ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- They have talked the last two weeks about controlling their own destiny.

Well, the 13th-ranked Michigan Wolverines certainly controlled 10th-ranked Purdue on Saturday before 111,349 at Michigan Stadium to remain in the Big Ten race with three games left.

The Wolverines won their third straight, beating Purdue, 31-3, playing one of their best overall games. Purdue was one of only two unbeatens in the Big Ten. The other is Michigan State, which Michigan faces Saturday in a critical conference matchup at Spartan Stadium.

Michigan is 7-2, 4-1 in the Big Ten. Purdue is 6-2, 3-1, and has now lost 16 straight at Michigan Stadium. Purdue had won six straight this season entering the game.

Despite an early loss to Iowa, if Michigan wins out, it will win its first Big Ten title since 2000. That is a big if with MSU on the road Saturday and Ohio State at home in the regular-season finale.

"Our goal was the Big Ten championship, and we control our own destiny," said U-M quarterback John Navarre.

Junior receiver Braylon Edwards caught two touchdown passes from Navarre, Steve Breaston scored on a 21-yard reverse, cornerback Markus Curry scored on a fumble recovery and Garrett Rivas had a field goal for the Wolverines, who had 345 yards of total offense, including 240 passing. Purdue entered the game as the Big Ten's top defense, allowing an average of 265.6 yards per game.

Safety Ernest Shazor said the Michigan defense, which held Purdue to 242 yards, including 58 rushing, wanted to send a message just two weeks after allowing Minnesota 424 rushing yards.

"We're still here, and we're still in the running," said Shazor, who had five tackles, including two of the Wolverines' seven sacks.

Linebacker Lawrence Reid led the Wolverines with 12 tackles, 11 solo. Cornerback Leon Hall, a freshman, had two interceptions of Kyle Orton, and the team had seven pass deflections.

Orton entered the game having thrown only two interceptions. He was 18-of-37 for 184 yards and took seven sacks. He looked confused by Michigan's blitz package for most of the game.

"Orton did not have any time to speak of," Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said. "Any quarterback is not going to be effective if he's pressured enough."

Navarre, meanwhile, was 17-of-30 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Edwards had six catches for 86 yards and two scores and Jason Avant came up with big receptions yet again, with five catches for 90 yards.

Navarre credited the running game - senior tailback Chris Perry had 28 carries for 95 yards - for freeing the passing game, and he praised the kicking game for keeping Purdue deep in its own territory most of the game. Of the Boilermakers' 15 possessions, nine started from at or inside their own 20. Only once, on a fumble recovery, did the Boilermakers get possession in Michigan territory.

Michigan scored on its second possession on a 14-yard pass from Navarre to Edwards. The eight-play drive included two big catches by Avant, who had a 19-yard reception on third down, and an 18-yarder in a second-and-12 situation.

Breaston scored on the reverse - which featured two blocks by Navarre - at the end of the first quarter, giving Michigan a 14-0 lead. Purdue had only 8 yards of offense in the quarter. Purdue threatened toward the end of the first half, when it got the ball on the Michigan 28 after defensive end Shaun Phillips beat left tackle Adam Stenavich, hit Navarre's right (throwing) arm and forced a fumble, which he also recovered.

But two plays after he rushed 23 yards to the Michigan 5, Orton, under considerable pressure, threw the ball away, and Leon Hall intercepted. Hall had two interceptions, the second coming with 4:33 left in the game.

Purdue had only 72 yards of offense in the first half and failed to convert on seven third-down opportunities.

Michigan's defense, unlike two weeks ago at Minnesota, was aggressive, stifling and stingy against Purdue.

The Boilermakers entered the game averaging 31.6 points, and 408 yards of offense.

Purdue did manage to drive on its first possession of the second half, but after reaching the Michigan 4 on a 39-yard pass from Orton to Taylor Stubblefield, the Boilermakers settled for a 27-yard field goal. Hall broke up a sure touchdown in the end zone.

Originally published Sunday, October 26, 2003