Morning Box Score: College Football is Back, Rios Walk-Off Wins for Sox
By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 11, 2011 2:11PM
College Football
Michigan 35, Notre Dame 31: It's never too early for a Domer to start fantasizing replacements for head coach Brian Kelly. But that's exactly what happens in South Bend when the Irish football squad gives up two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game to Michigan and starts the season 0-2. Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson's 16-yard touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree capped a thrilling comeback before a packed Michigan Stadium. Apparently Notre Dame forgot to play a full four quarters; Michigan outscored the Irish 28-7 in the final quarter. Irish running back Cierre Wood led the game with 134 yards rushing and a touchdown while Irish Receiver caught 13 passes for 159 yards.
Illinois 56, South Dakota State 3: The Fighting Illini are apparently gearing up for the Big Ten schedule by taking on top-notch competition like the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. Illinois head coach Ron Zook's philosophy of going with a deep running back rotation was in full effect yesterday as the Illini won by their largest margin since 1944. The Illini racked up 364 of their 519 yards in total offense on the ground.
Northwestern 42, Eastern Illinois 21: Once again for the Wildcats: no Dan Persa, no problem. Persa, still recovering from the Achilles tendon rupture that sidelined him late last season, was on the sidelines as backup Kain Colter was a one-man wrecking crew. Colter ran for a career-high 104 yards and scored three touchdowns, and passed for 109 more as NU racked up 437 yards of total offense (320 on the ground) in an easy home opener at Ryan Field.
Kansas 45, Northern Illinois 42: Perennial Mid-America Conference contenders Northern Illinois are probably smarting today after letting this game slip away in Lawrence, KS. Up by four with nine seconds left, Jayhawks QB Jordan Webb hit B.J. Beshears with a 6-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to end a wild shootout. The Huskies acquitted themselves well, however. Huskies QB Chandler Harnish passed for 315 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 89 more and scored three touchdowns on the ground.
Baseball
White Sox 7, Cleveland 3: The Sox' problems with driving in runs continued to haunt them until the game went into extras. that's when Alex Rios hit a game winning walkoff grand slam sent the U.S. Cellular Field crowd home happy and with fireworks. Philip Humber, in his second start since returning to the rotation, pitched admirably. Humber struck out seven Indians over six innings of work in getting a no-decision. The White Sox shut down Jake Peavy for the rest of the season.
Cubs 5, Mets 4: The Chicago National League Ballclub benefited from four New York errors last night, none more costly than the two unearned runs scored on Aramis Ramirez's ninth-inning single to give the Cubs the win. Three of the Cubs runs were unearned.