Michigan
4-0 , 1-0
Penn State
2-2 , 0-1
U-M Rides Six Rush TDs, Six Sacks to Win over PSU in B1G Opener
9/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
» The Wolverines outgained Penn State, 515-199, and jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead, keeping the Nittany Lions to only 50 total yards in the first half.
» Five different players recorded rushing touchdowns: De'Veon Smith, Karan Higdon, Ty Isaac, Chris Evans and Khalid Hill. Together, U-M ran for 326 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
» Defensively, U-M racked up 13 tackles-for-loss (six sacks) and forced two turnovers late in the fourth quarter.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Stadium)
Score: #4 Michigan 49, Penn State 10
Records: U-M (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), PSU (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Attendance: 110,319
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 1 -- vs. Wisconsin (Michigan Stadium), 3:30 p.m. [ TV: ABC ]
• Postgame Press Conference: Coach Harbaugh | Players
Postgame Features
• Kornacki: Wolverines Play on Tilted Field in Saturday Victory
• Starting Fast Key to Michigan Football's Success
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan football team (No. 4 AP, No. 5 Coaches) jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and had little trouble holding it, trouncing Penn State, 49-10, in its Big Ten opener on Saturday (Sept. 24) at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines were stout on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Nittany Lions, 515-199.
The Wolverines dominated the Nittany Lions in the trenches, racking up 326 rushing yards on the afternoon (6.7 yards-per-carry). Senior De'Veon Smith led the way with 107 yards on 12 attempts and was one of five players to reach the end zone, joining sophomore Karan Higdon (nine rushes, 81 yards, two touchdowns), senior Ty Isaac (11 rushes, 74 yards, one touchdown), freshman Chris Evans (eight rushes, 56 yards, one touchdown) and senior Khalid Hill.
Sophomore Wilton Speight was once again efficient through the air, going 21-of-34 for 189 yards and a touchdown.
On the flip side, the Michigan defense completely shut down Penn State in every facet, allowing only 199 total yards, including 50 in the first half. The unit harassed Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley and tailback Saquon Barkley all afternoon, racking up 13 tackles-for-loss (six sacks) to go along with an interception and a fumble recovery. Senior Ben Gedeon led the way with 11 tackles.
After the defense pushed Penn State up against its own goal line on the game's first possession, a 53-yard punt return from junior Jabrill Peppers gave the offense great field position for its opening drive. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, Coach Jim Harbaugh elected to be aggressive, and it paid off, as Hill found the end zone to give Michigan the early lead.
The Michigan defense made another stop on the next possession, standing up the Nittany Lions on a fourth-down attempt and turning the ball over to the offense near midfield. Speight engineered a nine-play drive from there, capped with a two-yard dive into the end zone from Smith to make the score 14-0 late in the first quarter. It quickly ballooned to 21-0 on a three-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal from Speight to freshman Devin Asiasi.
The Wolverines added more points right before the half. Facing a fourth-and-seven from Penn State's 24-yard line -- and well within field goal range -- Harbaugh chose to go for it again, and it paid off thanks to a nine-yard scramble from Speight on a broken play. Three plays later, Higdon found the end zone from two yards out to send Michigan into the halftime break up 28-0.
The Nittany Lions broke the shutout with their first drive of the second half on a 21-yard field goal from Tyler Davis. But the Wolverines responded with a dominant, run-heavy drive, with Evans getting in on the action with a three-yard touchdown run. Eight of the nine plays were runs as four different tailbacks got touches.
Penn State got a touchdown back on an eight-yard pass from McSorley to Chris Godwin, making the score 35-10 with 11:22 to play. Michigan answered again with a drive similar to its last, ending with a 40-yard touchdown run from Higdon.
The defense recorded its first of two late fourth-quarter turnovers on an interception from senior Mike McCray, who returned it 22 yards to the Penn State 31-yard line. Four plays later, Isaac scored from three yards out, capping the scoring at 49-10.
The Wolverines conclude their five-game homestand next Saturday (Oct. 1) against Wisconsin. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. at Michigan Stadium on ABC.
Team Stats
PSU 0, MICH 7
MICH - Hill, Khalid 1 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 7 plays, 24 yards, TOP 3:11
PSU 0, MICH 14
MICH - Smith, De'Veon 2 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:30
PSU 0, MICH 21
MICH - Asiasi, Devin 3 yd pass from Speight, Wilton (Allen, Kenny kick) 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:40
PSU 0, MICH 28
MICH - Higdon, Karan 2 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:15
PSU 3, MICH 28
PSU - Davis, Tyler 21 yd field goal 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:01
PSU 3, MICH 35
MICH - Evans, Chris 3 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:42
PSU 10, MICH 35
PSU - Godwin, Chris 8 yd pass from McSorley, Trace (Davis, Tyler kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:20
PSU 10, MICH 42
MICH - Higdon, Karan 40 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:11
PSU 10, MICH 49
MICH - Isaac, Ty 3 yd run (Allen, Kenny kick), 4 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:13
