BIG TEN ROUNDUP : Michigan Needs 4th-Quarter Flurry to Pull Away From Boston College

Desmond Howard caught three scoring passes and returned the second-half kickoff 93 yards for another touchdown as second-ranked Michigan won its season opener, 35-13, over Boston College Saturday at Newton, Mass.

The Wolverines led only 14-13 before scoring three touchdowns in the final eight minutes. Until then, the Eagles (0-2) had stayed with highly favored Michigan even after Howard’s kickoff return made the score 14-10.

Sean Wright’s second field goal, a 22-yarder 53 seconds into the fourth quarter, cut the lead.

Then Michigan marched 70 yards in nine plays, capped by Elvis Grbac’s eight-yard pass to Howard on a slant into the end zone with 7:54 left in the game.

That finally gave the Wolverines some breathing room against Boston College, which was 4-7 last season after losing its last four games.

With 1:14 remaining, Howard scored his third touchdown on a 19-yard pass play.

With 55 seconds to go, Lance Dottin returned an interception 50 yards for the final touchdown.

Until that stretch, Michigan had trouble converting big plays in Eagle territory. One third-quarter drive stalled when Ricky Powers, who had 176 yards in 27 carries, was held to no gain and a six-yard loss after Michigan had a second-and-two at the 40.

No. 15 Iowa 53, Hawaii 10--Lew Montgomery scored on three short runs and quarterback Matt Rodgers passed for two touchdowns as the Hawkeyes won at Iowa City.

“We ran only our basic plays, which is hard-nose fundamental football,” Iowa Coach Hayden Fry said. “We executed well and we got that big momentum going right off the bat.”

Iowa, playing before a season-opening record crowd of 70,044, contained an Hawaii offense that gained 523 yards against Wyoming last week. Against Iowa, Hawaii managed 342 yards to 467 for the Hawkeyes.

Fry wasn’t sure if the Hawkeyes were ready to play a team that had upset them, 27-24, in 1988, a year when Iowa entered the season ranked No. 1 by some publications.

“We were scared and nervous coming into the game,” he said. “You just wait and see about Hawaii. They defeated a very fine Wyoming team and they played super in beating them. We were ready for the triple option today.

“I’m extremely happy with the victory. It was a tremendous way to start the season.”

Purdue 49, Eastern Michigan 3--Jim Schwantz returned an intercepted pass 66 yards for a touchdown, one of four turnovers that led to Purdue scores, as the Boilermakers won at West Lafayette, Ind., to give Jim Colletto a victory in his debut as coach.

Quarterback Eric Hunter and fullback Earl Coleman each rushed for two touchdowns and Purdue, which went to its bench late in the third quarter, gained 289 yards in 58 rushes.

The Boilermakers had their biggest game rushing since accumulating 380 against Indiana on Nov. 19, 1983. Eastern Michigan (0-2) had four passes intercepted and losing a fumble.

Eastern Michigan had one serious threat, driving to the Purdue 12, but had to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Jim Langeloh.