runs of 1 and 32 yards and passed for 156 yards and another touchdown.

The Indiana offense totaled 441 yards, and the Hoosier defense limited Wisconsin to 160.

Thompson, who missed the first three games with a thigh injury and had totaled only 102 yards in relief the next four games, finished with the eighth-highest rushing total in Indiana history.

The victory lifted Indiana to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten. The Badgers are 2-3 and 3-6.