Penn State’s 19-man graduating class did not get the Senior Day send-off they wanted as the Nittany Lions (7-4, 4-3) fell to the Michigan Wolverines (9-2, 6-1). The final score was 28-16 in front of a Beaver Stadium crowd of 107,418.
Fast Facts: Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg was sacked four times and threw 137 yards; Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
This was Penn State’s first and only loss in Beaver Stadium in 2015.
Carl Nassib was named as one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for the Nation’s Top Defensive Player this week.
Recap: Penn State took an early lead, scoring a 23-yard field goal from Tyler Davis on the first drive. Michigan answered with an 89-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 26-yard pass from Rudock to Jake Butt.
In the second quarter, Penn State linebacker Von Walker blocked a Michigan punt, giving the Nittany Lions an opportunity to capitalize. Wide receiver Saeed Blacknall reeled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hackenberg, putting Penn State up 10-7.
Michigan scored a touchdown with an 11-yard pass from Rudock to Amara Darboh with 51 seconds remaining in the first half and would not give up their lead for the rest of the game.
After a decently strong appearance through the first 30 minutes of play, the second half brought sloppy play, inconsistencies, and several costly mistakes for the Nittany Lions.
Sione Houma rushed for a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter for the Wolverines
In Penn State’s only major moment of the third quarter, Chris Godwin hauled in a bullet of a pass from Hackenberg and broke three tackles to fight his way to the two-yard line as time expired. Penn State let the clock run down to start the fourth quarter with the ball.
However, the Lions could not get past Michigan’s defense in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter and couldn’t score a touchdown. Davis took the field to kick a 24-yard field goal to bring Penn State within eight points.
The teams traded drives for the next five minutes before a pass interference call gave Penn State a fresh set of downs. Hackenberg scrambled for a first down seconds later, but Michigan’s defense was solid, and Penn State couldn’t get the ball through. Davis returned to kick a 19-yard field goal, bringing the score to 21-16.
De’Veon Smith gave Michigan one more touchdown with a one-yard rush with 5:12 left in the fourth quarter to finalize the score at 28-16.
Next Week: Penn State will finish its 2015 regular season at Michigan State next week. Kick-off is slated for 3:30 in East Lansing.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
