2003 Motor City Bowl Bowling Green 28, Northwestern 24

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December 26, 2003

DETROIT -- Northwestern took away Bowling Green's running game. So Josh Harris beat the Wildcats through the air.

Harris passed for 386 yards and three touchdowns to lead Bowling Green to a 28-24 victory over Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl on Friday night.

"They were able to confuse us early and it took us a while to adjust," Harris said. "Luckily, our defense was able to contain them long enough for us to settle down and figure things out."

Bowling Green (11-3) took the lead for good on Harris' 3-yard touchdown pass to Cole Magner with 4:06 left.

"We knew going in that Josh Harris was a special player," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said. "We wanted to make him throw the ball. ... He showed why he's such a great player by having success throwing the ball in the second half."

Marvin Ward celebrates his second-quarter interception with Jeff Backes and Tim McGarigle.

Harris, who also ran for a TD, set a Motor City Bowl record for completions with 38 in 50 attempts. Magner also set a game record for catches, finishing with 12 for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Jason Wright ran for 237 yards on 21 carries and finished with 336 all-purpose yards for Northwestern (6-7).

He had a 77-yard TD run -- the second-longest run in Motor City Bowl history -- to give the Wildcats a 17-7 lead early in the third quarter and an 88-yard kickoff return early in the fourth to set up Noah Herron's 2-yard touchdown run that made it 24-21.

Wright said he took offense to being called slow by one of the announcers during ESPN's Hawaii Bowl broadcast Thursday night.

"I wanted to show how fast I was. Those long runs were ideal." - Jason Wright

"I wanted to show how fast I was. Those long runs were ideal," Wright said. "I just didn't want anyone to catch me from behind."

Bowling Green used two 80-yard scoring drives to take a 21-17 lead early in the fourth. Harris threw a 7-yard TD pass to Magner, and put the Falcons on top with an 11-yarder to Steve Sanders.

"I think our kids knew at halftime that we were still in the game," Falcons coach Gregg Brandon said. "I could tell that they had enough resolve to get it done."

Northwestern opened the scoring on Herron's 40-yard fourth-down run in the first quarter, and made it 10-0 on Brian Huffman's 31-yard field goal. Bowling Green answered with a 67-yard drive, capped by Harris' 4-yard run.

Wright was named the game's co-MVP, along with Harris, while Northwestern's Luis Castillo was named the game's UAW Lineman of the Game. It was the first time in Motor City Bowl history that the losing team had two players receive post-game honors.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story)

MOTOR CITY BOWL RECORDS SET 


INDIVIDUAL
(old record in parentheses)
Rushing
Most Yards: 237, Jason Wright, NU
  (190, Chester Taylor, Toledo vs. Cincinnati, 2001)
Best Avg. per Carry (min. 10 attempts): 11.3, Jason Wright
  (9.5, Doug Chapman, Marshall vs. BYU, 1999)

Passing
Most Completions: 35, Josh Harris, BGSU
  (35, Chris Redman, Louisville vs. Marshall, 1998)
Highest Completion Pct.: .760, Harris (38-of-50)
  (.750, Chad Pennington, Marshall vs. Louisville, 1998)

Receiving
Most Receptions: 12, Cole Magner, BGSU
  (10, Carl Ford, Toledo vs. Boston College, 2002)

All-Purpose
Most Yards: 336, Jason Wright, NU

Defensive
Fumbles Forced:  2, Keon Newson, BGSU
  (1, numerous times)

Longest Plays
Kickoff Return: 88, Jason Wright, NU
  (35, Donta Greene, Toledo vs. Boston College, 2002)

Scoring
Most Points Receiving: 12, Cole Magner, BGSU *
  (12, James Williams, Marshall vs. Louisville, 1998)
  (12, Grant Adams, Boston College vs. Toledo, 2002)
Most TD Receiving:  2, Magner *
  (2, Williams & Adams)

Total Offense
Most Total Yards:  454, Josh Harris, BGSU
  (445, Chad Pennington, Marshall vs. Louisville, 1998)

TEAM
Rushing
Most Yards:  357, Northwestern
  (322, Toledo vs. Cincinnati, 2001)

Passing
Most Completions:  38, BGSU
  (35, Louisville vs. Marshall, 1998)

Total Offense
Most Plays:  88, BGSU
  (87, Ole Miss vs. Marshall, 1997)

Scoring
Most TDs Rushing:  3, Northwestern *
  (3, Louisville vs. Marshall, 1998)
  (3, Boston College vs. Toledo, 2002)
Most Points Scored in Fourth Quarter:  14, BGSU *
  (14, Marshall vs. Ole Miss, 1997)

First Downs
Most First Downs:  30, BGSU *
  (30, Boston College vs. Toledo, 2002)

* tied record