Michigan
9-2 , 6-1
Northwestern
5-6 , 3-4
Wolverines Stomp Wildcats, Set Up Showdown for Title
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The bye week did not slow down the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan football team, which scored on five of its seven first-half possessions to post a 41-10 victory against Northwestern on Saturday (Nov. 15) before 40,681 fans at Ryan Field.
| | Edwards had nine catches for 112 yards, going over 100 for the second straight game. |
Senior quarterback John Navarre (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy HS) played a little more than three quarters to earn his 30th career victory in 40 starts. Navarre completed 22 of 31 pass attempts for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Navarre has thrown at least one touchdown pass in every game this season. He now has thrown 69 touchdown passes in his career, leaving him two short of the school record of 71 set by Elvis Grbac (1989-92).
Senior tailback Chris Perry (Advance, N.C./Fork Union Military Academy, Va.) turned in his second straight 100-yard game on the road. He carried 25 times for 122 yards and scored on touchdown runs of two and one yards in the first half. Perry, who has rushed for 1,435 yards this season, also caught five passes for 50 yards.
Junior wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) finished with nine catches for 112 yards and a touchdown. Edwards has caught a career-high 68 passes this season, exceeding his 67 receptions last season.
Michigan's defense forced two of Northwestern's three turnovers. Freshman cornerback Leon Hall (Vista, Calif./Vista HS) grabbed his team-leading third interception of the season, and senior cornerback Jeremy LeSueur (Holly Springs, Miss./Holly Springs HS) recovered a fumble forced by junior defensive end Pat Massey (Brecksville, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS). Senior tackle Grant Bowman (Blacklick, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales HS) led the defense with a career-high seven tackles, including one for a loss.
The Wolverines' special teams also contributed. Freshman Jerome Jackson (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) recovered a Northwestern fumble on a kickoff return to set up Michigan's third touchdown. Redshirt freshman Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) had an 80-yard touchdown return of a punt wiped out by an offsides penalty. It was the second time this season that Breaston has had a punt return for a touchdown called back because of a penalty.
The Wolverines scored on five of their seven first-half possessions to jump out to a 31-3 halftime lead. Navarre was 16-of-18 passing the first half for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Michigan scored on its opening possession for just the second time this season, moving 65 yards in nine plays. Perry capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run on his fourth carry of the drive. Navarre completed all four of his passes for 50 yards. Northwestern responded with a 35-yard field goal by junior Brian Huffman for its only points of the first half.
The Wolverines missed a 42-yard field-goal attempt on their next possession, but then drove 60 yards in six plays to set up a 23-yard field goal by freshman Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) three seconds into the second quarter.
On Northwestern's next possession, Massey forced a fumble by Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez that LeSueur recovered at the Wildcats' 38-yard line. From there, the Wolverines needed nine plays to take a 17-3 lead. Perry carried six times during the drive for 26 yards, and he ran one yard for the touchdown. An apparent 20-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Edwards was nullified by a holding penalty.
The Wolverines got the ball back on the following kickoff when Northwestern return man Derell Jenkins fumbled the ball and Jackson recovered at the Northwestern 26-yard line. From there, Navarre fired a strike to Edwards just in front of the left marker at the goal line, and he stepped into the end zone for the touchdown with 10:21 remaining.
Starting at their own 36 with 8:11 remaining, the Wolverines needed 11 plays to score their fourth touchdown of the half. Navarre completed all four of his passes during the drive, including a 22-yarder that sophomore Jason Avant (Chicago, Ill./Carver HS) hauled in with one hand for the touchdown.
The Wolverines opened the second half with a 15-play, 70-yard drive to set up a 28-yard field goal by Rivas. Navarre was 4-of-7 passing during the drive for 50 yards.
Michigan answered a late Northwestern touchdown pass with a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Jackson capped the drive with a seven-yard run with 3:13 remaining in the game.
The 100th showdown on the gridiron between the Wolverines and Ohio State will be played next Saturday (Nov. 22) at Michigan Stadium. "The Big Game" will be broadcast nationally by ABC Sports starting at 12:10 p.m. EST.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
MICH 7, NU 0
MICH - Perry, Chris 2 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:21
MICH 7, NU 3
NU - Huffman, Brian 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 37 yards, TOP 3:06
MICH 10, NU 3
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 23 yd field goal 6 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:21
MICH 17, NU 3
MICH - Perry, Chris 1 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 9 plays, 38 yards, TOP 4:14
MICH 24, NU 3
MICH - Edwards, B. 26 yd pass from Navarre, John (Rivas, Garrett kick) 1 plays, 26 yards, TOP 0:06
MICH 31, NU 3
MICH - Avant, Jason 22 yd pass from Navarre, John (Rivas, Garrett kick) 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 3:18
MICH 34, NU 3
MICH - Rivas, Garrett 28 yd field goal 15 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:48
MICH 34, NU 10
NU - Horn, Brandon 13 yd run (Huffman, Brian kick), 13 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:14
MICH 41, NU 10
MICH - Jackson, Jerome 7 yd run (Rivas, Garrett kick), 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 6:28
