Michigan
6-2 , 3-1
Iowa
8-1 , 5-0
U-M Falls to Iowa at Home in Battle of Big Ten Unbeatens
10/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8 University of Michigan football team suffered a 34-9 loss at the hands of No. 13 Iowa today (Saturday, Oct. 26) in front of the largest homecoming game crowd in Michigan Stadium history. Two Hawkeyes -- C.J. Jones and Jermelle Lewis -- scored twice, while quarterback Brad Banks threw for three scores as Iowa (8-1) stayed undefeated in Big Ten Conference play at 5-0. The Wolverines (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten) suffered their worst home loss since Oct. 16, 1967, when the Maize and Blue were shut out 34-0 by Michigan State.
| | Victor Hobson's game-high 11 tackles included nine solo stops and two for loss. |
Scoring points on its first two drives of the game, Iowa opened up a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, starting with a 39-yard completion from Banks to Jones at 10:37 to cap off the Hawkeyes' first possession. Nate Kaeding converted a field goal from 19 yards to finish off the second drive.
Michigan climbed within four points at 10-6 when offsetting penalties after an Iowa punt forced the Hawkeyes to replay fourth down just inside the two-minute mark. On his second punt, David Bradley could not get the kick off because of the approaching defense, allowing the Maize and Blue to inherit the ball at the two yard-line. Perry converted his eighth touchdown of the season on his second rush from scrimmage at 1:13. Philip Brabbs (Midland, Mich./H.H. Dow HS) missed the point-after attempt.
Throughout the first half of play, the Wolverine offense struggled to find its rhythm, possessing the ball for only 10:02 and gaining just 100 yards total offense while converting only three of seven plays on third down. Iowa, in contrast, moved the ball well, gaining 219 yards and doubling U-M's time of possession.
On Michigan's first drive of the third quarter, Navarre eclipsed his career-long rush with a 39-yard scramble down the left sideline to the Iowa 36 to jump-start the Wolverine attack. Michigan moved the ball up to the 23-yard line before the drive stalled, and Adam Finley (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HS) sent his first career field goal attempt through the uprights to make the score 10-9 with 12:31 on the clock.
Michigan's momentum suffered a blow, however, as Markus Curry (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher HS) was hit after fielding an Iowa punt and fumbled the ball. The Hawkeyes recovered at the 16-yard line and scored three plays later following a near fumble of their own to increase their lead to 17-9 on Jones' second touchdown of the afternoon, a three-yard reception from Banks with 8:57 left in the third quarter.
Iowa increased its lead to 31-9 across the third and fourth quarters with scores on two consecutive possessions. Lewis had rushes of 24 yards and then five more for the first Iowa score with 2:58 to play in the third quarter, then broke a Banks pass for 23 yards for the second touchdown with 14:47 remaining in the contest.
A 22-yard field goal by Kaeding at 2:49 sealed the victory. With that, Kaeding lifted his streak to 17 consecutive field goals this season and 20 in a row dating back to the 2001 season.
The Wolverines will take on instate rival Michigan State at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 2) in a 12:05 p.m. contest. The game will be aired by either ESPN or ESPN2.
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
Team Stats
IOWA 7, MICH 0
IOWA - JONES, C.J. 39 yd pass from BANKS, Brad (KAEDING, Nate kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:23
IOWA 10, MICH 0
IOWA - KAEDING, Nate 19 yd field goal 12 plays, 86 yards, TOP 4:49
IOWA 10, MICH 6
MICH - Perry, Chris 1 yd run (Brabbs, Philip kickfailed), 2 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:39
IOWA 10, MICH 9
MICH - Finley, Adam 40 yd field goal 11 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:29
IOWA 17, MICH 9
IOWA - JONES, C.J. 3 yd pass from BANKS, Brad (KAEDING, Nate kick) 3 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:24
IOWA 24, MICH 9
IOWA - LEWIS, Jermelle 5 yd run (KAEDING, Nate kick), 8 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:22
IOWA 31, MICH 9
IOWA - LEWIS, Jermelle 23 yd pass from BANKS, Brad (KAEDING, Nate kick) 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:01
IOWA 34, MICH 9
IOWA - KAEDING, Nate 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 26 yards, TOP 5:47
