The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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������ michigan football ��� Top Five Michigan���s Best November Victory ��� Since 2000 Huge wins in November haven���t been a part of the Michigan landscape for a while. With one victory over Ohio State in the last nine tries (not counting last year���s vacated contest, rife with soon-to-be ineligible Buckeyes), the Wolverines have faced a few bleak final months of the season. Here is a look at the top November wins since 2000, voted on at TheWolverine.com: Thanks to this season's unusual schedule, head coach Brady Hoke and the Wolverines will play only one home game between Oct. 1 and Nov. 19. photo by per kjeldsen 4 and Iowa Nov. 11, played Minnesota at home Nov. 18, and finished off the regular season in Evanston, playing Northwestern Nov. 25. During this stretch, Michigan went 4-0-1. U-M Looks To Put An End To Losing Streak Over the past seven years, the annual Michigan-Ohio State late-November tilt has seen slobber-knockers, nail-biters, blowouts and even a ���Game of the Century,��� but two things have remained constant for the Wolverines following ���The Game��� ��� animosity and disappointment. The Maize and Blue have dropped seven straight to their eternal rivals (technically six ��� the Buckeyes were forced to forfeit all of their 2010 victories due to NCAA sanctions), but another year offers another opportunity to finally end the Buckeyes��� reign of terror. How does ���The Streak��� stand up against Michigan���s all-time longest winning and losing streaks? Historically, U-M has posted massive win streaks against Big Ten Conference members spanning several different eras, save for conference newcomer Nebraska; the Wolverines are 3-1-1 all time against the Huskers with neither team able to muster consecutive wins. Even the most competitive of the Maize and Blue���s all-time series are marked by at least one win streak of nine games or more. In fact, Michigan has posted doubledigit win streaks against seven of 11 current conference members, including a 14-game run over in-state rival Michigan State from 1916-29. U-M 46��� the wolverine��� ������ November 2011 2003: Michigan 35, Ohio State 21 ��� 71 percent 2007: Michigan 28, Michigan State 24 ��� 17 percent 2000: Michigan 38, Ohio State 26 ��� 7 percent 2003: Michigan 27, Michigan State 20 ��� 3 percent 2002: Michigan 21, Wisconsin 14 ��� 1 percent 1. 2003, Michigan 35, Ohio State 21 ��� In the 100th meeting between the two programs, Michigan senior quarterback John Navarre led the Wolverines to what ��� almost unfathomably ��� is their most recent win in the series. Navarre threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Chris Perry pounded out 154 yards on 31 tries with two more touchdowns for the Wolverines. Michigan built a 21-7 lead at the half, Navarre torching the Buckeyes��� defense on touchdown passes of 64 and 23 yards to wideout Braylon Edwards. Ohio State fought back to pull within seven, 28-21, on a two-yard Lydell Ross touchdown with 13:53 remaining, but Perry broke free for a 15-yard TD six minutes later and the Michigan defense did the rest. 2. 2007, Michigan 28, Michigan State 24 ��� Lloyd Carr���s last crack at the Spartans resulted in Michigan���s most recent victory in that particular grudge match. U-M went into East Lansing and stunned the Spartans, who led, 24-14, with just 7:40 remaining in the game. Michigan led at the half, 14-3, but the Spartans rallied furiously, scoring 21 straight points, and appeared to have the Wolverines put away. A 14-yard TD pass from Chad Henne to wideout Greg Mathews pulled the Wolverines back within three with 6:47 left, and Henne���s 31-yard touchdown toss to Mario Manningham with 2:28 left sealed the shocker. Henne wound up throwing for 211 yards and four touchdowns, while fellow senior Mike Hart rushed for 110 on 15 carries and managed to rile the rivals with some pointed postgame commentary. 3. 2000, Michigan 38, Ohio State 26 ��� A shootout in the Horseshoe left only the Wolverines standing. Junior quarterback Drew Henson made his penultimate game in a Michigan uniform one to remember, throwing for 303 yards and three touchdown passes. Henson put the game on ice with a one-yard, fourth-down QB keeper for a touchdown with 1:18 remaining. Ohio State jumped to a 9-0 lead, scoring on its first two possessions of the game, and it looked like a long day ahead in Columbus. Instead, Michigan battled back for a 14-12 halftime lead, scored on a 32-yard Henson-to-David Terrell TD toss to open the second half, and held off the Buckeyes the rest of the way. Julius Curry���s 50-yard pick-six on a Steve Bellisari throw gave the Wolverines a 31-12 edge, prior to an ill-fated OSU rally. 4. 2003, Michigan 27, Michigan State 20 ��� Perry came to play in his farewell to the Spartans. The senior tailback carried 51 times for 219 yards and one touchdown, helping the Wolverines pound out a 27-20 win. U-M built a 27-10 lead in Spartan Stadium, but the home team came surging back. MSU made it interesting on a 65-yard Clifford Dukes fumble recovery with 6:03 remaining, pulling within a touchdown, but Perry and his teammates couldn���t be denied. 5. 2002, Michigan 21, Wisconsin 14 ��� The Wolverines scored just seven points over the final three quarters, but shut out the Badgers in the second half to claim a 21-14 slugfest. Navarre hit Edwards for the eventual game-winner, an eight-yard touchdown pass giving the Wolverines a 21-14 edge with 2:15 left in the third quarter. Perry rushed for 175 yards and one touchdown in the win. ��� John Borton