Carr gives punting opportunity to unexpected kickers

Henson and Epstein give kick to Michigan's punting

HONOLULU - After seeing his ever-reliable punter Jason Vinson lose his touch last week against Ohio State, Lloyd Carr knew he needed to make a change at punter.

Instead, he made two.

As Vinson watched from the sideline, freshmen Hayden Epstein and Drew Henson got a chance to demonstrate their skills. Epstein, the much-ballyhooed placekicker/punter/kickoff specialist, finally got an opportunity from the beginning of the game to demonstrate the monster leg Carr raved about on signing day last February.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan freshman quarterback Drew Henson was more effective running than he was passing, scampering for a 34-yard touchdown, but completing only three of nine passes.

Judging from his first day under fire as the primary punter, Epstein held his own against Hawai'i.

Surprisingly, the first kick came on the Wolverines' first series of the game when Michigan failed to advance the ball, going three-and-out.

The offense began clicking soon after, scoring on its next five possessions to break the game open and build a 35-3 lead. So by the next time Epstein was called, it was after halftime and the score was no longer in jeopardy.

He punted three more times in the second half as Michigan's second-string offense - coincidentally led by Henson - sputtered.

His stats included a 40.3 yard average on four punts with a long kick of 47 yards.

"Hayden, in the last couple weeks, has punted more consistently," Carr said. He "has a great leg."

Epstein was able to keep his powerful leg warm on the field, kicking off after Michigan's seven touchdowns.

Henson, who starred as an All-State punter last year when his own Brighton offense halted, provided some trickery as he pooch-punted on Michigan's final series of the first half.

The punt bounced inside the 10 yard-line but bounced into the end zone.

The move was patented by another Carr quarterback, Brian Griese, who kicked the short punts two years ago when he was Scott Dreisbach's backup at quarterback.

Speed Racers: Behind Anthony Thomas' career-high 183 yards, Michigan set a season high in rushing yards, gaining 325 yards on the ground.

The team total is all the more impressive considering that the same Wolverines, on a turf field, produced a minus-23 yard effort against Minnesota just one month ago.

All of the healthy tailbacks contributed to the effort as Thomas and Clarence Williams mostly were confined to the first half, with Walter Cross getting most of the second-half carries.

Though his long run was just nine yards, Williams gained 80 yards on a team-high 18 carries.

The most surprising run of the second half came on a Henson improvisation.

Facing third and three at Hawai'i's 34, the freshman lined up under center looking to pass.

When all his options were negated, he scrambled to his left and scooted into the end zone for a touchdown.

For those keeping score at home, Henson is now tied for third with injured Justin Fargas for rushing touchdowns with one.

11-30-98