2002 FBL vs. Michigan State -- Postgame Notes

Today's announced attendance of 111,542 fans is the third largest crowd in Michigan Stadium history.

Today's 49-3 victory over Michigan State marked Michigan's largest victory over the Spartans since the Wolverines won 55-0 on Sept. 27, 1947.

Freshman wide receiver Jason Avant recorded his first career reception at Michigan for 11 yards and a first down in the first quarter. Avant's catch led to U-M's first score of the game, a two-yard touchdown run by senior fullback B.J. Askew.

Junior/sophomore wide receiver Jermaine Gonzales collected his first catch of the season, a 21-yard strike from John Navarre, on Michigan's first scoring drive.

B.J. Askew's first-quarter touchdown was his 13th career rushing TD at Michigan and his first career touchdown against Michigan State.

Sophomore/freshman Sean Sanderson got his first career start as a Wolverine at fullback against Michigan State.

Senior/junior quarterback John Navarre's one-yard plunge into the end zone in the first quarter marked his second career rushing touchdown at Michigan.

Senior/junior Jon Shaw's breakup of Damon Dowdell's pass to Charles Rogers in the end zone is his first PBU of the season and the fifth of his career. Shaw also had his first career start against MSU.

Fifth-year senior tight end Bennie Joppru scored his eighth career touchdown and fifth of the season on a 12-yard pass play from John Navarre in the third quarter.

Senior wide receiver Ronald Bellamy caught a pair of touchdowns against the Spartans, from 38 yards and 47 yards. The 47-yard score marks Michigan's longest pass play of the season and is also a season long for Bellamy. Bellamy has compiled seven career receiving touchdowns and two against the Spartans. He now has two career multi-touchdown games, the first coming against Bowling Green (Sept. 2, 2000). Bellamy finished the game with a career-best 124 receiving yards, the first time he has gone over the 100-yard mark in his career.

With his three touchdown passes, John Navarre has 44 career touchdowns and has moved into third place on Michigan's all-time touchdowns thrown list. His 229 yards passing moved him into fifth on the school's career yardage list with 4,998 career yards. Navarre moved ahead of former U-M quarterback Steve Smith (1980-83) on both lists.

B.J. Askew finished the game with 149 rushing yards, setting a season and career high. He also set a career high in carries with 32. His 149 rushing yards is Michigan's first individual 100-yard rushing performance since Askew rushed for 122 yards against Penn State (Oct. 6, 2001). His two scores in the game ties a single-game best achieved on four previous occasions, last against Minnesota on Nov. 10, 2001.

Junior/sophomore wide receiver Andy Stejskal caught his first career pass in the fourth quarter. The play was part of Michigan's final scoring drive of the game.

Sophomore running back Tim Bracken scored the first touchdown of his career on a five-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. The score put the Wolverines up 49-3.

Sophomore cornerback Marlin Jackson tied a school record for pass breakups in a season when he broke up a Damon Dowdell pass in the third quarter. He matched Charles Woodson's total of 15 PBUs during the 1996 season.

Senior defensive back Blake Nasif made the first interception of his career against the Spartans in the fourth quarter. The Lansing, Mich., native returned the interception 13 yards to set up Michigan's final score of the game.

Sophomore/freshman free safety Ernest Shazor recorded his first career sack, tackling Damon Dowdell for a loss of four yards in the second quarter. Shazor finished the game with a career-high four tackles.

Senior/junior defensive tackle Grant Bowman collected his seventh career sack and third of the season in the third quarter, stopping Damon Dowdell for a loss of seven yards. Bowman had a career-high four tackles.

Senior defensive back Jon Shaw recorded a career-high six tackles, all solo, against the Spartans.

Junior/sophomore kicker Adam Finley was perfect on PATs, connecting on seven of seven attempts. Finley recorded his first career PAT and set a season high for Michigan with seven PATs in one game.