Irish Luck Holds in a 19-17 Win : Michigan Kick Sails Wide Right on Game’s Last Play

Michigan got in the last kick, but it wasn’t the best one.

Mike Gillette’s 48-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right on the last play of the game and 13th-ranked Notre Dame overcame the No. 9 Wolverines, 19-17, Saturday night on four field goals by Reggie Ho.

Ho, a 5-5, 135-pound junior from Hawaii, made the first four field goal attempts of his career, including a 26-yarder with 1:13 remaining, to tie a school redord. His other kicks carried 31, 38, and 26 yards.

Gillette’s 49-yarder gave Michigan a 17-16 lead with 5:39 remaining.

Bo Schembechler suffered a second consecutive opening-game loss for the first time in his 20-year coaching career at Michigan. Notre Dame beat the Wolverines, 26-7, in last year’s opener.

An 81-yard punt return by Ricky Watters and Ho’s first two field goals gave Notre Dame a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Michigan took a 14-13 lead on 1-yard runs by Leroy Hoard in the second period and quarterback Michael Taylor in the third quarter. The scores came after drives of only 38 and 14 yards, the first following Tony Boles’ 59-yard kickoff return and the second after Watters muffed a punt.

Ho kicked the first of his two fourth-quarter field goals on the second play of the period, capping a 12-play, 78-yard drive that gave Notre Dame a 16-14 lead.

After Gillette gave Michigan a 17-16 lead, Notre Dame freshman Raghib Ismail returned the kickoff 16 yards to his 20. Michigan was penalized 15 yards when cornerback David Key was charged with pass interference and quarterback Tony Rice ran 21 yards to the Wolverines’ 44.

After a 1-yard gain by Tony Brooks, Rice passed to Brooks for 18 yards. It was only his third completion in 12 attempts.

Two rushes by Mark Green and one by Rice gave Notre Dame a first down at the 15 with 2:42 remaining. Ho kicked his game-winning field on fourth down and 4.