Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 39

The Detroit News (TV BOB del Section Game Plan 2D Scenes 6D For the record 14D Shock I5D Today in sports High schools Dearborn Divine Child, helped by the running of Josh Truax (right), was one of the football winners on Saturday. Page 9D The Drtroit Hew Onto All day. every day. httpdetnews.com I Edwards must I make even more I big plays for U-M separate itself I ANN ARBOR Sunday, September 26, 2004 1 rallies to win MSU i 1 over Indiana in the Big Ten opener at Memorial Stadium. "You have to adjust a little bit at times," MSU Coach John Smith said of the revamped offensive attack.

The Hoosiers did a poor job of adjusting to the Spartans' adjustment At times, it seemed as if Indiana's defense didn't even account for the quarterback on the option so Stanton just turned it up for a big gain. He QB Stanton rushes for 134 yards, 2 TDs to hold off Indiana. By Dave Dye The Detroit News BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Michigan State's offense is reinventing itself. Last season's prolific passing game has given way to a system that on Saturday relied on the Season saver Halftime pep-talk propels Spartans past Indiana.

Page 100 made runs of 43, 36 and 35 yards. Not too bad for a guy making a comeback from reconstructive surgery on his right knee less than nine months ago. Please see MSU, Page 10D MSU 30, IND. 20 option as its primary threat. Run, Drew, run.

Drew Stanton, making his first career start at quarterback, rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to lead the Spartans to a 30-20 victory Dak G. Young The Detroit News MSU's Jason Teague, who carried 17 times for 49 yards, is stopped by Indiana's Herana-Daze Jones. 1 tA r3 i (a Its not the normal Michigan philosophy and it's not a comfortable way to play. But the Wolverines are in no mood to complain. If you can't take over, you take turnovers.

With its young quarterback, young tailback and suspect offensive line, U-M isn't capable of pounding anyone just yet So the Wolverines are grabbing everything they can, fumbles and interceptions and whatever else ihey find laying around. U-M shucked clingy Iowa 30-17 on Saturday with a spirited, determined effort. But don't be misled by the margin. The Wolverines are deep into a major adjustment period, and this won't be the last dangerous game they play. This is how it is in the rickety Big Ten, where a lot of teams are separated by very little.

For the Wolverines to separate themselves and they still can they'll need more than turnovers. They'll need huge-play receiver Braylon Edwards to separate himself even more. He had a career-high 150 yards on six receptions, including the two biggest plays of the game catches of 58 (for a TD) and 39 yards. He had 132 yards just in the first half before Iowa's defense started double-teaming him. Quarterback Chad Henne sometimes looks like a shaky freshman and sometimes like a poised, urn, sophomore.

But jseldom does U-M's offense look capable of controlling a game, which means the Wolverines have to adopt a less-menacing approach for now opportunism. That means the defense must win games. That means Edwards must change games. Iowa's Drew Tate is crumpled after getting sacked Wolverines force 5 turnovers to win Big Ten opener defensive end LaMarr Woodley in the first quarter. Vmujiqpv I 1" In By Angelique S.

Chengelis The Detroit News ANN ARBOR No surprise here, Michigan's strength is its defense. The i8th-ranked Wolverines forced five turnovers, converting on four, to defeat the unranked Iowa Hawkeyes, 30-17, in a Big Ten opener Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan had lost two 1 straight to Iowa, includ U-M30 ing 34-9 at home two years ago. Michigan, Ar Ky 7 still struggling to find itself IOWA 17 offensively with a freshman quarterback and an inconsistent running game, is relying on its defense. The Wolverines (3-1) have now forced 19 turnovers three fumbles and two interceptions against the Hawkeyes to lead the nation.

Their 11 interceptions also are tops in the nation. Michigan had 21 forced turnovers all of last season. Please see U-M. Page 12D Snap to it Michigan fifth-year senior David The Wolverines lack ence-makers, although man tailback Michael Hart is showing flashes. Against a tough Iowa defense, Lloyd Carr and offen- sive coordinator Terry Mal-one loosened a bit on their safety-first philosophy.

They know it's difficult to keep winning this way, leading the nation with 19 forced turnovers after Iowa coughed up the ball five times, Opportunism is fine. But turnovers are like three-point shooting in basketball. You look Unbeatable when you're on, and in trouble when you're off. "We made up our minds to throw the ball deep and take some chances," Carr said. "Chad has a great arm and Braylon will fight for the ball, le's a weapon that really impacts the way you're going to defend us.

He made some unbelievable catches." Even with the extra defensive attention, Edwards has 32 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns already. He des- perately wants to lead this I team. He'll get his chance I because the Wolverines need him more than ever, possibly more than is reasonable. tt Photos by lohnT.GreMck The Detroit Hem Baas starts at center for first Grant Mason runs into the end zone to complete a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave Michigan a 30-10 lead. time.

Page 12D CLOSE CAUL Reggie Bush, right, and No. NO LUCK NEEDED Wide receiver Rhema McKnight, left, and Notre Dame improved to 3-1 with a 38-3 victory over Washington. Page 11D FAVORITES WIN Xavier Carter, right, and No. 13 Louisiana State, No. 8 Florida State and No.

9 Auburn are among Top 25 teams to prevail. Page 13D Southern California needed a rfSiSt second-half rally to win at unranked Stanford. Page 13D "if rA Lions vs. Eagles: i o'clock todayFord FieldChannel 2WKRK 97. 1 Tigers lose 4th straight Lions welcome important game Stable condition Pena, formerly hot and cold, has found some consistency.

Page 8D Detroit musters only five hits in getting shut out by Orioles. By Tom Gage The Detroit News BALTIMORE The Tigers have tried all year to find the right time to use rookie "44- ft X- 111 una yiugioiii, yuu iau i ask for the ball," Edwards said, "But it's evident what we can (do. If we ever need it, it's i there. If we let the pass open the run, we'll be unstop-I pable." No matter how jarring the defense plays, U-M will have to sustain offensive drives to win. There are more rugged teams like Iowa, which also has a young quarterback tough, elusive Drew Tate.

U-M will have to run the ball and balance its offense for Edwards to fulfill potent potential. The offensive line is still being juggled and Henne still has tons of space to grow. But for a Big Ten opener, the Wolverines will take it. Eventually, Edwards and the pffense will be asked to take much more, t. pob Wojnowski's column appears regularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

You can reach him at wojofanaol.com. 425 in 40 at-bats against lefthanders. However, Trammell chose Shelton, who had only six official at-bats since July 26. The result was a three-pitch strikeout to end the game. "Two of the pitches were fastballs right there," Shelton said.

"I just missed them. I don't know if my timing was off because I've not been up there much or what." What it comes down to is that the Tigers are skidding this loss was their fourth in a row and Trammell is caught between trying to climb out of the hole while still making players feel like they're part of the team. It wasn't his intention that Shelton, a Rule 5 pick, would have only 44 at-bats with a week to play. Trammell doesn't like bury- Chris Shelton. They still are.

With the bases loaded By Mike O'Hara The Detroit News DETROIT -It is still September and has felt like summer for a week, but there will be a sprinkle of December tension in the air today at Ford Field. If there isn't a playoff atmosphere surrounding the game between the Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, it's something close to it. Lions Coach Steve Mariucci has put unusually heavy emphasis on the game for so early in the season, and his ing players, so when the chance came to get Shelton an at-bat with the game on the line, Trammell basically said, "Why not?" "But you're asking for a two-out base hit," said Trammell, "and those are tough to come by." Shelton, of course, wasn't the reason the Tigers lost despite another good performance from Jeremy Bonderman (to-13). They didn't have a hit off starter Matt Riley (2-4) until Carlos Pena's two-out single in the fifth and for the game, they were held to only five hits, all singles. players have welcomed it.

They have been destiny's dropouts for so long that playing a meaningful game has given them a new sense of purpose. The Lions and Eagles are both 2-0 and leading their divisions. Even newcomers such as guard Damien Woody, who played on two Super Bowl champions in the last three years with the New England Patriots, has noticed a change in atmosphere. Please see LIONS, Page 5D and two outs in the ninth on Saturday, en route to a 3-0 loss to the Orioles, Manager Alan Tram-mell sent the seldom-used Shelton up against lefty B.J. Ryan as a pinch-hitter for Ryan Raburn.

Trammell didn't have many alternatives, but he could have used Nook Logan, who's hitting Robin Burbion The Detroit News Lions Coach Steve Mariucci has placed special emphasis on winning today's game against the Eagles. if iT Tel TT MXD 2 'smj Call Today To Be Pre-Approved 1-800-678-6663 vw.shoranorteace.com ft a month Mortgage QJ 3 Yev ARM Rate 4 123; 4 92 and APR AppUftthlf pninin aw! clorfnft r(t Rntfft we siityect to rhange At any time wtthmit nnnre. mat.