BIG TEN ROUNDUP : Defense, Wheatley Lead Michigan

The defense of No. 8-ranked Michigan finally played up to its potential and Tyrone Wheatley did the rest in a 24-7 victory over Iowa Saturday in a Big Ten Conference game at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wheatley scored three touchdowns and the defense had five sacks, a blocked field-goal attempt and caused three turnovers.

The defense, loaded with veterans, was supposed to hold the team together while the new offensive line matured. But it was the offense that had been carrying the load early this season. The defense had only two sacks through the first three games.

“We had a meeting last week and discussed Michigan football,” said defensive tackle Buster Stanley, who had two sacks for 18 yards and a fumble recovery. “We had a different attitude today.”

Wheatley, with 202 all-purpose yards, ran 28 times for 113 yards, had three receptions for 60 yards and 29 yards on kickoff returns.

Wheatley teamed with Todd Collins on a 48-yard touchdown pass play and scored on runs of five and three yards for the Wolverines, 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten.

Iowa (2-2, 0-2) scored on a 12-yard pass from Paul Burmeister to Kent Kahl. The Hawkeyes had one pass intercepted and lost two fumbles.

Despite being unable to contain Wheatley, the Hawkeyes kept the game close. There were four occasions on which the Wolverines were inside Iowa’s 20 and failed to score.

Illinois 28, Purdue 10--Sophomore Johnny Johnson passed for three touchdowns in his first college start as the Illini won a Big Ten game at West Lafayette, Ind.

Johnson, named the starter over freshman Scott Weaver after Illinois lost its first three games for the first time since 1972, had scoring pass plays of 32 yards to Ty Douthard, 24 to Jason Dulick and 28 to Kevin Jackson.

The elusive Johnson consistently frustrated Purdue defenders while rushing for 32 yards and passing for 166.

Illinois (1-3, 1-0) turned two consecutive fumbles by Purdue (1-3, 0-1) into touchdowns in the third quarter.

Indiana 23, Minnesota 19--John Paci passed for 255 yards and Jermaine Chaney rushed for 109 yards, both career highs, and Indiana held Big Ten total offense leader Tim Schade to 62 passing yards as the Hoosiers won in a Big Ten game at Minneapolis.

After completing only eight of 21 passes, Schade was benched with Minnesota trailing, 20-3, early in the third quarter. Backup Scott Eckers came on and threw two touchdown passes to Omar Douglas. The second, a 12-yarder with 3:42 to go, came one play after Paci was intercepted by Juan Hunter.

But Indiana (4-1, 1-1) stopped the Gophers (1-4, 0-2) on downs with 1:39 to play.