No. 14 Michigan Stifles Penn State for Ninth Victory

Saturday, November 21

State College, Pa.

Noon

Michigan

9-2 , 6-1

Penn State

7-4 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Michigan

Penn State

Chris Wormley

11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Player Participation PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

» U-M scored seven points in each quarter and held Penn State to three red-zone field goals to preserve Michigan's first win in State College since 2006.
» The defense had 10 tackles-for-loss (including four sacks) and held Penn State to just 74 yards of total offense in the second half.
» Jake Rudock threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns. In his last three games, he is 76-for-109 (70 percent) for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Site: State College, Pa. (Beaver Stadium)
Score: #13 Michigan 28, Penn State 16
Records: U-M (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten), PSU (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 28 -- vs. Ohio State (Michigan Stadium), Noon

• Kornacki Postgame Feature: U-M Matches '97 Squad with B1G Road Perfection

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Behind two touchdown passes from graduate student quarterback Jake Rudock and a defense that allowed only 207 total yards, the University of Michigan football team (No. 14 AP, No. 13 Coaches) earned a 28-16 victory at Penn State on Saturday (Nov. 21) inside Beaver Stadium.

The defense was the story all afternoon. The Wolverines limited Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg to 13 completions and sacked him four times and allowed only 18 yards rushing after the first quarter. Senior linebacker James Ross, senior defensive end Chris Wormley and junior defensive end Taco Charlton combined for 14 tackles, seven of which were made behind the line of scrimmage. Sophomore Jabrill Peppers had three pass breakups. But the most important statistic was red-zone defense, where Michigan allowed three Penn State field goals and zero touchdowns.

On offense, Rudock was efficient, going 25-of-38 for 256 yards, throwing touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Amara Darboh (seven receptions, 68 yards) and junior tight end Jake Butt (five receptions, 66 yards). Senior wide receiver Jehu Chesson added 69 yards on four receptions.

Both teams scored on their opening possessions. Penn State got on the scoreboard first with a 23-yard field goal by Tyler Davis, though it very likely could have been more if not for a touchdown-saving tackle made by senior safety Jarrod Wilson on a 56-yard run by Saquon Barkley. On the next Michigan series, Rudock came out throwing, converting two third downs to Chesson before connecting with Butt on a 26-yard touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, Penn State blocked a Michigan punt and took advantage of the good field position when Hackenberg threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on third down to Saeed Blacknall, giving the Nittany Lions a 10-7 lead. But, like the first quarter, Rudock and the Michigan offense responded, engineering a seven-play, 70-yard drive -- all on passing plays -- concluding with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Darboh that put U-M back in front 14-10 heading into the halftime break.

The Wolverines extended their lead to 21-10 after Penn State muffed the punt return inside their own 10-yard line. Three plays after the miscue, senior fullback Sione Houma plunged it into the end zone from one yard out on third down.

Penn State pulled it back to a one-score game at 21-13 on a 23-yard field goal by Davis just a minute into the fourth quarter. Hackenberg threw a 38-yard pass on a fourth-and-10 to set Penn State up at the three-yard line, but the Michigan defense was stout once again, keeping the home team out of the end zone. Following a Michigan punt, Penn State moved down the field and tacked on an 18-yard field goal by Davis, bringing the score to 21-16 with eight minutes to play.

Junior cornerback Jourdan Lewis swung momentum back to the visitors with a 55-yard kickoff return all the way to Penn State's 40-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Chesson took an end around for 20 yards, setting Michigan up in the red zone. Facing a crucial third-and-six from the 16-yard line, Rudock attempted to hit Chesson in the corner of the end zone but drew a defensive pass interference call instead. Two plays after the penalty, junior running back De'Veon Smith leaped over the pile and extended the ball toward the end zone, successfully breaking the plane for the touchdown to cap the scoring at 28-16.

The Wolverines close out the regular season next Saturday (Nov. 28) when they welcome rival Ohio State to Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is slated for noon. The game can be seen on ABC.