A week ago, the Michigan defense learned a tough lesson. Apparently the loss to Notre Dame made an impression.
The 17th-ranked Wolverines shut out visiting San Diego State in the second half Saturday for a 24-21 victory.
Once Michigan seized the lead early in the third quarter, the Wolverines were determined not to let the Aztecs get back in the game.
“We just came out with the same intensity [as the first half], turning it up a little bit,” said linebacker Roy Manning, who had five solo tackles, two of them for losses, a sack and a forced fumble. “Last week we didn’t come out in the second half with the same intensity, and this week we wanted to do that. That was the big difference.”
San Diego State came in with a defense known as the Dark Side and the confidence of battling Ohio State before losing 16-13 last fall at Ohio Stadium.
The Aztecs brought famed former coach Don Coryell and baseball coach Tony Gwynn along for inspiration.
They also brought quarterback Matt Dlugolecki, who transferred from Illinois after his redshirt freshman year.
Dlugolecki completed 16 of 25 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns to lead San Diego State to a 21-17 halftime lead.
In the second half Dlugolecki was 10 of 17 for 76 yards and no touchdowns. He was sacked twice as the Aztecs’ offense recorded just five first downs. For the game San Diego State (1-1) rushed for just 22 yards.
“The defense was magnificent,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
Michigan, which didn’t run the ball well at Notre Dame, might have found a tailback. Freshman Michael Hart gained 124 yards on 25 carries. Regular tailback David Underwood did not play after suffering a concussion against the Irish.
Michigan scored on its first possession of the third quarter to take a 24-21 lead when freshman quarterback Chad Henne passed 7 yards to Braylon Edwards for the score.
Edwards, who caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Henne on Michigan’s first play of the game, became Michigan’s all-time leading receiver.
He caught eight passes for 130 yards and now has 181 career receptions for 2,562 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The Aztecs roared back in the first quarter when Antwan Applewhite intercepted a Henne pass–thrown as he was hit–and returned it 73 yards. Three plays later Michael Franklin scored from the 4. Tied 7-7, Michigan knew it was in for a fight.
“We really rallied and responded after that first play and we didn’t cave in,” San Diego State coach Tom Craft said.
Michigan took a 17-7 lead after a 39-yard Garret Rivas field goal and a 5-yard fumble return by Lawrence Reid. Manning had blasted Dlugolecki, causing the fumble.
“They blocked me off the end,” said Manning, a fifth-year senior.
“Our coaches teach us that if we get blocked, just keep going and keep fighting. Those guys in the back must have been covering great because when I got to him, he still had the ball.”
The Aztecs weren’t fazed. A three-play, 81-yard drive got them to within 17-14.
A 61-yard gain on a shovel pass from Dlugolecki to Robert Ortiz was followed by a halfback pass from Franklin to Jeff Webb for the 12-yard score. Then they took a 21-17 lead on when Dlugolecki’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Ortiz with 7:57 left in the half.
