Michigan Steals 31-27 Comeback Victory at Penn State

Saturday, November 13

State College, Pa.

Noon

Michigan

8-2 , 5-2

Penn State

9-2 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Penn State

11/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes

Site: State College, Pa. (Beaver Stadium)
Score: #16 Michigan 31, #6 Penn State 27
Records: U-M (8-2, 5-2 Big Ten), PSU (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 96,840
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 20 -- vs. Ohio State (Michigan Stadium), noon

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The Michigan football team claimed a thrilling 31-27 victory over No. 6 Penn State Saturday (Nov. 13) at Beaver Stadium. Senior quarterback Tom Brady's (San Mateo, Calif./Serra HS) 11-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Marcus Knight (Sylacauga, Ala./Comer HS) with 1:46 remaining completed the 16th-ranked Wolverines' comeback from a 27-17 deficit.

The Wolverines improved to 8-2 on the season and are 5-2 in the Big Ten. U-M head coach Lloyd Carr raised his record to 10-1 against Associated Press top 10 teams and won his 30th career Big Ten Conference game (30-9 record).

Michigan's defense led the way, holding Penn State to just seven rushing yards on 30 attempts and forcing three fumbles that the Wolverines recovered. Senior inside linebacker Ian Gold (Belleville, Mich./Belleville HS) recorded eight solo tackles, tallied three TFLs, registered two sacks, forced one fumble and recovered another fumble.

The offense was led by junior tailback Anthony Thomas (Winnfield, La./Winnfield HS), who rushed for 127 yards on 34 carries and scored one touchdown. Brady completed 17-of-36 passing attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns. The passing assault for Michigan was led by Knight and sophomore David Terrell (Richmond, Va./Huguenot HS). Knight caught five passes for 79 yards and scored two receiving touchdowns, while Terrell added six receptions for 133 yards.

Michigan won the toss and deferred with Penn State taking the opening kickoff at the 20-yard line after a touchback. The Nittany Lions were forced into a third-and-five play at their 25-yard line when quarterback Kevin Thompson fumbled the snap. Senior inside linebacker Ian Gold (Belleville, Mich./Belleville HS) recovered the fumble at the Penn State 21-yard line. The Michigan offense managed six yards before before the drive ended with a 33-yard field goal by sophomore placekicker Hayden Epstein (Cardiff, Calif./Torrey Pines HS).

Leading 3-0, the Wolverines gained their second turnover of the game on a tailback Erin McCoo fumble in Michigan territory. McCoo rushed for 10 yards before redshirt freshman safety Cato June (Washington, D.C./Anacostia HS) jarred the ball loose and senior/junior defensive tackle Eric Wilson (Monroe, Mich./Monroe HS) fell on the ball at the Michigan 44-yard line.

With good field position, the Wolverines moved down the field in eight plays and grabbed a 10-0 lead as Thomas scored on a two-yard touchdown run. Michigan's drive was kept alive by a 17-yard pass from Brady to Terrell on third-and-14. On the very next play, sophomore quarterback Drew Henson (Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS) lateraled the ball left to senior wide receiver DiAllo Johnson (Detroit, Mich./Orchard Lake St. Mary's HS) who threw back to Henson on the right side of the field for a 23-yard gain. Thomas rushed 18 yards down to the PSU two-yard line after the trick play and finished the scoring drive with five rushes for 27 yards.

Penn State trimmed Michigan's lead to 10-7 as cornerback Bruce Branch returned Epstein's 39-yard punt for a 71-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Michigan tried to respond to Penn State's touchdown with a score of its own but relinquished possession as Brady's second-down pass was intercepted by safety Derek Fox. Sophomore tailback Walter Cross (Fort Washington, Md./Oxon Hill HS) had provided Michigan with excellent field position at the PSU 47-yard line after a season long 53-yard kickoff return. The Wolverines moved down to the Penn State 13-yard line on the drive after runs by Thomas (18 yards) and Cross (two yards) and a 14-yard pass from Brady to Knight.

The Michigan defense held firm after two interceptions by the offense and forced punts by Penn State late in the second quarter. The Wolverines took a 10-7 lead into halftime after limiting the Nittany Lions to just four first downs and 94 offensive yard (six rushing and 88 passing yards).

Michigan took the second-half kickoff at its 20-yard line and moved 80 yards for a 17-7 advantage. The Wolverines scored as Brady threw across the middle to Knight for a 35-yard touchdown. Brady completed 3-of-4 passes for 90 yards on the seven-playing scoring drive, including 26 and 29-yard passes to Terrell.

Penn State gained possession at the Michigan 29-yard line after Eddie Drummond's partial block of Epstein's punt from the end zone. The Wolverines' defense forced a 39-yard field by Travis Forney that cut the margin to 17-10.

The Nittany Lions scored on their second straight possession, tying the score at 17-17 with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter. Penn State scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thompson to wide receiver Drummond. Thompson completed all four passes on the drive for 66 yards.

Penn State grabbed its first lead of the game, 20-17 with 11:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, as Forney connected on a 28-yard field goal. The Nittany Lions' score was their third unanswered of the second half. Thompson completed 4-of-6 passing attempts for 57 yards, including a pair of passes to tight end John Gilmore and wide receiver Chafie Fields.

The Nittany Lions extended their lead to 27-17 as Brady's third-down pass intended for sophomore wide receiver Marquise Walker (Syracuse, N.Y./Henniger HS) was intercepted by cornerback Bhawoh Jue and returned 46 yards for a touchdown.

Michigan broke Penn State's scoring string and cut the lead to 27-24 as Brady scored on a five-yard run with 3:26 remaining in the game. Brady completed 4-of-5 passing attempts for 44 yards on the drive and rushed twice for 19 yards. The Wolverines' drive was aided by two pass interference penalties called against Penn State.

The Wolverines' defense forced a Nittany Lion punt that DiAllo Johnson returned 24 yards to the Penn State 35-yard line. Michigan proceeded to grab the lead as Brady found Knight in the left corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:46 remaining in the contest. After two incomplete passes to start the drive, Brady passed to Knight for a 17-yard gain on third down. Thomas gained seven rushing yards on first down before the second-down scoring play.

After taking possession at its 20-yard line, Penn State moved into Michigan territory at the 34-yard line as Thompson hit Drummond for 19 yards on fourth-and-two. Thompson dropped back to pass on second down and was sacked and stripped of the ball by Gold. Sophomore linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit, Mich./Pershing HS) recovered the fumble to seal Michigan's come-from-behind victory.

The Wolverines ran out the remaining time and claimed their third straight win over Penn State. The Wolverines lead the all-time series 4-3 and have won three of four contests at Beaver Stadium.

Michigan will close the regular season with the annual "Big Game" against Ohio State. The Wolverines will host the Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium next Saturday (Nov. 20) at noon EST. The nationally televised game will be shown on ABC Sports.

Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423