Game recap: Michigan manhandles Penn State in top-10 matchup

No. 5 Michigan football moved to 7-0 on the season after a 41-17 win over 10th-ranked Penn State on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. On a day where the Wolverines were supposed to cower to the nation’s 5th-ranked run defense, they ran wild and dictated the terms of Saturday’s Big Ten East pecking order game.

Michigan finished the day with 418 yards on the ground, led by 173 yards and 2 touchdowns from sophomore running back Donovan Edwards. Junior Blake Corum finished with 166 yards and 2 touchdowns of his own.

Here’s a recap of how things went in Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Penn State won the coin toss and elected to defer, putting the Michigan offense on the field to start the game. The Wolverines went 64 yards in 11 plays, but the drive stalled out. Graduate kicker Jake Moody put U-M on the board first with a 29-yard field goal with 9:43 to go in the quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Michigan’s defense responded with a three-and-out with PSU punting down to U-M’s 17-yard line.

Michigan returned with a 13-play, 77-yard drive but again stalled in the red zone. Moody’s 24-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining in the quarter made it 6-0 in favor of the Wolverines. The quarter would end after Penn State’s second three-and-out of the day with Michigan up 6-0.

Second quarter

The Wolverines put together their first touchdown drive of the day thanks to a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run from junior Blake Corum. Moody’s extra point was good, making it 13-0 Michigan with 8:29 remaining in the second quarter. Penn State struck back quickly on a 62-yard run from sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman Kaytron Allen. PSU trimmed the deficit to 13-7 with 6:11 to play after the extra point.

After being dominated in the first quarter, Penn State took a 14-13 lead on the following drive after a pick-six. Sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy had a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage, which was grabbed by PSU linebacker Curtis Jacobs and returned 47 yards. PSU led 14-13 at the 4:27 mark.

U-M grabbed momentum back before the half on an 11-play, 60-yard drive. However, the offense stalled in the red zone again, leading to a Moody field goal from 23 yards out. Michigan took a 16-14 lead into the locker room after a PSU kneel-down.

Michigan ended the first half with 274 yards of offense, but only 1 touchdown in 4 red zone attempts. Two big Penn State plays kept them in the game.

Third quarter

Penn State started on offense coming out of the locker room. It went 70 yards on 9 plays, headlined by a Clifford pass for 48 yards to wideout Harrison Wallace. The Nittany Lions settled for a 27-yard field goal to take the lead back at 17-16 with 13:15 to play in the third quarter.

Michigan’s offense came alive again out of the locker room. The Wolverines went 81 yards in 4 plays, capped off by a 67-yard run from sophomore running back Donovan Edwards. Michigan elected to go for 2 and converted on a quick pass to senior wideout Ronnie Bell. That gave U-M a 24-17 lead with 11:12 left in the quarter. Penn State went 36 yards in 9 plays on its next drive, but punted back to the U-M offense.

On the next play, Corum ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run that extended the Wolverines’ lead to 31-17 after Moody’s extra point with 7:20 to go in the third. Michigan forced a punt on Penn State’s next drive and ended the quarter driving at the PSU 33-yard line up 31-17.

Fourth quarter

The Wolverines settled for another field goal to start the fourth quarter after a 15-play, 48-yard drive with 11 minutes left in the game. This time, it was from 37-yards out for Moody. A Penn State turnover on downs gave the ball back to Michigan, who had another touchdown drive in its back pocket. This time, it ended on a 3-yard run from Edwards after 6 plays and 47 yards from the offense. Following the extra point, U-M led 41-17 with 5:03 to play.

Penn State turned the ball over on downs at the Michigan 33-yard line with 2:05 to play. Michigan subbed in the second team offense and put a bow on a dominant victory.

Michigan vs. Penn State final box score

Michigan is on a bye next week before returning to action on Oct. 29 against rival Michigan State. Kickoff time has not been set for the contest, but it is expected to be a night game at the Big House.