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Michigan claimed a 38-30 victory in a back-and-forth affair against No. 22 Florida in the 2003 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
Tailback Chris Perry earned Outback Bowl MVP honors after setting a bowl game record and a modern era Michigan bowl record with four touchdowns. Perry matched his career
high with 28 carries for 85 yards and four TDs, and added a career-best six receptions for 108 yards. Quarterback
John Navarre completed 21-of-36 passes for a career-high 319 yards and one TD.
Defensively, Victor Hobson sealed the win for the Wolverines with his interception on Florida’s final drive.
Hobson tallied a career-best 12 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Michigan took advantage of a Florida turnover as Perry scored on a four-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. U-M gained possession at the Florida three-yard line after recovering an errant shotgun snap. Florida, however, answered to take a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of TD runs by tailback Ernest Graham.
U-M took control of the game on a 12-play scoring drive as Perry leaped over the goal line on a fourth-down play from the one-yard line.
The Gators regained the lead, 16-14, with 1:37 left in the first half as placekicker Matt Leach connected on a 29-yard field goal, but Michigan responded to take a 21-16 halftime
advantage as Navarre completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Bellamy with 27 seconds left.
Florida scored on its opening possession of the second half to gain a 23-21 lead. The Wolverines answered the Gators’ TD and took the lead for good, 28-23, on a sevenyard
TD run by Perry. U-M extended its lead to 35-23 as Perry scored his fourth TD of the game, a 12-yard run through the middle of the defense.
Florida trimmed the deficit to 35-30 with 8:21 remaining as Grossman fired a three-yard TD pass to tight end Aaron Walker.
On the Gator’s next possession, a Hobson sack forced Florida to punt the ball away. U-M got the ball back
at its 34-yard line and proceeded to put the game away as kicker Adam Finley connected on a 33-yard field goal for a 38-30 lead with 2:20 left.
The Gators attempted to mount one final drive to tie the game. After reaching the Wolverine 37-yard line, Florida tried a little trickery on a wide receiver reverse pass, but it was intercepted by Hobson and returned 42 yards to seal Michigan’s victory.
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SCORING
M Perry 4-yard run (Finley kick)
F Graham 2-yard run (Leach kick)
F Graham 1-yard run (Carthon rush failed)
M Perry 1-yard run (Finley kick)
F Leach 29-yard field goal
M Bellamy 8-yard pass from Navarre (Finley kick)
F Ratliff 33-yard pass from Grossman (Leach kick)
M Perry 7-yard run (Finley kick)
M Perry 12-yard run (Finley kick)
F Walker 3-yard pass from Grossman (Leach kick)
M Finley 33-yard field goal
Team Stats UF UM
First Downs 28 17
Rushed-Yards 43-183 37-104
Passing Yards 323 319
Passes 42-21-1 37-21-0
Total Offense 85-506 74-423
Sacked-Yards Lost 4-20 1-4
Punts 8-257 9-347
Return Yards 111 116
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-0
Penalties-Yards 6-38 3-23
Third Down Conv. 5-14 3-15
Time of Possession 27:21 32:39
Rushing — (M): Perry 28-85, Bellamy 2-20, Askew 2-9,
Team 3-(-4), Navarre 2-(-6).
(F): Graham 22-120, Carthon 6-56, Grossman 11-23,
Ratliff 2-7, Fason 1-0, Team 1-(-23).
Passing — (M): Navarre 36-21-0-319, Team 1-0-0-0.
(F): Grossman 41-21-0-323, Brown 1-0-1-0.
Receiving — (M): Perry 6-108, Joppru 6-80, Edwards 4-110,
Bellamy 2-11, Askew 2-6, Gonzales 1-4.
(F): Jacobs 7-88, Carthon 3-65, Kight 3-52, Small 3-37,
Walker 2-11, Ratliff 1-33, Troupe 1-27, Green 1-10.
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