Northwestern University Athletics
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Northwestern Drops 41-10 Decision to No. 5 Michigan
11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 15, 2003
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EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Northwestern knew it needed to play mistake-free football in order to have a chance to beat the Big Ten-leading Michigan Wolverines. Two first-half fumbles and a second-half interception fueled fifth-ranked Michigan 41-10 as the Wolverines moved within one victory of their 41st Big Ten championship.
John Navarre passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns, to guide Michigan. Navarre led the Wolverines to a 24-point second quarter with TD passes to Braylon Edwards and Jason Avant, who made a spectacular, one-handed grab to give Michigan a 31-3 lead at halftime.
Navarre completed his first eight passes and led the Wolverines into scoring position on every possession of the first half except for the final series -- when Michigan let the clock run down before halftime.
Navarre completed 22 of 31 passes before leaving with the rest of the Michigan starters in the third quarter. The senior quarterback needs three touchdown passes to become Michigan's career leader. Elvis Grbac owns the record with 71.
Michigan put its starters back in for a series with about nine minutes left after Brandon Horn scored on a 13-yard reverse play for the Wildcats' first touchdown to make it 34-10.
Wolverines running back Chris Perry had touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards and rushed for 122 yards. He also had five catches for 50 yards.
Northwestern (5-6, 3-4) was held to just 261 yards on offense -- 117 yards rushing and 144 passing.
With Michigan leading 10-3, Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez scrambled for a 6-yard gain but fumbled as he was going down. Jeremy LeSueur recovered for Michigan at the 38.
Perry capped the nine-play drive with his 15th rushing TD.
The Wildcats turned it over again on the ensuing kickoff when Derell Jenkins couldn't handle the kick and fumbled. On the next play, Navarre hit Edwards with a 26-yard touchdown pass to give Michigan a 24-3 lead.
Edwards finished with nine catches for 112 yards.
Avant's 22-yard touchdown catch made it 31-3. Avant, a sophomore from Chicago, grabbed Navarre's high throw with his right hand, pulled it into his body before landing in the end zone for the score - never touching the ball with his left hand.
Northwestern still has an opportunity to become "bowl-eligible" if it can defeat Illinois (1-10, 0-7) next Saturday in Champaign. The Illini were idle this weekend. The two teams annually play for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk trophy.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
