Iowa, Michigan Fumble Their Way to 17-17 Tie

Michigan’s Tracy Williams and Iowa’s Tony Stewart each fumbled at the 1-yard line Saturday to thwart scoring drives as the Wolverines and Hawkeyes played to a 17-17 tie.

The tie dropped No. 15 Michigan out of the Big Ten lead at 3-2-1 overall and 2-0-1 in conference. Iowa’s record is 3-2-2 and 1-0-2.

Michigan appeared headed for victory by going 63 yards in 12 plays before Williams fumbled at Iowa’s 1. Hawkeye defensive end Joe Mott recovered with 1:21 left to play.

Iowa’s Chuck Hartlieb, who completed 26 of 33 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown, drove the Hawkeyes downfield in the waning seconds, but a desperation pass to tight end Marv Cook to the Michigan 2 was batted away as time expired.

Iowa Coach Hayden Fry’s gamble in the third quarter to bypass a field-goal attempt and go for a touchdown at the 1-yard line failed when Stewart fumbled trying to leap into the end zone.

Iowa scored first as Hartlieb, throwing from the shotgun formation for the first time this season, drove Iowa 60 yards in 11 plays. He capped the scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Cook, who finished with 9 catches for 111 yards.

Michigan’s Mike Gillette brought the Wolverines to within 7-3 by kicking a 43-yard field goal. Iowa’s Jeff Skillett countered with a 32-yard field goal to put Iowa ahead, 10-3.

Three plays later, Iowa nose guard Dave Haight recovered a fumble by Michigan quarterback Michael Taylor on the Wolverine 8-yard line. Iowa fullback David Hudson then ran 5 yards for a touchdown 17-3 lead.

Taylor, who completed 13 of 22 passes for 172 yards, capped a 76-yard, 15-play drive by running 5 yards for a touchdown that cut the Wolverines’ deficit to 17-10 with 1:03 left in the half.

The Wolverines tied the game, 17-17, when Taylor hit John Kolesar on a 24-yard scoring pass to cap a 99-yard, 13-play drive that came after Iowa gambled on a fourth-and-goal opportunity but fell a yard short when Stewart fumbled.