2002 FBL at Notre Dame -- Postgame Notes

Junior tailback Chris Perry was held without 100 rushing yards for the first time this season, gaining 78 yards on 16 carries (4.9 avg.). Perry scored on a two-yard run with four seconds left in the third quarter, giving Michigan its only lead of the day, 17-16.

Fifth-year senior tight end Bennie Joppru had a career-best day in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (80), including catching an eight-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter. Joppru caught six passes for 72 yards in the second half and was named the NBC Player of the Game for Michigan.

Fifth-year senior strong safety Charles Drake collected two sacks in the game and finished with a season-high six tackles. Drake's sacks were his first of the season.

Fifth-year senior outside linebacker Victor Hobson led the defense with 10 tackles against the Irish. Hobson recorded six solo stops, three TFLs and two sacks. Hobson has 199 career tackles.

Fifth-year senior defensive end Dan Rumishek, the team's special teams captain for today's game, tallied two solo stops and one sack. Rumishek is tied for the lead in sacks with Victor Hobson, tallying three this season.

Notre Dame held Michigan's offense to just eight rushing yards and two first downs in the first half. The Wolverines finished the game with 91 rushing yards on 26 carries and gained 15 first downs. U-M held the ball for 17:32 in the second half of the contest after holding the ball offensively for 8:27 in the first half.

Senior/junior inside linebacker Carl Diggs tallied a season-high eight tackles against Notre Dame, including one TFL.

Junior defensive end Larry Stevens came through a pair of big plays defensively for the Wolverines, forcing a fumble by tailback Ryan Grant and recovering a fumble at ND's 16-yard line following Marlin Jackson's blind-side hit on quarterback Carlyle Holiday.

Junior/sophomore cornerback Zia Combs came through with a key end zone fumble recovery to stop a potential Notre Dame scoring drive. It was the first fumble recovery of Combs' career.

Sophomore cornerback Marlin Jackson scored his first career defensive touchdown on an interception and 19-yard return during the first quarter. It was the first defensive touchdown for the Wolverines since senior safety Julius Curry returned an interception 50 yards at Ohio State on Nov. 18, 2000. Jackson collected five tackles, one forced fumble and the interception against Notre Dame.

Senior/junior defensive end Shantee Orr picked up his second blocked field goal/PAT attempt of the season during the first quarter. Orr broke through the middle of the Irish line to block plackicker Nick Setta's 47-yard field goal try.

Notre Dame's opening-series touchdown was the first points yielded by the Wolverines during the opening quarter this season. It was the first offensive touchdown by the Irish in 2002.

For the third straight game, the Wolverines won the opening toss and deferred to the second half.