COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Northwestern Stuns Michigan This Time : Big Ten: Opportunistic Wildcats down Wolverines, 19-13, for first victory over foe in 30 years.

The drought is finally over for No. 25 Northwestern. The Wildcats are for real.

Northwestern, taking advantage of No. 7 Michigan’s mistakes, rode the arm of Steve Schnur and the kicking of Sam Valenzisi to 19-13 victory Saturday, the Wildcats’ first triumph over the Wolverines in 30 years and first at Ann Arbor since 1959.

“This win is huge for our program,” said Schnur, who completed 11 of 23 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. “We believe in ourselves more every win we get. We have a confidence about us.”

It is the best start for Northwestern since the 1963 team, coached by Ara Parseghian, opened 4-1.

The Wildcats, 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten, opened the season with a 17-15 victory at Notre Dame and haven’t been slowed much since. Northwestern’s only loss, to Miami of Ohio, was the result of a botched punt.

“We all learned our lesson from that,” said Schnur, who threw a two-yard pass to fullback Matt Hartl in the fourth quarter for Northwestern’s only touchdown. “It’s a shame it had to happen.”

Michigan (5-1, 1-1) turned the ball over four times and had six penalties for 41 yards, several at critical points in the game.

Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald was outstanding with 14 tackles, including two for losses, and played a key role in stopping Michigan’s last-ditch drive--which ended in Griese’s second interception with 1:31 remaining.

“This is a special group of kids,” Northwestern Coach Gary Barnett said. “It’s a heck of a way to get to 4-1, beating Michigan and Notre Dame, away.”

Barnett, however, ranked this upset ahead of the one over Notre Dame.

“For me, personally, this is a bigger win, because I was tutored in Michigan heritage by Bill McCartney,” said Barnett, who was an assistant at Colorado before getting the Northwestern job.

Valenzisi broke Ira Adler’s school record with his 10th consecutive field goal.

Tim Biakabutuka rushed for a career-high 205 yards in 34 carries for Michigan. Darnell Autry had 103 yards in 26 carries for Northwestern, his sixth consecutive 100-yard game.