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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 9, 2007

Michigan can't duck another embarrassing loss

Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan got embarrassed again, just in a different way.

A week after being upset by Appalachian State, the Wolverines were handed their most-lopsided loss in 39 years as Dennis Dixon and Oregon cruised to a 39-7 victory yesterday. Dixon accounted for 368 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

Michigan (0-2) has opened a season with two straight losses at home for the first time since 1959 and has dropped four straight, dating to last season, for the first time in four decades.

Unlike the stunning loss to the second-tier Mountaineers, the Wolverines didn't even keep it close against Oregon. The 32-point setback was Michigan's worst since losing 50-14 at Ohio State in 1968, the season before Bo Schembechler's debut in Ann Arbor.

"We have good kids and they're hurting," Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr said. "If losing doesn't make you hurt, you shouldn't be at Michigan."

The Wolverines also lost quarterback Chad Henne (lower leg injury), who did not play in the second half after getting hurt in the second quarter.

The Ducks (2-0) beat Houston handily in its opener, then were even more dominant against a once-proud program that boasts the most wins and best winning percentage in college football.

"It's a good win because I think there were some questions about how Michigan was going to bounce back, and whether we would be competitive," said Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, who had his picture taken at midfield with a scoreboard behind him. "I think our players took that to heart."

Dixon led the way, throwing for 292 yards and tying a career high with three passing TDs — to three receivers — and running for 76 yards and a score. Jonathan Stewart ran for 111 yards and a TD.

ATLANTIC COAST

Virginia 24, Duke 13: Cedric Peerman ran for 137 yards and a touchdown to help the host Cavaliers (1-1, 1-0) beat the Blue Devils (0-2, 1-0) for the 600th victory in school history in the conference opener for both at Charlottesville, Va.

Boston College 37, North Carolina State 17: Harrison Beck threw five interceptions, and he and Wolfpack (0-2) punter Nate Franklin each lost a fumble as the host Eagles (2-0) scored 23 points following turnovers to rally from a 10-7 deficit in Boston.

FLORIDA STATE 34, UAB 24: Drew Weatherford threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns as the host Seminoles (1-1) rallied from an early 17-3 deficit to beat the Blazers (0-2) at Tallahassee, Fla.

BIG 12

Kansas 62, Southeastern Louisiana 0: Todd Reesing threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, and the Jayhawks (2-0) scored on a 74-yard kick return and had two safeties to beat the Lions (0-2) at Lawrence, Kan.

Oklahoma State 42, Florida Atlantic 6: Backup quarterback Zac Robinson passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns, two to Adarius Bowman, as the host Cowboys (1-1) beat the Owls (1-1) at Stillwater, Okla.

Baylor 42, Rice 17: Blake Szymanski threw for school-record 412 yards and six touchdowns, four in the first half, as the host Bears (1-1) beat the Owls (0-2) at Waco, Texas.

Texas Tech 45, UTEP 31: Graham Harrell threw for 484 yards and four touchdowns as the host Red Raiders (2-0) rallied from a 28-17 halftime deficit to beat the Miners (1-1) at Lubbock, Texas.

BIG EAST

Pittsburgh 34, Grambling State 10: LeSean McCoy ran for three touchdowns on his first four carries in the first quarter and fellow freshman Kevan Smith threw for 202 yards and a score in his first career start, helping the host Panthers (2-0) roll past the Tigers (1-1) in Pittsburgh.

BIG TEN

Purdue 52, Eastern Illinois 6: Curtis Painter threw six touchdown passes to tie a school record shared by Drew Brees in 1998 and Kyle Orton in 2004 as the host Boilermakers (2-0) routed the Panthers (1-1 and ranked No. 14 in the FSC) at West Lafayette, Ind.

Michigan State 28, Bowling Green 17: Brian Hoyer completed 17 of 29 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, and Devin Thomas had four catches for 156 yards and a fourth-quarter TD to help the host Spartans (2-0) beat the Falcons (1-1) in a nonconference game at East Lansing, Mich.

Minnesota 41, Miami (Ohio) 35: Amir Pinnix rushed for 126 yards and his 2-yard touchdown in the third overtime lifted the host Gophers (1-1), who held a 28-12 lead midway through the fourth quarter, over the RedHawks (1-1) at Minneapolis.

Iowa 35, Syracuse 0: Jake Christensen threw for 278 yards and four touchdowns and the Hawkeyes (2-0) held the Orange (0-2) to five first downs in cruising at Iowa City, Iowa.

CONFERENCE USA

East Carolina 34, North Carolina 31: Patrick Pinkney threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns in his first start and Ben Hartman shook off three missed field goals to kick a 39-yarder on the final play as the Pirates (1-1) beat the Tar Heels (1-1) at Greenville, N.C.

INDEPENDENTS

Army 14, Rhode Island 7: Carson Williams threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Justin Larson on the first play of overtime as the host Black Knights (1-1) beat the Rams (1-1) at West Point, N.Y.

MOUNTAIN WEST

Air Force 20, Utah 12: Shaun Carney ran for 113 yards and the visiting Falcons (2-0, 1-0) stopped the Utes (0-2, 0-1) twice at the 1-yard line in the final 1:25 of the conference opener for both.

PACIFIC-10

Washington State 45, San Diego State 17: Alex Brink completed a school-record 38 passes for 469 yards and five touchdowns, leading the host Cougars (1-1) to a rout of the Aztecs (0-1) at Seattle.

Arizona 45, Northern Arizona 24: Willie Tuitama threw a career-high five touchdown passes, one shy of the school record, and Antoine Cason returned a punt 70 yards for a score, leading the host Wildcats (1-1) over the Lumberjacks (1-1) at Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona State 33, Colorado 14: Rudy Carpenter threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns to help the Sun Devils (2-0) rally from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and beat the Buffaloes (1-1) at Tempe, Ariz.

SOUTHEASTERN

Alabama 24, Vanderbilt 10: Terry Grant rushed 24 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and the visiting Crimson Tide (2-0, 1-0) won their conference opener at Nashville, Tenn., with their 20th straight victory over the Commodores (1-1, 0-1).

Kentucky 56, Kent State 20: John Conner had two of his team's six rushing TDs — the first two of his career — as the host Wildcats (2-0) beat the Golden Flashes (1-1) at Lexington, Ky.

SUN BELT

Maryland 26, Florida International 10: Keon Lattimore ran for 111 yards and two early touchdowns, and Lance Ball had a 1-yard scoring run with 53 seconds left to seal the the visiting Terrapins' (2-0) victory over the Golden Panthers (0-2) in Miami.

ELSEWHERE

APPALACHIAN STATE 48, LENOIR-RHYNE 7: Backup Trey Elder threw four touchdown passes and ran for another — on the host Mountaineers' (2-0) first five possessions — in a rout of the overmatched Division II Bears (0-2) at Boone, N.C.

UC Davis 26, Portland State 17: Tim Plough threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns and the Aggies (1-1) spoiled the home debut of coach Jerry Glanville (former Hawai'i defensive coordinator) by beating the Vikings (0-2) at Portland, Ore.