Michigan’s Running Game Wears Down Hawaii, 27-10

Hawaii Coach Dick Tomey feared the balance of fourth-ranked Michigan’s offense going into Saturday’s encounter with the Big Ten champions.

But, in traditional Wolverine fashion, it was the running game that carried Michigan to a 27-10 victory over the Rainbows.

Michigan will go to the Rose Bowl with an 11-1 record, while Hawaii completed its season at 7-5.

Wolverine quarterback Jim Harbaugh completed nine of 15 passes for 125 yards and ran nine times for 29 yards, but it was running backs Jamie Morris and Bob Perryman who did the most damage as Michigan scored 17 fourth-quarter points and wore down the Hawaii defense.

Perryman rushed 14 times for 107 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, while Morris carried 21 times for 118 yards. The Michigan offense generated 272 yards on the ground.

Morris, a junior and the brother of New York Giants’ star Joe Morris, went over 1,000 yards for the second straight season.

Neither team found the end zone in a first half that ended in a 3-3 tie, Michigan having gotten a 40-yard field goal from Mike Gillette and Hawaii replying with a 25-yard effort by Rod Valverde.

On Michigan’s first possession of the second half, the Wolverines took a 10-3 lead when Harbaugh scored on a four-yard run.

Hawaii tied it at 10-10 when Coyle Permetter dived in from a yard out with 5:24 left in the third quarter. The score ended a 14-play, 86-yard drive.

Michigan took the lead for good on Perryman’s first touchdown, which came on a two-yard dive with 14:17 left in the game and made the score 17-10. The touchdown capped a 76-yard, 13-play drive.