ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a highly anticipated Big Ten matchup, #4 Michigan showed they were the more rounded team scoring 25 second half points and blowing out #10 Penn State, 41-17. This was the first win of the season for Michigan over a ranked opponent as they continue to make a statement moving to 7-0.
“This was a phenomenal effort. The offensive line really set the tone along with the tight ends and the running backs. Along with the receivers, as well, as they were blocking and catching. The defense with our 11 guys out there set the tone for 60 minutes. It was very impressive,” says head coach Jim Harbaugh.
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Michigan finished with 563 yards of total offense with 418 yards on the ground. Both Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum had two touchdowns and over 100 yards rushing. Edwards finished with a career-high 173 yards while Corum had 166 yards. J.J. McCarthy finished with 145 yards passing.
Jumping out to a 13-0 lead through most of the first half, Michigan looked like they were in control. Jack Moody kicked a 29-yard field goal at the 9:43 mark for the first score of the game. Eight minutes later, he made it 6-0 on a 24-yard field goal as the Wolverines shut out PSU in the first quarter.
Corum pushed the lead to 13-0 with 8:29 left in the second on a one-yard run as Michigan went 70-yarrds on 13 plays over six minutes. PSU struck back quickly two minutes later on a 75-yard drive finishing in a one-yard Kaytron Allen run. It looked as though Penn State would take the lead at the half when Curtis Jacobs picked off McCarthy at the UM 47-yard line for a pick-six score to go up, 14-13. The Wolverines fought back and went 60-yards to run out the clock finishing with Moody’s third field goal of the half of 23-yards to go up, 16-14.
PSU opened up the second half with drive to the Michigan 10-yard line but was held by the Wolverine defense. Jake Pinegar made a 27-yard field goal to put the Nittany Lions back up, 17-16 just two minutes into the new half. That would be the last score for PSU as the Michigan defense forced a punt and turnover on downs for the next four PSU possessions.
Michigan scored on every possession of the second half as they took over the game. Edwards’ 67-yard run on Michigan’s first possession put the Wolverines in front, 24-17. On the next possession, Corum busted open a 61-yard run for the 31-17 lead with 7:20 left in the third quarter. With 11:00 left in the fourth quarter, Moody nailed his fourth field goal of the day from 37-yards out making it 34-17. Edwards then finished the scoring on a three-yard run with 5:03 left in the game sealing the win, 41-17.
“We pretty much blew them off the ball,” McCarthy said about the offensive line. “I’ll say it today like I said a couple weeks ago that this is the best offensive line in the country as they showed it today and they are going to keep showing it. There really hasn’t been a team that has completely stopped our run and I don’t think there will be.”
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The defense also held PSU to just 268 yards and to just nine yards in the first quarter.
Michigan will host Michigan State next Saturday with the time to be set this week.
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