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Hart powers Michigan to rout of Notre Dame

Sep 16, 2007 - 4:47 AM ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Mike Hart made good on his guarantee.

Hart rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries Saturday as Michigan routed Notre Dame, 38-0, for its first win of the season.

"I was getting 10 yards a carry late in the game," said Hart, who earlier in the week guaranteed a victory over the Fighting Irish. "We wore down their defensive line pretty good."

Michigan and Notre Dame each entered the game 0-2 in the same season for the first time in the history of their storied programs. They also had each lost four straight games and were in desperate need of a victory.

The Wolverines got healthy against the Irish, who had no answers for Hart and still look lost on offense. They were shut out for the first time since a 37-0 loss to Florida State on November 1, 2003.

Michigan converted three Notre Dame turnovers into 21 points in the first half to build a 31-0 lead and avoid its first 0-3 start since 1937.

Overall, the Wolverines forced five turnovers and held Notre Dame to 79 yards, including minus-six yards rushing.

Notre Dame still has not scored an offensive touchdown in 39 possessions this season, as the Irish were shut down by a Michigan team that allowed nearly 600 yards in last week's 39-7 loss to Oregon.

With both teams starting freshmen quarterbacks, Michigan employed a simple game plan - get the ball into Hart's hands as much as possible. In the first half alone, Hart carried 26 times for 134 yards.

Ryan Mallett started in place of the injured Chad Henne for Michigan but did not have to do much. Mallett completed 7-of-15 passes for 90 yards.

The Irish have dropped their first three games for only the second time in the program's 120-year history. Their other 0-3 start came in 2001, Bob Davie's last season as Notre Dame's coach.

Notre Dame has dropped five in a row for the first time since losing their last three games in 1985 and first two in 1986.

Notre Dame's inexperienced offensive line did a poor job of protecting quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who was sacked eight times before being replaced by Evan Sharpley in the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame came into the game ranked last out of 119 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing and total offense.

Its woes against Michigan started on the game's first play as a high snap led to a 17-yard loss with Clausen falling on the ball at the 1-yard line, and it only got worse for the Irish.

After Jason Gingell converted a 39-yard field goal on Michigan's first possession, Clausen fumbled at the Irish 21 the next time Notre Dame got the ball. Michigan quickly capitalized on Hart's two-yard TD run.

The Wolverines also converted a fumble by Armando Allen and an interception by Clausen into touchdowns to open a 24-0 lead just 3 1/2 minutes into the second quarter on Mallett's 26-yard TD pass to Greg Matthews.