Michigan 27 Iowa 30 - October 4, 2003 - Iowa City, Iowa
Chris Bray's Record (6-2) - Video Highlights
IOWA CITY, Iowa (Ticker) -- Iowa found inspiration from a
favorite son.
With former coach Hayden Fry in the stands, the 19th-ranked
Hawkeyes used a pair of touchdown passes by Nathan Chandler to
upset No. 11 Michigan for the second straight year, 30-27.
"His (Fry's) presence is felt by everybody in the stadium," Iowa
coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I couldn't have written a better
script than what happened today."
Ramon Ochoa caught a 31-yard touchdown pass with 5:16 remaining
as Iowa rallied from an early 14-point deficit. Ochoa made a
lunging grab between two defenders to give Iowa (5-1, 1-1 Big
Ten) a 30-20 lead and the Hawkeyes held on in the final minutes,
overcoming a record-setting performance by Michigan's John
Navarre.
"He's (Ochoa) the type of player who is often overlooked, but
his performance today shows just how much heart he goes out and
plays with every time he steps on the field," Ferentz added.
Ferentz took over at Iowa in 1999, ending a 20-year tenure
for Fry as Hawkeye coach.
Fred Russell overcame a slow start to rush for 110 yards on 26
carries for Iowa, which upset the Wolverines for a second
straight year. Last season, Iowa won at Michigan, 34-9, handing
the Wolverines their worst home defeat since 1967.
Navarre completed 26-of-49 passes for a school-record 389 yards,
including a 41-yard touchdown to Braylon Edwards with 3:33
left.
The Wolverines (4-1, 1-1) got one more possession but turned the
ball over on downs at the Iowa 49 when Navarre's pass on
4th-and-12 was incomplete.
After the Hawkeyes ran out the clock, many fans stormed the
field at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa improved to just 4-14-1 against
Michigan here.
"This was a very disappointing loss for us," Michigan coach
Lloyd Carr said. "I take full responsibility."
Chris Perry appeared to give Michigan a first down inside Iowa's
25-yard line on the Wolverines' last possession, but his
20-yard gain was negated due to offsetting penalties. The
Wolverines' hopes ended after Navarre threw three straight
incompletions.
Chandler completed 17-of-34 passes for 195 yards for the
Hawkeyes, who rebounded from last week's 20-10 loss at Michigan
State.
Russell gained only 16 yards on his first 10 carries as Michigan
opened an early 14-0 lead.
"Michigan has an excellent football team and the way we bounced
back after their first two scores showed how much heart we have
on this team," Ferentz said.
Perry's five-yard TD run and Navarre's 14-yard TD pass to
Braylon Edwards gave Michigan a 14-0 lead. Iowa pulled within
20-17 at the intermission on Chandler's six-yard TD pass Calvin
Davis with 19 seconds to go in the half.
Cornerback Antwan Allen's 24-yard interception return set up
Nate Kaeding's game-tying 25-yard field goal with 5:40 left in
the third.
On Michigan's next possession, Garrett Rivas blocked a punt,
leading to Kaeding's 32-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the
quarter.
Perry rushed for 87 yards on 24 carries, but Michigan was held
to a net of 74 yards on the ground.
"We didn't get away from the running game," Carr said. "They
just have a great defense."
Chandler engineered the clinching drive, moving the Hawkeyes 79
yards on 10 plays. He kept it alive with a 13-yard completion to
Erik Jensen on 3rd-and-9 from the 44, one play before Ochoa's
touchdown.
