Game 8 Recap: Penn State 46, Michigan 17

It was a scary start. We were legitimately nervous. But someone forgot to tell Michigan that you have to play two halves of football.

The streak is over.

1st Quarter

The game couldn't have started off worse for the Lions, as Clark couldn't handle an errant snap and fell on the ball for a 16-yard loss. Clark got the ball back near the original line of scrimmage by hitting Deon Butler with a pass, but his next toss was incomplete and it was an early three-and-out.

And then, as if the proverbial light bulb went off above the team's head, Michigan's offense methodically moved the ball down the field. Steven Threet completed three passes during the first five plays of the drive, and then the Wolverines ran the ball nine straight times, none of them going for more than nine yards, but it was enough as Brandon Minor took one in from five to give Michigan the early lead.

0-7

No big deal though, as Penn State went to work. Royster took his first carry of the game for 20 yards, and after an incompletion, Clark scrambled for a first dow..... oh snap.

He's clutching an imaginary ball, apparently.

If we work in the replay booth, PSU never loses the ball.

It was Michigan's ball at their own 44. After an incompletion, Minor busted a huge 36-yard run, as the line was dominated and Scirotto finds out you can't tackle a 215-pound running back around the shoulders.

After a short pass and a couple runs, the drive stalled and Michigan settled for a field goal.

0-10

Before we had time to get all freaked out, Penn State responded. Chaz Powell returned the kickoff to the Penn State 48, Clark hit Williams for an 8-yard completion, and then Royster decided to take one 44 yards to the house.

7-10

On the ensuing kickoff, we experienced the first of many we-can't-catch-a-break moments, as Sam McGuffie fumbled the ball on the return, only to recover it himself when it looked like it would easily be Penn State ball. Dammit.

Michigan didn't waste that gift as they went right to work. After completions by Threet for 21 and 28 yards, the Wolverines had the ball on the Penn State 24 as the first quarter came to a close.

2nd Quarter

It was third and three to start the 2nd quarter, and instead of getting a big stop, the Lions let Threet scurry for a 14-yard pickup and a first down. After two short runs, Minor took it in from one yard out for his second TD of the day.

7-17

Shit.

But again, no worries, surely Penn State would ram the ball down Michigan's throa....oh snap. Three and out.

At right about this point, we had something of this effect running through our heads: "We're down 10 to Michigan, ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod...."

Any other opponent, and we probably don't go into panic mode, but it's funny what a nine-game/12-year losing streak will do to you.

As we silently repeated "the better team will win, the better team will" over and over in our heads, Penn state did what they needed to do on Michigan's next drive and forced a three and out.

The Lions got the ball at their own 31 and tried to make something happen on offense. Clark had three completions on the drive (Butler, Butler and Shuler) mixed in with a 16-yard carry by Royster. But on third and one from the Michigan 27, Clark fumbled the ball and couldn't pick up the first.

Not a problem, Kevin Kelly would get the team within a touchdow...

Clank.

This game was frustrating as hell.

The teams exchanged three and outs and it was Michigan's ball with only 2:53 left in the half. A first down or two and we would be looking at going into halftime down 10.

But just before we started pulling our hair out over that thought, the D stepped up big, stuffing three runs and to set up a punt from Michigan. The punt was downed at the Penn State 26, but a personal foul from the Wolverines moved it up to the 41. Thanks, fellas.

After Clark hit Butler for 17 yards, Royster told the other guys to relax while he put the team on his back.

"I'm gonna need this later."

After runs of 14 and 10 yards, a 3-yard reception, and two more rushes of 5 and 2 yards, the ball was at the Michigan 5 and Royster rightly said, "I'm fucking tired, you guys handle it from here."

So Clark took the reigns and hit Norwood for an absolutely clutch 3-yard touchdown pass. Getting six before the half was HUGE for the team. And our health.

14-17

-Halftime-

Time to listen to every D-bag in the bar talk about how they got tickets to the fourth game of the World Series.
That Phillies hat sure is shiny.

Just kidding, we love Philly people.

3rd Quarter

The first Michigan drive of the third quarter was what we had hoped for. While they gained a few yards, they ended up being forced to punt, thanks in large part to a Maurice Evans sack.

We'd dedicate ourselves to an Evans photoshop, but we don't really care about him anymore.

PSU started the drive at their own 13 and promptly got the ball to Royster. He seemed to be ripping off five or ten yards on every run. He's a beast.

As the drive approached the red zone the passing picked up and the drive sputtered out after three consecutive incompletions. Call out the kicker.

17-17

On the ensuing kick-off Michigan ran the fumble play. Fortunately for them they were able to recover the ball.

This time, Nick Sheridan entered the game at quarterback for Michigan. This was probably not the scenario he had envisioned when he thought about this game during their Wednesday film session.

A holding call on first down backed the Wolverines up to their own 8.
Rich-Rod called 2 straight plays to keep the ball in Sheridan's hand and he was able to get -3 yards.
On third down and just inside their own 5, it was Jared Odrick time.

Put ya' hands up.

19-17

Following the safety and the kick-off being out of bounds, PSU began at the 50.
For some reason, PSU ran the two minute offense, scoring in only 1:35.
A Royster rush of three, Clark to Butler for 25, a Royster run of 21 yards and finally a 1 yard run by Clark to put the ball in end-zone.
The third could not be going any better.

26-17

After the kick-off, Sheridan trotted onto the field.
Three plays later he trotted back off.

4th Quarter

The Lions ran the ball a couple of times and got Kevin Kelly into field goal range where he knocked one down from 32 yards.

29-17

We would like to say we were beginning to feel a little comfortable, but we weren't quite yet. Again, a seemingly infinitely long losing streak will do that to you.

The next Michigan drive was all Aaron Maybin.

On second down, he chased down Minor in the backfield for a loss of 2 yards.
You could say he got stamped.



Following that play, he rescued a kayaker stranded in the Colorado river.


On third down, he got to Threet and forced a fumble.

Abe Koroma recovered at the Michigan 20 and we were finally beginning to feel pretty good.

A quick drive put the Lions in scoring position and Clark ran one in.

36-17

We heard that Michigan got the ball back, but we must have missed it.

Upon getting the ball back, PSU did what they had to do and ate up 6 minutes of game-time with a drive that ended with Kevin Kelly putting one through the uprights.

39-17

Again, Michigan got the ball back but was forced into another three and out.

Penn State came back onto the field with Devlin behind center and all he did was feed the screen pass to Stephfon Green who took it 80 yards for the touchdown. The game had long since been out of reach, but it was great to see that huge play. Nothings better than seeing a couple of second stringers make something big happen.

46-17

Michigan got the ball back and did nothing.

We love it.

Game.

46-17

3 Big Stat Lines

• Evan Royster: 18 carries, 174 yds, 1 TD
  
• Daryll Clark: 18-31, 171 yds, 1 TD
  
• Deon Butler: 8 rec, 105 yds
  

Our Quick Thoughts On The Game:

• The defense started off extremely slow in this one. The D-line was being dominated by a Michigan O-line with very little experience. But the D bounced back big time in the second half.
• Great job by Royster and the line to keep the game close in the first half.
• Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway) if they start that slowly next weekend, it could be a loooonnnnng game.
• Awesome game from Deon Butler.
• Aaron Maybin didn’t have an outstanding game, but for that one drive in the 4th, he ruled the world.
• Seeing Rich Rodriguez start 2-5 at Michigan means that there is some sort of justice in the world.
• We wish the same could be said for Nick Saban.
• It’s a small sample, but from what we’ve seen, we like Ohio State tailgaters better than Michigan tailgaters.
• Don’t try to go to a bar at night in State College during homecoming. Just stay at home.
• Bring on the sweater vest.
• Tim Cowlishaw just defended the BCS, again.
• We like to make up quotes.
  

Penn State Player of the Game: Evan Royster
He's been rock solid all year, but in this game, he was an absolute beast. His huge gains early on had us asking why we weren't running the ball more, and his touchdown run and work on the scoring drive before the half kept the game from getting out of hand early. He was great in the second half too, picking up yards in huge chunks, as well as first downs in key situations. Another sick yards-per-carry number as well. In a year where he's done so much already, Royster just continues to impress. We're all looking at an elite college running back.

Michigan Player of the Game: RB Brandon Minor

He didn't quite have a Royster-like performance, but it was a fine game from Minor overall. We were expecting to see McGuffie from the start, but it was the junior Minor who came out and ran over the Penn State defense early on. This guy is a bruiser and had some impressive runs Saturday night. Unfortunately for him, Penn State started to figure out the zone read and actually shed some blocks as the game went on, and Minor was a non-factor in the second half. Still, a nice job.