Penn State’s (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) failed attempt at an onside kick in the fourth quarter combined with a magnificent show of perseverance through pain from quarterback Devin Gardner left Michigan (3-4, 1-2 Big Ten) on top by a score of 18-13 on Saturday night in Ann Arbor.
Penn State senior kicker Sam Ficken opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal 5:32 into the first half. Michigan determinedly answered just three minutes later with a 43-yard touchdown from wide receiver Devin Funchess, who sneaked away with the scoring opportunity after Penn State’s Ryan Keiser lost sight of the ball and let Funchess slip through his hands.
Quarterback Christian Hackenberg started the game well; after a disastrous outing with Northwestern two weeks ago, he opened this game much more accurately, locking in for 12 completed passes in the opening half. One of those connected with DaeSean Hamilton for a 10-yard touchdown with 11:58 left to play in the second quarter, Hackenberg’s first touchdown throw in 207 minutes of play.
Northwestern ended the half with a field goal from Matt Wile to cut the lead to three, but the third quarter was full of sloppy play from both teams.
The Christian Hackenberg that fell apart in the Northwestern game made an appearance, throwing an interception that led to a Michigan field goal to deadlock the score at 13-13 to enter the fourth quarter.
The final fifteen minutes of the game produced a slugfest; both quarterbacks were under duress for most of the action, prompting a much-needed response from the special teams. Wile’s third field goal of the night gave Michigan a 16-13 lead with just 11:24 to play.
Hackenberg recognized the situation and tried to step up with just over eight minutes remaining, but the Nittany Lions’ inability to protect the quarterback gave the ball back to Michigan with 7:02 left in the quarter. The Wolverines continued to hammer Penn State, eventually pushing the Nittany Lions back to the Michigan two-yard line.
In desperation, Penn State allowed a safety with their backs to the end zone on fourth down in a punting situation, forcing an opportunity to try an onside kick. It appeared to work, but an offsides call resulted in a re-kick and Michigan took advantage. The clock ran out and the Wolverines finished off the Nittany Lions in front of a crowd of 113,000 at the “Big House.”
Penn State will next meet Ohio State at 8 pm on October 25 at Beaver Stadium.
