University of Houston
Michigan
Cougars Fall To No. 5 Michigan
9/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept 6, 2003
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Chris Perry ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns as No. 5 Michigan beat Houston 50-3 Saturday.
The Wolverines (2-0) host No. 19 Notre Dame next week following two wins by a combined score of 95-10.
After Michigan forced a fumble midway through the first quarter, it scored 22 points over the next 16 minutes against the Cougars (1-1) to spark the blowout.
Perry's performance - with TDs from 1 and 8 yards on 27 carries - came one game after he ran for a career-high 232 yards and two TDs in a 45-7 win over Central Michigan. Backup running back David Underwood ran 11 times for 108 yards and a score.
Michigan's John Navarre was 13-of-30 for 136 yards with a TD and no interceptions. Navarre, who has completed 527 career passes, surpassed Elvis Grbac for the most completions in Michigan history. Braylon Edwards caught four passes for 50 yards and a score.
Houston's Kevin Kolb was 15-of-30 for 64 yards, a week after the freshman accounted for four TDs in a 48-14 win over Rice. Brandon Middleton extended his streak with at least one reception to 29 games.
The Cougars got off to a good start before being routed.
The Wolverines gained just 3 yards on their first three possessions as Houston stuffed them near the line on runs, and swarmed around receivers on pass attempts.
Then Michigan made its game-turning break and began to build a huge cushion.
Safety Ernest Shazor forced receiver Vincent Marshall to fumble. Lawrence Reid recovered, and the Wolverines had the ball at the Houston 24 after the Cougars were penalized for a late hit.
Perry carried the ball five straight times and scored from the 1 to give Michigan a 7-0 lead.
Larry Stevens sacked Kolb for a safety late in the first quarter.
The Wolverines scored on their next three possessions. They would have scored four straight times, but Steve Breaston's 62-yard punt return was negated by a penalty.
After the safety, Jeremy LeSueur returned a kick 45 yards to set up Garrett Rivas' first career field goal, from 43 yards. Underwood, a Texas native, scored on a 5-yard run to put the Wolverines ahead 22-0.
Midway through the third quarter, Houston's Dustin Bell capped a 14-play drive with a 42-yard kick to make it 22-3.
After Perry scored on an 8-yard run and Edwards caught a 9-yard TD pass to put Michigan ahead 36-3 early in the fourth quarter, the starters were pulled but backups scored two more TDs.
Michigan's Marlin Jackson played following a one-game and one-series suspension after pleading guilty to aggravated assault last month in a plea agreement. The Big Ten preseason defensive player of the year made his first appearance as a safety after two standout seasons at cornerback.
Wolverines linebacker Carl Diggs, a starter and captain, missed the game because of a death in his family.
