ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- John Navarre threw three touchdown passes and rushed for another score Saturday as the 13th-ranked Michigan Wolverines rebounded from their worst home loss in 35 years to drub the Michigan State Spartans, 49-3, in a Big Ten Conference contest.
It was Michigan's most lopsided win in the series since a 55-0 victory in 1947.
The Wolverines (7-2, 4-1), who suffered a 34-9 setback to Iowa last week, stayed in the Big Ten race and avenged last season's 26-24 "Clockgate" loss at Michigan State.
In that game, time appeared to run out on the Spartans, but the clocked stopped with a second left after Jeff Smoker spiked the ball at the Michigan 2. Smoker then tossed a game-winning TD pass to T.J. Duckett.
Saturday's contest never was in doubt as the Wolverines dominated after spotting the Spartans a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Navarre tossed a 39-yard TD pass to Ronald Bellamy early in the second period to give Michigan a 21-3 halftime lead, then found tight end Bennie Joppru for an 11-yard score that made it 28-3 with 4:57 left in the third period to make it 28-3.
Just over three minutes later, Navarre and Bellamy hooked up again for a 47-yard TD strike that extended the Wolverines' lead to 35-3.
Navarre completed 16-of-27 passes for 229 yards, while B.J. Askew rushed for a career-high 149 yards and two TDs on 32 carries. Askew's one-yard TD run made it 42-3 with just over nine minutes remaining in the contest.
Cornerback Blake Nasif's interception return gave Michigan a first down at the Michigan State 10 with under three minutes remaining. Instead of running out the clock, the Wolverines struck again on Tim Bracken's five-yard TD with 1:05 to go.
The Spartans (3-6, 1-4) lost for the sixth time in seven games and remain riddled by turmoil as Smoker missed his second straight game due to a suspension for a violation of team rules. He was joined on the sidelines by defensive lineman Greg Taplin, who was hit with a one-game suspension early this week by coach Bobby Williams.
Michigan increased its lead in the all-time series to 62-28-5. The Wolverines have won nine of the last 11 at home and have not lost to Michigan State at Michigan Stadium since 1990.
