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A&M;’S Defense Stifles Michigan

Associated Press

With star running back Leeland McElroy limping on the sidelines, Texas A&M took the pressure off its offense by winning with defense.

The No. 19 Aggies got five field goals from Kyle Bryant and relied on its blitz-crazy “Wrecking Crew” defense to fend off No. 14 Michigan 22-20 in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday night.

“Nobody has blitzed me like that this year,” said Michigan quarterback Brian Griese. “I really couldn’t enjoy playing in it. I’ve got a lot of bumps and bruises. That’s one sign you know you’ve played in a game.”

A&M (9-3) generated enough offense behind a trio of freshmen running backs to set up Bryant and then protected its lead with a defense that frequently stacked nine men at the line to stop the run.

Michigan (9-4) had a three-game winning streak in bowl games snapped, while A&M coach R.C. Slocum improved his bowl record to 2-4 and ended a three-game losing skid in the postseason.

“It was a fun day,” Slocum said. “The team never wavered. It kept plugging and finished the season by beating a very good team. I was real pleased with our freshmen running backs who stepped up in the absence of Leeland.”

Bryant’s fifth field goal came from 37 yards out with 23 seconds left to give A&M a 22-13 lead.

Michigan answered with a desperate 44-yard pass from Griese to Amani Toomer in the end zone with 5 seconds left, pulling the Wolverines to 22-20. But an onside kick was recovered by A&M.

Bryant kicked field goals of 27, 49, 47, 31 and 37 yards. A&M also scored on a 9-yard run by Eric Bernard in the first quarter.

Bernard, who finished with 40 yards on 15 carries, combined with Sirr Parker (21 carries for 56 yards) and D’Andre Hardeman (six carries for 41 yards) to help power the offense as quarterback Corey Pullig finished 12-of-22 passing for 136 yards without an interception.

“I told them (the freshmen backs) that all of them together would have to pull together and take up the slack,” Slocum said.

A&M repeatedly sent blitzers crashing into Michigan’s backfield, containing running back Tim Biakabutuka and frustrating Griese, who opened the second half 1-of-10 passing, including nine straight incompletions.

“That’s the best defense I’ve seen this season,” said Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. “We knew coming in that we would have to adjust to their speed. We didn’t protect Brian (Griese) the way we needed to.”

Griese finished 9 of 23 for 182 yards with the one interception.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Texas A&M 22, Michigan 20 Michigan 7 3 3 7 - 20 Texas A&M 10 3 3 6 - 22 A&M-Bernard 9 run (Bryant kick) Mich-Toomer 41 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick) A&M-FG Bryant 27 Mich-FG Hamilton 28 A&M-FG Bryant 49 A&M-FG Bryant 47 Mich-FG Hamilton 26 A&M-FG Bryant 31 A&M-FG Bryant 37 Mich-Toomer 44 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick) A-64,597. Mich A&M First downs 19 17 Rushes-yards 38-129 45-140 Passing 182 136 Return Yards 1 52 Comp-Att-Int 9-23-1 12-22-0 Punts 7-36 5-43 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 6-60 11-110 Time of Possession 31:54 28:01 RUSHINGMichigan, Biakabutuka 24-94, C.Williams 7-36, Hayes 1-17, Griese 6-(minus 18). Texas A&M, Parker 21-56, Bernard 15-40, Hardeman 6-41, Connell 1-7, Pullig 2-(minus 14). PASSINGMichigan, Griese 9-23-1-182. Texas A&M, Pullig 12-22-0-136. RECEIVINGMichigan, Toomer 5-135, Hayes 2-35, Riemersma 1-10, Biakabutuka 1-2. Texas A&M, Hardeman 3-41, Connell 3-36, Parker 3-23, Sanders 2-30, Spiller 1-6.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Texas A&M; 22, Michigan 20 Michigan 7 3 3 7 - 20 Texas A&M; 10 3 3 6 - 22 A&M-Bernard; 9 run (Bryant kick) Mich-Toomer 41 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick) A&M-FG; Bryant 27 Mich-FG Hamilton 28 A&M-FG; Bryant 49 A&M-FG; Bryant 47 Mich-FG Hamilton 26 A&M-FG; Bryant 31 A&M-FG; Bryant 37 Mich-Toomer 44 pass from Griese (Hamilton kick) A-64,597. Mich A&M; First downs 19 17 Rushes-yards 38-129 45-140 Passing 182 136 Return Yards 1 52 Comp-Att-Int 9-23-1 12-22-0 Punts 7-36 5-43 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 6-60 11-110 Time of Possession 31:54 28:01 RUSHINGMichigan, Biakabutuka 24-94, C.Williams 7-36, Hayes 1-17, Griese 6-(minus 18). Texas A&M;, Parker 21-56, Bernard 15-40, Hardeman 6-41, Connell 1-7, Pullig 2-(minus 14). PASSINGMichigan, Griese 9-23-1-182. Texas A&M;, Pullig 12-22-0-136. RECEIVINGMichigan, Toomer 5-135, Hayes 2-35, Riemersma 1-10, Biakabutuka 1-2. Texas A&M;, Hardeman 3-41, Connell 3-36, Parker 3-23, Sanders 2-30, Spiller 1-6.