Michigan Offense Sputters in Win

Michigan won nine games last season with stars Drew Henson, David Terrell and Anthony Thomas.

The 12th-ranked Wolverines beat Miami of Ohio, 31-13, Saturday at Ann Arbor, Mich., in the opener for both teams as their new-look offense sputtered with several new players.

“People have got to get over the fact that we lost a lot of guys,” said B.J. Askew, who had 20 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown. “Everyone is talking about the guys that left when they talk about Michigan. We’ve got to change that.”

John Navarre completed 19 of 32 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown.

“We’ve got some things to work on,” Navarre said. “And I’ve got some things to work on.”

The Wolverines were unable to add to their 17-6 halftime lead until early in the fourth quarter.

Jeremy LeSueur intercepted a pass in the end zone and on the ensuing possession, Calvin Bell scored on a 12-yard reverse with 10:49 left to give Michigan a 24-6 lead.

“I’m disappointed in some things,” Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. “But I’m not disappointed in this team and I’m not disappointed with this win.”

Michigan, already the victory leader in Division I-A football, won its 806th game to tie Yale for the most wins in any division.

Michigan will face a tougher test Saturday at No. 15 Washington.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to play Washington today,” Carr said. “With their speed and ability, I’m glad we got a game under our belt.”

Iowa 51, Kent State 0--Aaron Greving tied an NCAA record by scoring touchdowns on all three of his carries as the Hawkeyes dominated the season opener for both teams at Iowa City.

Iowa rolled up its highest point total since a 62-0 victory over Indiana on Oct. 25, 1997.

It came after a distracting preseason that was climaxed by the departure of quarterback Jon Beutjer, who was attacked by teammate Sam Aiello at their apartment in July and quit the team last week.

But the Hawkeyes showed no sign of being bothered by the incident. They drove 79 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown on the game’s first series, quarterback Kyle McCann ran the offense capably and Greving and fullback Jeremy Allen gave the running game a boost.

Greving, the backup tailback, scored on runs of 14, 1 and 26 yards to tie the NCAA record for touchdowns on consecutive rushes held by three others. Navy’s Chris McCoy had been the last to do it, in 1997 against Rutgers.

McCann, who beat out Beutjer for the starting job, completed 12 for 18 passes for 165 yards with no interceptions.

Nate Kaeding kicked first-half field goals of 37, 31 and 30 yards to give him 10 in a row dating to last season. Rob Houghtlin made 10 in a row for Iowa in 1985.