Every game comes down to a big play.

In the early part of the Big Ten season they lost two of those games -- at Wisconsin and at home to long-suffering Minnesota. But since that Oct. 8 defeat, the end-of-game heroics had all gone in Michigan's favor. The Wolverines had momentum and a two-game winning streak when they showed up at Northwestern for a prime-time game Oct. 29.

Northwestern had demonstrated plenty of last-second heroics of their own, so it seemed like another late finish was on tap.

Not so. Michigan built an early lead in the first half and then played its best defensive game of the year in beating Northwestern 33-17. The Wildcats may have had the Big Ten's leading offensive player in Brett Basanez behind center, but they could not score a point in the second half.

Michigan moved to 4-2 in the Big Ten and can't be counted out of the league-title race. If they can get some help and win out against Indiana and Ohio State, Lloyd Carr's team has a shot at a portion of the conference championship.

Northwestern came into the game with the fourth-ranked offense in the nation, yet Michigan held them to four second-half first downs.

None of the Wildcats' second-half drives lasted more than two minutes, none lasted more than six plays and only one got across midfield.

"I love pass rushing, and the best way for them to get back in the game was to throw the ball; so all I did was tee off on Basanez every time," defensive end Alan Branch told the Detroit Free Press.

The Wolverines got a great effort from backup RB Jerome Jackson, who had 105 yards on 25 carries. Starter Mike Hart was sidelined with a sprained ankle, so Jackson and Kevin Grady (64 yards and a rushing touchdown) picked up the slack.

The Wolverines have a bye week before hosting Indiana and Ohio State in the final Big Ten games of the season.

KEEP AN EYE ON: CB Leon Hall -- He scored Michigan's first defensive touchdown of the 2005 season. Hall stripped running back Tyrell Sutton off the ball, scooped it up and ran a school record 83 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was the second touchdown of his career (76-yard punt return at Indiana last year).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They are 0-2 when they get shut down on the run and 5-0 when they run the ball. We knew we had to stop their running game and make them one-dimensional." -- NT Gabe Watson on the gameplan vs. Northwestern's high-powered offense.

PK Garrett Rivas -- Rivas converted a career-best four field goals at Northwestern. Rivas hit from 26, 19, 38 and 28 yards.

CB Grant Mason -- He was not the least bit intimidated by the sight of Brett Basanez, the Big Ten's leader in total offense. Mason came up with an interception and did a great job in coverage throughout the night.

RB Jerome Jackson -- The backup running back cracked the 100-yard barrier for the first time in his career, rushing a career-best 24 times for 105 yards at Northwestern.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: The Wolverines played one of the best defensive games of the year in shutting out Northwestern at Ryan Field in the second half. However, Michigan's defense gave up a late TD in the closing seconds of the first half and that appeared to light a fuse for the Wildcats. While Michigan responded with a great second half, defensive coordinator hates to give up those kind of drives at the end of the half.

QB Chad Henne -- He completed 17-of-30 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown. He threw a career-high three interceptions in the game. Henne needs to step it up in the final two games of the season.

ROSTER REPORT: Defensive ends LaMarr Woodley (forearm) and Rondell Biggs (knee) did not play and safety Willis Barringer (knee) only played a few snaps before heading to the sidelines. ... RB Mike Hart (sprained ankle) did not play, but backups Jerome Jackson and Kevin Grady combined for 169 yards in his absence.