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Michigan Wolverines © |
Northwestern Wildcats |
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Played November 15, 2003 at Ryan Field Evanston, Illinois |
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Teams' Belt Records
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Team |
Belt Reigns |
Overall Record |
Home Record |
Away Record |
Neutral Record |
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W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
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| Michigan © | 6 | 17 | 10 | 0 | .630 | 9 | 4 | 0 | .692 | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | ||||
Previous Belt Meetings: None
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1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
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Michigan |
7 |
24 |
3 |
7 |
41 |
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Northwestern |
3 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
10 |
The 5th ranked, 8-2 Michigan Wolverines of coach Lloyd Carr traveled to Evanston to meet the 5-5 Northwestern Wildcats of coach Randy Walker. The Wildcats had played for The Belt earlier in the season losing to Ohio State & over the history of The Belt, Northwestern had lost all three title games they had played scoring a total of 3 points. The Wolverines' trio of All-American RB Chris Perry, All-Big Ten QB John Navarre, & All-Big Ten WR Braylon Edwards led Michigan to a 41-10 rout of the Wildcats. The Wolverines opened the scoring with a 9-play, 65-yard scoring drive with Perry finishing the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Northwestern responded with a field goal from PK Brian Huffman. Michigan drove for another score in the opening quarter but PK Garrett Rivas missed a 42-yard field goal attempt. Rivas redeemed himself on the first play of the 2nd quarter when he kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 10-3 Wolverines' lead. On the Wildcats' next play from scrimmage, QB Brett Basanez fumbled & Michigan's CB Jeremy LeSueur recovered for the Wolverines. It took 9 plays to drive 38 yards before Perry scored on a 1-yard run for a 17-3 Michigan lead. On the ensuing kick-off, Northwestern's Derell Jenkins fumbled & Wolverines' RB Jerome Jackson recovered at the Wildcats' 26-yard line. Navarre connected with Edwards for a 26-yard touchdown pass on the next snap & Michigan was in-control of the game leading 24-3. Late in the quarter, Navarre completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to WR Jason Avant who made a spectacular catch for a 31-3 halftime lead. Rivas' 28-yard field goal accounted for the only points of the 3rd quarter while both teams added a touchdown in the final quarter. Northwestern's RB Brandon Horn scored on a 13-yard run while Jackson added a 7-yard touchdown run to finish the scoring. Navarre finished with 288 yards passing on 22 of 31 passes with his 2 touchdowns, Perry had 122 yards rushing with his 2 scores, & Edwards added 9 catches for 112 yards to his touchdown. Basanez threw for 121 yards with an interception while being sacked once in the loss. Michigan finished the season 10-3; Big Ten Champions, ranked 6th nationally while the Wildcats finished 6-7. Northwestern would play for The Belt again in 2006.
