Michigan
4-2 , 1-1
Iowa
5-1 , 1-1
Wolverines See Lead Slip Away, Fall to No. 23 Hawkeyes
10/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan football team was unable to rally for the tying or go-ahead points with 1:07 remaining at No. 23 Iowa, losing 30-27 before a sellout crowd of 70,397 at Kinnick Stadium (Oct. 4). The Wolverines (4-2, 1-1 Big Ten) scored on four straight first-half possessions but were held without any points for nine consecutive series against the Hawkeyes (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten).
Fifth-year senior quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) completed 26-of-49 passes for a school-record 389 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Junior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) caught seven passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore wide receiver Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) added seven receptions for 175 yards. Senior tailback Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military, Va.) contributed 87 rushing yards on 24 carries and scored one TD.
Michigan struck first as Perry went behind left guard on a five-yard touchdown run with 7:56 remaining in the first quarter. The eight-play scoring drive saw the Wolverines convert a pair of third-down plays, including a key 20-yard pass from Navarre to Avant to Iowa's five-yard line. Perry capped the 51-yard drive on following play. Navarre completed three-of-four passes for 35 yards.
The Wolverine defense held the Hawkeyes to their third three-and-out of the first quarter and the U-M offense converted with another touchdown as Edwards caught a 14-yard quick slant from Navarre. Michigan moved 64 yards in seven plays with Navarre completing all five passes for 71 yards and Perry adding six yards on two carries. Edwards caught a 36-yard pass prior to the scoring play that gave U-M possession at the 14-yard line. The Wolverines also overcame a 15-yard personal foul penalty for a late hit.
Iowa trimmed the deficit to 14-7 as quarterback Nathan Chandler scored on a six-yard run as he kept the ball on rollout right. The points were the first yielded by the Michigan defense during the opening half all season. The Hawkeyes started the drive at their 46-yard line after 31-yard kickoff return by Ramon Ochoa and a 15-yard personal foul late hit penalty against the Wolverines. Chandler completed all three passes for 45 yards and tailback Fred Russell added a three-yard run.
Michigan scored on its third straight series as freshman kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) skipped a 47-yard field goal through the uprights. U-M started with its worst field position at the 17-yard line, but Perry gained 16 yards on the first play. The key play on the eight-play, 54-yard scoring drive came on a 38-yard pass from Navarre to Avant.
The Hawkeyes matched the Wolverines with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Nate Kaeding at the 11:46 mark of the second quarter. Iowa's eight-play, 34-yard drive started at its 49-yard line after a 37-yard kickoff return by Ochoa put the ball at the Hawkeyes' 49-yard line. Chandler completed three-of-four passes for 21 yards and Russell tacked on two runs for 13 yards.
The Wolverines continued to convert and opened up a 10-point margin, 20-10, as Rivas connected on a 26-yard field goal. After no gain by Perry on first down, Navarre completed a pass to Avant in the left flat. Avant eluded a would-be tackler and gained 71 yards on the pass play to Iowa's nine-yard line. The drive stalled there and Rivas converted on his second field goal on the day.
Special teams continued to be Iowa's best offense as Ochoa returned a punt 43 yards to the Wolverines' 18-yard line. U-M was assessed a 15-yard late hit penalty that gave the Hawkeyes possession at the nine-yard line. Iowa turned the opportunity into a touchdown as Chandler completed a six-yard pass to open wide receiver Calvin Davis on third down with 19 second left in the first half. The TD pass was the first allowed by the Wolverines all season and trimmed the U-M halftime advantage to 20-17.
Iowa gained the first big play of second half and knotted the score at 20 apiece as Kaeding converted a 25-yard field goal. Cornerback Antwan Allen intercepted a deflected pass intended for Edwards and returned it 24 yards to the U-M 28-yard line. Russell provided the Hawkeyes with a first-and-goal situation at the Wolverines' one-yard following runs of five, 11 and 11 yards, but the U-M defense forced the field goal try. Michigan junior linebacker Scott McClintock (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon HS) stopped Russell for a loss of two yards on first down and sacked Chandler for a loss on second down prior to an incomplete pass on third-and-goal from the eight-yard line.
After Iowa forced a U-M punting situation on the ensuing series, Chris Smith blocked a Rivas punt and the Hawkeyes gained possession at the Wolverines' 14-yard line. Iowa was unable to gain a first down but gained its first lead of the game, 23-20, as Kaeding hit a 32-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the third quarter.
Iowa stretched its lead to 30-20 with 5:16 remaining in the fourth quarter as Chandler completed 31-yard touchdown pass to Ramon Ochoa on a corner route. The 10-play, 79-yard scoring drive saw the Hawkeyes convert three third downs, including passes for 24 and 13 yards to tight end Erik Jensen.
Michigan responded and scored its first points in nine series as Navarre found an open Edwards on a 41-yard slant pass for a touchdown with 3:43 left in the contest. Navarre completed four-of-five passes for 84 yards on the seven-play, 86-yard scoring drive that covered 90 seconds. Avant caught a key 23-yard pass on third down that kept the drive alive.
The Wolverines' attempt to tie or win the game came up short on a fourth-and-12 play at the 49-yard line with 1:07 left in regulation. Navarre moved U-M to midfield on a 15-yard completion to sophomore wide receiver Carl Tabb (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron HS) and an eight-yard pass to Edwards. Following offsetting penalties, Perry gained one yard and Navarre converted a third down with a two-yard keeper. Navarre tossed a three-yard pass to Avant at Iowa's 44-yard line, but the Wolverines were unable to proceed any further as Navarre threw three straight incompletions to end the game.
Michigan continues its road swing with a rare Friday evening game against No. 21 Minnesota Oct. 10 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The battle between the Wolverines and Golden Gophers for the Little Brown Jug will be broadcast by ESPN starting at 7 p.m. CDT (8 p.m. EDT).
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
MICH 7, IOWA 0
MICH - Perry, Chris 5 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:08
MICH 14, IOWA 0
MICH - Edwards, B. 14 yd pass from Navarre, John (Rivas, Garrett kick) 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:51
MICH 14, IOWA 7
IOWA - Chandler, N. 6 yd run (Kaeding, Nate kick), 6 plays, 54 yards, TOP 1:41
MICH 17, IOWA 7
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:30
MICH 17, IOWA 10
IOWA - Kaeding, Nate 34 yd field goal 8 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:04
MICH 20, IOWA 10
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 26 yd field goal 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:48
MICH 20, IOWA 17
IOWA - Davis, Calvin 6 yd pass from Chandler, N. (Kaeding, Nate kick) 3 plays, 9 yards, TOP 1:27
MICH 20, IOWA 20
IOWA - Kaeding, Nate 25 yd field goal 8 plays, 20 yards, TOP 2:11
MICH 20, IOWA 23
IOWA - Kaeding, Nate 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 1:34
MICH 20, IOWA 30
IOWA - Ochoa, Ramon 31 yd pass from Chandler, N. (Kaeding, Nate kick) 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:23
MICH 27, IOWA 30
MICH - Edwards, B. 41 yd pass from Navarre, John (Rivas, Garrett kick) 7 plays, 86 yards, TOP 1:33
