No. 4 Michigan Defeats N. Illinois 33-17

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Mike Hart ran for 117 yards and a touchdown and had a 34-yard TD reception to lead No. 4 Michigan past Northern Illinois 33-17 Saturday.<br> <br> The Wolverines led just 14-10 early in the second quarter before scoring 19 straight points in the opener for both schools.<br> <br> The Huskies ran for 211 yards and threw for 200, but lost four fumbles, threw an interception and had a field goal blocked. They led the nation by losing only one fumble last season.<br> <br> Michigan&#39;s Chad Henne was 20-of-31 for 227 yards and two TD passes. Jason Avant had nine receptions for 127 yards and a score. Hart had 27 carries and ran for more than 100 yards for the sixth time in his last eight games. He even caught four passes for 49 yards. <br> <br> Garrett Wolfe had 148 yards rushing and a TD for the Huskies. Phil Horvath was 17-of-25 for 200 yards with an interception and a fumble.<br> <br> Northern Illinois had some success against the Wolverines&#39; high-powered offense, but not when it counted most on third downs.<br> <br> Michigan opened with a 14-play drive - converting four third downs - ending with Avant&#39;s leaping 4-yard catch in the corner of the end zone.<br> <br> The Huskies responded with a 16-play possession, but they missed their first of many opportunities by stalling at the 7 and settling for a field goal.<br> <br> On Hart&#39;s 34-yard TD reception, he caught a screen pass, ran over a linebacker outweighing him by 50 pounds and sprinted past the Huskies down the sideline.<br> <br> Wolfe scored on a 76-yard run two plays later to make it 14-10 early in the second quarter. Hart&#39;s 2-yard dive over a pile of linemen put the Wolverines ahead 20-10.<br> <br> Wolfe was responsible for the Huskies&#39; first of five turnovers, a fumble at Michigan&#39;s 13.<br> <br> After the Wolverines&#39; next drive, Shatone Powers fumbled on a punt return, giving them the ball at Northern Illinois&#39; 14. Kevin Grady 1-yard dive put Michigan ahead 27-10 with 27 seconds left in the half.<br> <br> The Huskies&#39; misfortune continued in the second half as they had a field goal blocked on their first drive.<br> <br> After stuffing Grady on a fourth-and-1, Jake Nordin&#39;s fumble gave Michigan the ball back. Horvath&#39;s high pass was intercepted by Leon Hall on the Huskies&#39; next possession, and Horvath fumbled the next time they had the ball.<br> <br> Garrett Rivas&#39; two field goals in the fourth quarter gave the Wolverines a 33-10 lead before A.J. Harris scored a late touchdown for Northern Illinois.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.