BIG TEN ROUNDUP : Carlson’s Kicks Help Michigan Beat Illini

J.D. Carlson tied a school record with five field goals as No. 19 Michigan defeated No. 17 Illinois, 22-17, in a Big Ten game Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich.

“There’s no question we felt we beat a great Illinois football team,” said Michigan Coach Gary Moeller. “I knew they would be back after they got blown out (54-28 by Iowa) last week.”

Carlson equaled the mark set by Mike Gillette in a 22-7 win over Minnesota on Nov. 5, 1988.

“A lot of field goals were really crucial,” Carlson said. “It was a lot of strategy out there today. If I had missed, Illinois could have come down and put up some touchdowns.”

His 51-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights.

The Wolverines, 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, led 19-3 after three quarters and got a key interception by Vada Murray at their own two-yard line with six minutes remaining.

Michigan then ran out the clock, driving to the Illinois 22 before time expired.

“It was my fault,” Illinois quarterback Jason Verduzco said. “I read it wrong. I shouldn’t have thrown it down there, but I did.”

It was the second consecutive loss for the Fighting Illini (6-3, 4-2) who have lost five in a row to Michigan and haven’t won at Ann Arbor since 1966.

Carlson kicked field goals of 28, 51, 19, 18 and 18 yards. Freshman Ricky Powers, who ran for 113 yards in 23 carries, had a three-yard run for Michigan’s only touchdown.

Shawn Wax, who had four catches for 64 yards, caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Verduzco and Wax tossed a 26-yard scoring strike to Steven Mueller for the Illini, whose other points came on a 32-yard field goal by Doug Higgins.

Michigan had 432 yards, 303 on the ground. The Illini, held to 13 first downs and possession time of 20:04, had 215 yards.

Michigan State 28, Minnesota 16--The Spartans eliminated the Gophers from the Rose Bowl race by defeating them at Minneapolis.

Michigan State (5-3-1, 4-2) kept its slim Rose Bowl chances alive, moving within one game of Iowa, which lost to Ohio State.

The Spartans, who close the season against Northwestern and Wisconsin, have already lost to Iowa. Michigan and Illinois are also 4-2 and Ohio State is 4-1-1.

Michigan State has already announced that it will appear in the John Hancock Bowl (formerly Sun Bowl) in El Paso, Tex., if it doesn’t win the Big Ten.

Hyland Hickson rushed for 97 yards and Tico Duckett had 76 to lead a Spartan ground game that gained 242 yards against Minnesota. Each ran for a touchdown, as did Courtney Hawkins and quarterback Dan Enos.

All four Michigan State touchdowns capped long, ground-oriented drives.

Minnesota’s lone bright spot was the passing of Marquel Fleetwood, who missed the last game with a collarbone injury. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 164 yards and scored on an 11-yard run.

Indiana 20, Wisconsin 7--Vaughn Dunbar rushed for 161 yards and one touchdown and Rob Turner scored on a 67-yard pass play as the Hoosiers beat the Badgers in a Big Ten game at Bloomington, Ind.

It was the first victory in five weeks for Indiana (5-3-1, 2-3-1) and the 11th consecutive conference loss over two seasons for Wisconsin (1-8, 0-6).

Scott Bonnell added field goals of 43 and and 41 yards as the Hoosiers kept alive their hopes for a bowl bid.

Purdue 33, Northwestern 13--Eric Hunter ran for two touchdowns and passed for another in leading the Boilermakers over the Wildcats in a Big Ten game at Evanston, Ill.

Hunter completed 17 of 28 passes for 185 yards before leaving the game late in the third quarter with a bruised knee.

The Boilermakers (2-7, 1-5) scored 21 points in the third quarter and Jarrett Scales returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown in the fourth.

Northwestern dropped to 2-7 and 1-5.