2002 FBL vs. Utah -- Postgame Notes

Today's contest on ESPN was the 85th consecutive televised broadcast of a Michigan football game. The last non-televised U-M game was a 38-19 victory against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 30, 1995. The Wolverines have appeared on TV an NCAA-record 310 times.

Today's announced attendance of 109,734 marked the 169th straight game in which there were over 100,000 fans at the Big House.

Michigan won the opening coin toss for the fourth consecutive game this season and deferred until the second half.

Senior fullback B.J. Askew had a season-long 21-yard run in the first quarter.

Michigan attempted its first field goal fake of the year, with holder John Navarre handing off to Philip Brabbs for a seven-yard run and a first down.

Sophomore wide receiver Braylon Edwards made a 44-yard reception, which set up his fourth touchdown of the season, a 12-yard pass from John Navarre. Edwards had career day by setting a personal high in receptions with nine and recording his first 100-yard receiving game of his career by totaling 109 yards. Edwards has led the Wolverines in receiving yards in their first four games of the season.

Junior Shantee Orr recorded his second sack of the season and ninth of his career for a loss of seven yards in the second quarter.

Junior placekicker Philip Brabbs connected on a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter, his third of the season, rushed seven yards for a first down on a fake field goal, and pooch-punted for 35 yards.

Junior tailback Chris Perry amassed a game-high 91 rushing yards. Perry collected 81 of those rushing yards in the second half.

Michigan went 3-for-3 on fourth-down conversions in the game, while Utah was 0-for-1.

Junior wide receiver Calvin Bell had his first rush of the season, gaining 15 yards on a reverse in the fourth quarter.

Junior/sophomore punter Adam Finley set personal bests with seven punts for 284 yards, and his 40.6 average marks the fourth straight game that he has averaged more than 40 yards per punt.

Fifth-year senior Julius Curry grabbed his first interception of the season and third of his career for 27 yards in the first quarter and then added another pick in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Wolverines.

Julius Curry also tied a school single-game record with eight punt returns. On Sept. 9, 1981, against Notre Dame, Brian Carpenter also returned eight punts. Curry also gained 105 yards on those punt returns, which is the fifth best single-game performance for a Wolverine punt returner.

Senior linebacker Victor Hobson recorded a season-high 11 tackles, including two tackles for loss for seven yards.

In his third start of the season junior/sophomore cornerback Zia Combs set a career high with eight solo tackles. His total of eight tackles matched his previous career best which he set last week against Notre Dame (six solos, two assists). Combs also recorded his first TFL today.

The Michigan defense held Utah to just 3-of-16 on third downs, and the Utes average yards-to-go on third down was 8.3.