Offense, defense each contribute to 45-point burst

ORLANDO - Over the course of Michigan's roller coaster season, offensive effectiveness was hardly the team motto.

Prior to the Citrus Bowl, Michigan had topped 30 points only twice -against Mid-American Conference doormat Eastern Michigan and against Hawai'i, the worst team in Division I.

So when the Wolverines exploded with 45 points against No. 11 Arkansas, Michigan fans had reason to celebrate.

Citrus Bowl MVP Anthony Thomas continued his dominance from the Hawai'i game, rolling over the Razorbacks for three touchdowns on the ground. That pushed his season total to 15 touchdowns, a high for the Wolverines.

Though his three touchdowns came on short runs of one, two and five yards, Thomas had to work hard for the yards he earned, giving most of the praise to his line.

WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan linebacker Ian Gold returns his interception of Clint Stoerner 46 yards for a touchdown. Gold's touchdown was the first of two Michigan defensive scores in its Citrus Bowl victory.

"My offensive line and my fullback did a great job opening holes for me," he said. "Sometimes I missed the hole, but it turned out good."

More surprising than anything was the scoring production from Michigan's defense. But against the Razorbacks, the pass coverage came up with two huge plays and contributed to the final margin.

Linebacker Ian Gold intercepted Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner's screen pass five minutes before halftime and raced 46 yards into the end zone for his first career score.

The touchdown provided Michigan with a 10-point cushion but the defense wasn't ready to rest. With Michigan storming back to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, the most unlikely of heroes emerged. Cornerback James Whitley, who had fumbled repeatedly on punt returns earlier in the year, redeemed himself by intercepting Stoerner's last-ditch effort and returning the pass for a touchdown to ice the game.

"This is the way we wanted to finish," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.

Catching a break: When the worst injury of his career - a broken leg - occurred at the end of the Wisconsin game, Michigan's freshman tailback Justin Fargas was dumbfounded.

"I couldn't believe it happened," he said, recalling the gruesome sight. "It was pretty much a shock because I've pretty much been injury-free my whole career in sports. I guess I kind of took it for granted that it couldn't happen."

Fargas, Michigan's third-leading rusher this season with 277 yards, is focusing more on the future than the past. Rehabbing his broken leg is his No. 1 priority.

"He'll be working on cardiovascular fitness, armbike riding and we'll have him (running) in the pool before too long," Michigan head trainer Paul Schmidt said. "He's got a good mental attitude, he's a hard worker and he's right on schedule."

That plan included some time at home in California for the holidays with his family before meeting up with the team in Florida. Fargas hobbled around Orlando on crutches last week but remains determined to come back at full speed.

"You've got to put the injury in the past," he said, adding that he's "on a mission" to return. "I've got a lot of work to do but I'm going to get it done. Everyday I just have to remind myself of the reward at the end."

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