Move over, Doug Flutie and Gerard Phelan. Make way for Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook.
In a miraculous play reminiscent of Flutie's famous Hail Mary pass in 1984, Westbrook made a diving 64-yard touchdown catch of a tipped toss from Stewart on the final play Saturday to give seventh-ranked Colorado a 27-26 victory over No. 4 Michigan.With 6 seconds remaining, Stewart dropped back and heaved a long pass toward the Michigan goal line, where a group of players from both sides leaped for the ball. It was tipped into the air and caught in the end zone by Westbrook, who grabbed it over the shoulder of Michigan's Ty Law.
Michigan safety Chuck Winters got his hand on the ball first, but it was knocked away by Colorado receiver Blake Anderson.
After Westbrook made the catch, Colorado players and fans stormed the field as the Michigan crowd sat in stunned silence.
"It has to be one of the great wins of my career," said Stewart, who broke Colorado's career marks for TD passes and total offense. "The coach (Bill McCartney) called the play. I just heaved it up, and it worked."
Michigan coach Gary Moeller was shocked by the incredible ending.
"It's a sad way to lose a game," he said.
Michigan (2-1) took a 26-14 lead on Todd Collins' 65-yard pass to Amani Toomer with 2:43 left in the third quarter, and there was no more scoring until Colorado (3-0) scored twice in the final 2:16.
After Rashaan Salaam's 1-yard TD run made it 26-21, the Buffaloes tried an onside kick that was recovered by Michigan.
But the Buffaloes held the Wolverines and regained possession on their 15 with 15 seconds left following a Michigan punt. Stewart hit Westbrook with a 21-yard pass on the first play and then spiked the ball to stop the clock before lofting the last pass.
Two incidents during Michigan's final drive proved costly for the Wolverines. At one point, the officials added five seconds to the clock following a penalty - just enough time to give Colorado one extra play.
Michigan also hurt itself with a false start penalty on third-and-2 from the Colorado 37 with under a minute left. The Wolverines came up three yards short on the next play and were forced to punt. Had the Wolverines not committed the penalty, the run would have given them a first down and allowed them to run out the clock.
The ending overshadowed the return of Michigan star Tyrone Wheatley, who returned after missing the Wolverines' first two games with a shoulder injury and broke the school's career TD mark with a 5-yard run in the third quarter that put Michigan ahead 17-14.
"It was just a good feeling to be back out there again," said the preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, who gained 50 yards on 17 carries.
Stewart, the nation's second-ranked passer coming into the game, was 21-of-32 for 294 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 20 times for 85 yards.