Michigan
1-0
Bowling Green
0-1
U-M Beats Falcons, Collects 100th Season-Opening Win
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football squad, ranked No. 4 by ESPN/USA Today and No. 6 by the Associated Press, defeated Bowling Green 42-7 on Saturday (Sept. 2) at Michigan Stadium in the season opener for both teams. Led by the combination of a stifling defense presence and an impressive offensive output, which included a school-record-tying four touchdown passes by redshirt freshman quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS), the Maize and Blue cruised to victory.
A crowd of 110,585 fans witnessed the Wolverines' 100th win in a season opener (100-18-3 in 121 all-time season openers). The victory also marks the 50th career win for U-M head coach Lloyd Carr.
U-M opened the game on offense after Bowling Green won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. After two running plays, the Wolverines picked up a drive-continuing first down after a pass from Navarre to senior running back Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS) resulted in a 21-yard pickup. A fumble two plays later by junior/sophomore running back Justin Fargas (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame HS) stalled the drive, turning the ball over to the Falcons inside Wolverine territory. A strong Michigan defensive sequence immediately shut down the Falcons' attack on its first possession, forcing them to punt.
The Wolverines cracked the scoreboard during their fourth possession, led by a Navarre to David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS) air strike to go up 7-0. After an 11-yard holding penalty on second down, Terrell ran a post pattern to slip past two Falcon defenders en route to a 41-yard touchdown pass. The drive required only 1:24, covering 49 yards in three plays. Navarre finished with 15 completions on 19 attempts for 265 yards and four touchdowns, while Terrell caught six passes for 91 yards and one touchdown. Navarre became the 11th Wolverine quarterback to throw four touchdown passes in a game.
The Wolverines' offense began to take control early in the second quarter. Starting at its own 10-yard line, Michigan was penalized five yards on first down for a false start. On the next play, Navarre completed a short screen pass to B.J. Askew (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain HS), who marched up the right side of the field, breaking tackles on his way to a gain of 58 yards. A 15-yard pass interference penalty moved the ball to the Bowling Green 19-yard line. On the next play, Navarre found sophomore wideout Ronald Bellamy (New Orleans, La./Archbishop Shaw HS) in the left corner of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 U-M advantage. The grab by Bellamy marked both his first career catch and touchdown reception as a Wolverine.
On its next possession, Michigan scored again on a Navarre to Bellamy connection to extend its lead to 21-0 with 7:58 remaining in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 23-yard reception by Bellamy and two tough runs by Fargas (5 and 8 yards) to move the ball to the Bowling Green 11-yard line. On the next play, Navarre again found Bellamy in the left corner of the end zone for the second time in the game, this time from 11 yards out. Bellamy finished with three receptions, totaling 53 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan ended the half after placekicker Hayden Epstein's (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines) 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Bowling Green defensive lineman Will Teague. Michigan went into the locker room with a 21-0 lead.
The storyline stayed the same as the defense was the focal point of the game in the scoreless third quarter as both teams traded punt for punt after unsuccessful drives. The Falcons penetrated deep into Michigan territory on the third possession of the half, but Mike Knapp's 34-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
Michigan then scored on a 4-yard touchdown completion from Navarre to wideout Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henniger HS) to start the fourth quarter. The drive began on the Michigan 19, and two long runs by Fargas, totaling 35 yards, helped move the ball up field for the Maize and Blue.
Michigan then added its second touchdown of the quarter on just a two-play drive starting at the BGSU 39 as Thomas took the handoff and sprinted down the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown run, increasing the Wolverine lead to 35-0.
Bowling Green got on the scoreboard midway through the fourth quarter when Andy Sahm connected with Andre Pinchem on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Mike Knapp converted the extra point and cut the Michigan lead to 35-7. The catch and touchdown were both career firsts for Pinchem.
On the ensuing drive, new Wolverine quarterback Andy Mignery (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton HS) engineered a 61-yard drive that took just five plays, resulting in another Michigan touchdown. Freshman running back Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) scored his first career touchdown as a Wolverine when he took the handoff from Mignery and ran up the middle 42 yards for the score, pushing the Michigan lead to 42-7. Perry finished with 103 yards on 10 carries.
Late in the fourth quarter with Bowling Green inside the Michigan 30-yard line, Mike Manning (Worcester, Mass./St. John's HS) picked off Ricky Schneider at the one-yard line for his first career interception.
Michigan received a strong performance from Thomas, who rushed for 108 yards, giving him 14 career games in which he has rushed for over 100 yards. Perry finished the game with 103 yards on 10 carries. With Thomas and Perry both hitting the century mark, it marked the 30th time that has happened in Michigan history. Fargas made an impressive return from knee surgery which sidelined him for all of last season, carrying eight times for 70 yards.
Michigan was led defensively by junior linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS), who finished with six tackles, including three tackles for loss and one sack. Redshirt freshman linebacker John Spytek (Pewaukee, Wis./Catholic Memorial HS) added four unassisted tackles.
Michigan hosts Rice next Saturday (Sept. 9) at Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised locally by ESPN Regional beginning at 12:10 p.m. EDT.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
BG 0, MI 7
MI - Terrell, David 41 yd pass from Navarre, John (Epstein, Hayden kick) 3 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:24
BG 0, MI 14
MI - Bellamy, Ronald 19 yd pass from Navarre, John (Epstein, Hayden kick) 5 plays, 90 yards, TOP 2:01
BG 0, MI 21
MI - Bellamy, Ronald 11 yd pass from Navarre, John (Epstein, Hayden kick) 4 plays, 42 yards, TOP 1:28
BG 0, MI 28
MI - Walker, M. 4 yd pass from Navarre, John (Epstein, Hayden kick) 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:41
BG 0, MI 35
MI - Thomas, Anthony 28 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 2 plays, 39 yards, TOP 0:34
BG 7, MI 35
BG - PINCHEM, Andre 24 yd pass from SAHM, Andy (KNAPP, Mike kick) 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 3:35
BG 7, MI 42
MI - Perry, Chris 42 yd run (Epstein, Hayden kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 2:19
