COLLEGE FOOTBALL / WEEK 3 : BIG TEN : Henson Takes Turn Starring for Michigan

Sixth-ranked Michigan was simply too much for Rice as the bigger, stronger, faster and deeper Wolverines defeated the Owls, 37-3, Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich.

The biggest difference was at quarterback, where fifth-year senior Tom Brady and Drew Henson, a sophomore, are vying for the stating Michigan job.

Henson may have gained a step, running for one touchdown and passing for another.

Statistically, the two were pretty close. Brady, who started and played three quarters against Notre Dame the previous Saturday, was the starter again and completed 10 of 15 passes for 115 yards.

Henson completed eight of 14 for 109 yards, but produced more points.

Still, Coach Lloyd Carr--who has said all along he doesn’t want a two-quarterback system--wasn’t tipping his hand. “Well, I like the way they both played,” Carr said. “If you look at their stats, they were about even.”

Anthony Thomas ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns and kicker Jeff Del Verne, a walk-on who received a scholarship earlier in the week, booted three field goals for Michigan (2-0).

Rice (0-2), giving away nearly 40 pounds per man, never had the ball in Michigan territory until late in the fourth quarter.

No. 9 Wisconsin 50, Ball State 10--Ron Dayne rushed for 158 yards in 31 carries as the Badgers (2-0) breezed to an easy victory over the Cardinals at Madison, Wis.

Dayne’s biggest obstacle in his quest for a national rushing record might be teammate Nick Davis, whose long kickoff and punt returns are shortening the field.

Davis, who had a 76-yard punt-return touchdown in Wisconsin’s opener against Murray State, returned a free kick after a safety 77 yards for a touchdown against Ball State (0-2). He almost broke loose for a another touchdown and finished with 227 yards on kick returns, pass receptions and rushes.

Dayne needs 1,424 yards to break Ricky Williams’ NCAA major-college record of 6,279.

Iowa State 17, Iowa 10--Darren Davis rushed for 235 yards in 38 carries and scored a touchdown and Sage Rosenfels passed to Damien Groce as the Cyclones (2-0) beat the Hawkeyes (0-2) at Ames, Iowa.

Minnesota 35, Louisiana Monroe 0--Thomas Hamner had 33 carries for 174 yards and three touchdowns as the Golden Gophers (2-0) crushed the Indians at Minneapolis.

North Carolina 42, Indiana 30--Ronald Curry passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Tar Heels (1-1) over the Hoosiers (1-1) at Bloomington, Ind.

Northwestern 17, Texas Christian 7--Sam Simmons returned a punt for a touchdown and set up another score with a 71-yard reception as the Wildcats (1-1) beat the Horned Frogs (0-2) at Evanston, Ill.

Michigan State 51, Eastern Michigan 7--The Spartans (2-0) led, 41-0, at halftime and the Eagles didn’t cross midfield until the fourth quarter.