Michigan Sacks Penn State Behind Swarming Defense

Saturday, October 14

State College, Pa.

8:00 PM

Michigan

7-0 , 4-0

Penn State

4-3 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Penn State

10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A balanced team effort propelled the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan football team to a 17-10 victory against Penn State Saturday night (Oct. 14) before 110,007 fans at Beaver Stadium, the second largest crowd in the venue's history. The Wolverines (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) won their eighth straight game against the Nittany Lions (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) and their fourth straight contest in Happy Valley.

U-M's defense limited Penn State to -14 yards rushing.

Junior quarterback Chad Henne (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson HS) returned to his home state and left a winner, completing 15-of-30 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. Senior wide receiver Steve Breaston (North Braddock, Pa./Woodland Hills HS) caught five passes for 79 yards and junior wide receiver Adrian Arrington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington HS) set career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (83). Arrington added a 25-yard receiving TD for his third straight game with a score.

Junior tailback Mike Hart (Syracuse, N.Y./Onondaga Central HS) led a ground attack that generated 116 rushing yards at Penn State. Hart rushed 26 times for 112 yards against the Nittany Lions, surpassing the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season and 15th time in his career. He scored the game-winning points on a one-yard run with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Defensively, the Wolverines registered a season-high seven sacks, eclipsing the Nittany Lions total from the season's first six games (six). U-M held PSU to negative 14 rushing yards on 25 carries, the lowest rushing output for an opponent since holding Oregon State to negative 19 yards in 1986. Senior defensive end LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw HS) led the defense with five tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble. Senior linebacker Prescott Burgess (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding HS) and junior safety Jamar Adams (Charlotte, N.C./Butler HS) tied Woodley for the team lead with five stops each.

The Nittany Lions had the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard, but kicker Kevin Kelly pushed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left at 11:49 of the opening quarter. Penn State started its initial possession at midfield following a 46-yard return by A.J. Wallace on the opening kickoff. The Nittany Lions gained one first down and reached the Wolverines' 29-yard line before the drive stalled there.

Michigan gained the first turnover of the game at 4:22 of the opening quarter as Obi Oluigbo (Laurel, Md./Episcopal HS) stripped punt returner Derrick Williams of the ball near midfield, got up off the ground, and recovered the fumble at Penn State's 48-yard line. The Wolverines were unable to take advantage of the excellent field position and punted back to the Nittany Lions.

U-M grabbed a 7-0 lead as Henne tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Arrington on a skinny post at 11:13 of the second quarter. The Wolverines rode the arm of Henne with 73 of the yards coming through the air. Henne completed five-of-eight passes to three different receivers. Breaston caught passes of 11 and 15 yards and Arrington added a 15-yard catch in addition to his TD reception. Hart rushed twice for seven yards.

U-M took possession at midfield after the defense pushed Penn State backwards with two sacks. The Wolverines took advantage of the field position this time and increased the lead to 10-0. Senior kicker Garrett Rivas (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit HS) converted a 23-yard field goal at 5:08 of the second quarter. Michigan started the drive with three straight runs from Hart, gaining six, two and six yards. Henne found Arrington on a skinny post for 27 yards that set up a first-and-goal from the nine-yard line. Hart gained three yards to the six on the initial play, but a pair of incomplete passes forced the field goal. Rivas' successful try capped an eight-play, 44-yard drive, and in the process tied him with Mike Gillette (1985-88) for second on Michigan's career field goals scored list (57).

Penn State cut into the lead with a 16-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Kelly with 15 seconds left in the first half. The Nittany Lions were aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty on third down that kept the drive alive in their own territory. The defense thwarted a first-and-goal opportunity at the six-yard line to keep Penn State out of the end zone. Quarterback Anthony Morelli completed four-of-eight passes for 64 yards on drive, and tailback Tony Hunt added five carries for 17 yards. The key play came on a screen pass to Hunt that went for 31 yards to the Wolverines' 35-yard line.

Michigan extended its lead to 17-3 with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter on a one-yard Hart run. Hart took the handoff from Henne and bounced out the right for the score, his team-leading sixth rushing TD of the season. Henne completed two-of-three passes for 34 yards and added a three-yard run on the seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive. Hart added 24 yards rushing on three carries and set up the scoring play with a 20-yard scamper to the one-yard line.

The Nittany Lions trimmed the deficit to a touchdown, 17-10, at 3:18 of the fourth quarter. Third-string quarterback Paul Cianciolo tossed a screen pass to Hunt in the right flat and he weaved back across the field 43 yards for the touchdown. The scoring drive covered 52 yards in three plays and consumed 1:10.

Hart provided a key first down with a 23-yard run to U-M's 42-yard line with less than three minutes to play. The run pushed Hart over the century mark on the day. Michigan's defense made a final stop and Henne knelt twice to close out the game.

Michigan faces Iowa next Saturday (Oct. 21) at Michigan Stadium. The game will be televised regionally by ABC starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

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