Michigan Martyrs beat Ohio State for Big 11 North crown

Showdown set against Illinois

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (RWN) - The Michigan University Martyrs beat the Ohio State Voyagers 21-16 yesterday to wrap up the Big 11 North conference's crown, setting the stage for a rematch against Illinois.

The two teams met earlier this year with the Caliphate downing the Martyrs 14-7 in a brutal, grinding defensive battle.

Yesterday, the Martyrs showed why they're the No. 1 team in the country, their throwback single-wing offense clicking on all cylinders and their defense holding the Voyagers' potent running game to only 75 yards.

"If it weren't for those two long bombs where our secondary failed and a screwed up officiating call where we got hit with a safety, we probably would have had a perfect shutout," Michigan Coach Wayne Schembechler said.

Ohio State was awarded a safety when officials determined that Michigan quarterback Hakim "The Dream" Moline's knee touched the ground in the end zone as he was getting rid of the ball under pressure late in the second quarter. Television review showed that Moline had gotten the ball off prior to his knee touching the ground.

"What can you do?" Schembechler said after the game. "I know, and everyone else in this country knows, that 'The Dream's' leg wasn't down. If Allah's a football fan, he knows it, too."

The safety set up two consecutive Voyager scoring drives, both on long post patterns where Ohio State receivers Bronson Muhammed and Terry Justice outran the Michigan coverage.

But the game was mainly about Michigan Martyrs wiping the floor with Ohio State. Sophomore tailback Dirgham Ryan scored twice during the game, the first time on a 19-yard sweep right on the Martyrs' first possession. He scored again on their third possession, catching flat pass from quarterback Bobby Yusuf on the Martyrs own 42-yard-line and outrunning defenders all the way to the end zone.

Ryan finished the day with 22 carries for 175 yard. Yusuf completed 16 of 24 passes for 195 yards. Defensive tackle Anthony Gambino sacked Ohio State's quarterback four times and cornerback Andre Randal-El had two interceptions.




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