Fired-Up Michigan Rocks Houston, 61-7 : Nonconference: Wolverines score quickly and often in handing the Cougars their worst defeat.

It took only 12 seconds for Michigan’s Tyrone Wheatley to begin the worst rout in Houston’s history.

Wheatley returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and the fourth-ranked Wolverines scored 35 points in the second quarter in a 61-7 romp over the Cougars on Saturday.

“It was just a downhill run from then on out,” Houston Coach John Jenkins said.

It was the worst defeat for Houston, eclipsing a 50-0 loss to Texas in 1982.

“I think any time you go down and cause a fumble on the kickoff or return the kickoff for a touchdown, that starts your fire burning,” Michigan Coach Gary Moeller said. “I felt that emotion myself, on the sideline.”

Michigan’s output matched the record yield by Houston, which was beaten, 61-14, by Texas Tech in 1954. Michigan, which controlled the ball 37 minutes 49 seconds, rolled up 537 yards and held the Cougars to 276.

Todd Collins, making his second consecutive start in place of injured Elvis Grbac, threw four touchdown passes for the Wolverines (2-0-1). The defense, led by safety Shonte Peoples, forced Houston (1-2) into three turnovers.

Collins, who completed 17 of 24 passes for 205 yards with one interception, connected on touchdown pass plays of 18 and 23 yards to tight end Tony McGee, 43 yards to freshman Mercury Hayes, and 12 yards to Jesse Johnson. Wheatley, who missed last week’s game because of a groin injury, also scored on a seven-yard run.

Jay Riemersma, a redshirt freshman, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to freshman Amani Toomer in the fourth quarter, and Ed Davis scored from 11 yards.

Jimmy Klingler connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass with Ron Peters with 3:42 left. The Cougars alternated Donald Douglas and Klingler at quarterback in their run-and-shoot offense. Both were hurried repeatedly.