Michigan
5-2 , 2-2
Penn State
7-0 , 4-0
Football Falls in Primetime Road Matchup at No. 2 Penn State
10/21/2017 11:16:00 PM | Football
Site: State College, Pa. (Beaver Stadium)
Score: #2 Penn State 42, #19 Michigan 13
Records: U-M (5-2, 2-2 B1G), PSU (7-0, 4-0 B1G)
Attendance: 110,823
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 28 -- vs. Rutgers (Michigan Stadium), noon, TV: Big Ten Network
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan football team got first-half rushing touchdowns from Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac, but No.2 Penn State pulled away for a 42-13 win on Saturday (Oct. 21) at Beaver Stadium.
Penn State got off to a fast start, going up 14-0 just five minutes into the game on two Saquon Barkley touchdown runs. The Nittany Lions were driving again on their third possession until David Long intercepted quarterback Trace McSorley and returned it 25 yards to near midfield, ending the threat.
The turnover gave the offense some life and switched momentum, as John O'Korn and the running game got into a bit of a rhythm. The Wolverines opened the second quarter on the three-yard line, but were held out of the end zone until fourth down, when Higdon took a pitch left and beat a Penn State defender to the pylon for the touchdown. The extra point was not good, cutting the lead to 14-6.
» After trailing 14-0 in the first five minutes, Michigan got to within one at 14-13 in the late stages of the second quarter, but Penn State went on to score four unanswered touchdowns to pull away.
» Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac each had rushing touchdowns in the first half.
» Tyree Kinnel, Khaleke Hudson and Lavert Hill each had seven tackles. David Long recorded his first career interception in the first half.
With 5:05 left in the half, the Michigan defense came up with a stop on fourth down on a Lavert Hill pass break-up, winning a battle in one-on-one coverage. The offense took advantage, keyed by a massive third down conversion from O'Korn to Kekoa Crawford that brought the Wolverines down to the six-yard line. Two plays later, Ty Isaac followed the blocks and ran it in, cutting the lead to 14-13 with the PAT successful.
Penn State answered right before the half on a three-yard touchdown keeper from McSorley, making the score 21-13 at halftime. The Nittany Lions added to their lead on their first drive of the second half, going up, 28-13, on a 13-yard touchdown run from McSorley.
Early in the fourth quarter, O'Korn had Michigan on the move, making a 3rd-and-10 conversion to Sean McKeon that went for 12 yards and a completion to Grant Perry that went for 22 yards on a 2nd-and-21. But O'Korn was sacked and stripped of the ball on the next play, turning the ball over to Penn State near midfield. Two plays later, McSorley hit Barkley for a 42-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 35-13. McSorley added another rushing touchdown with under eight minutes to play to cap the scoring.
The Wolverines return to Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 28), hosting Rutgers for Homecoming. Kickoff is at noon. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
MICH 0, PSU 7
PSU - Barkley, Saquon 69 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:43
MICH 0, PSU 14
PSU - Barkley, Saquon 15 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:05
MICH 6, PSU 14
MICH - Higdon, Karan 1 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kickfailed), 11 plays, 59 yards, TOP 5:28
MICH 13, PSU 14
MICH - Isaac, Ty 6 yd run (Nordin, Quinn kick), 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:20
MICH 13, PSU 21
PSU - McSorley, Trace 3 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:52
MICH 13, PSU 28
PSU - McSorley, Trace 13 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:24
MICH 13, PSU 35
PSU - Barkley, Saquon 42 yd pass from McSorley, Trace (Davis, Tyler kick) 2 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:32
MICH 13, PSU 42
PSU - McSorley, Trace 9 yd run (Davis, Tyler kick), 4 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:57
