Michigan
3-4 , 1-2
Penn State
4-2 , 1-2
Defense Lights Up Big House for Night-Game Victory
10/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: Michigan 18, Penn State 13
Records: U-M (3-4, 1-2 Big Ten), PSU (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 113,085
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 25 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), Time TBA
• Postgame Feature: Gutsy Gardner Sparks Wolverines to Victory
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Behind a defense that allowed only 214 yards of total offense, the University of Michigan football team snapped a three-game losing streak, defeating Penn State, 18-13, in Under the Lights III on Saturday (Oct. 11) inside Michigan Stadium.
Senior kicker Matt Wile (San Diego, Calif./Francis Parker) converted all three of his field goal attempts, hitting successfully from 45, 42 and 37 yards, the last of which put U-M up for good in the fourth quarter. Graduate student quarterback Devin Gardner (Detroit, Mich./Inkster) went 16-of-24 for 192 yards and a touchdown in the victory, connecting with junior wide receiver Devin Funchess (Farmington Hills, Mich./Harrison) for the team's lone touchdown in the first quarter. Funchess finished with seven receptions for 69 yards.
But the night belonged to the defense. The Wolverines were stout on the line of scrimmage, sacking Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenburg six times and allowing only 54 yards rushing. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) led the way with 10 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss.
Each team put points on the board during a lively first quarter. Sandwiched between a pair of Penn State field goals was Michigan's only touchdown of the night, as Gardner connected with Funchess for a 43-yard score. Gardner's deep ball appeared to be underthrown, but Funchess cut in front of the Penn State defensive back at the last moment to make the catch and run into the end zone for the score. The Wolverines held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Nittany Lions retook the lead at the outset of the second quarter after forcing Gardner into throwing an interception. Four plays later, Hackenburg found wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard strike, making the lead 13-7.
The Wolverines held the ball for nearly the next seven minutes, finishing off the drive with a 45-yard field goal by Wile to cut the lead to three at 13-10. Neither team scored again in the first half.
In the second half, the Michigan defense stood tall. A momentum-changer came in the third quarter when the punt return unit successfully snuffed out a fake punt near midfield. Later, sophomore defensive back Jourdan Lewis (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) intercepted Hackenburg, setting up Michigan with great field position that led to another Wile field goal -- this time from 42 yards -- to tie the game at 13-13.
With 11:24 to go in the contest, Wile put Michigan ahead for good with a 37-yard field goal. After the two teams traded punts, Penn State got the ball back with 3:44 left in the game with a chance to tie or take the lead, but the defense simply wouldn't allow it. Back-to-back sacks of Hackenburg (one of which was a sack via intentional grounding) gave Penn State a fourth-and-32 from the three-yard line and only 1:43 left. The Nittany Lions intentionally snapped the ball out of the end zone -- resulting in a safety to make the score 18-13 -- in order to try and onside kick. PSU recovered the first attempt, but it was called back because of an offsides penalty. The second attempt was recovered by senior/junior defensive back Blake Countess (Owings Mills, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), allowing Michigan to run out the clock for the victory.
Michigan has a bye next weekend, but returns to action on Oct. 25 when it makes the short trip to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans in a rivalry matchup. The start time and television platform have not yet been determined.
Team Stats
PSU 3, MICH 0
PSU - Ficken, Sam 35 yd field goal 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 5:32
PSU 3, MICH 7
MICH - Funchess, Devin 43 yd pass from Gardner, Devin (Wile, Matt kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:51
PSU 6, MICH 7
PSU - Ficken, Sam 32 yd field goal 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 5:45
PSU 13, MICH 7
PSU - Hamilton, D. 10 yd pass from Hackenberg, C. (Ficken, Sam kick) 4 plays, 28 yards, TOP 2:00
PSU 13, MICH 10
MICH - Wile, Matt 45 yd field goal 11 plays, 48 yards, TOP 6:50
PSU 13, MICH 13
MICH - Wile, Matt 42 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:32
PSU 13, MICH 16
MICH - Wile, Matt 37 yd field goal 6 plays, 29 yards, TOP 2:15
PSU 13, MICH 18
MICH - TEAM 3 yd safety
