MI 28, Penn State 16: Five things we learned

MI quarterback Jake Rudock (15) passes under pressure by Penn State defensive end Evan Schwan (94) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, November 21, 2015. “I don’t really like comparing humans to chickens or any other type of animal”.

Rudock connected with Butt on a 26-yard pass to open the scoring and hit Darboh on an 11-yard route in the second quarter. The Nittany Lions (7-4, 4-3), who have lost three of their last four games, had only 207 total yards on 54 plays and could not convert several chances from inside Michigan’s 10-yard line into touchdowns. A fumbled punt led to one easy Wolverines TD, a late 55-yard kickoff return by U-M corner Jourdan Lewis set up the touchdown drive that sealed PSU’s fate.

Christian Hackenberg jogged through the Beaver Stadium tunnel, raised his right arm and pointed his index finger back at Penn State’s student section. He would run through a brick wall for us, and we’d do the same for him. “You’re not going to replace it with just one guy taking a spot”.

For Harbaugh’s part, considering he took over the job just before the new year, he said it obviously took time to get to know his team. The great thing about our team, that’s been it the whole time. They’ve been relentless in the same kind of demanding punishing pace. The Wolverines are finishing a stretch of seven straight matches – and 10 of their last 11 – against ranked teams. No. 2 Ohio State must beat No. 9 MI State and MI has to beat Penn State for the Wolverines to have a shot at a trip to Indianapolis.

The defense forced a three-and-out, and again the Lions mounted a drive, with the key play Hackenberg’s 17-yard scramble on 3rd-and-14, followed by a 14-yard pass to a wide-open Barkley.

“Yeah, it was pretty lopsided”, Harbaugh said.

Expect to see a ton of senior guard Devin Foster, senior forward Donovan Jack, and sophomore forward Julian Moore tonight as they will be coming off the bench.

Anthony Zettel was called in the second half for a targeting on MI quarterback Rudock, but after a review it was revised as roughing the passer. That was the biggest story of the game. Hopefully I’ll have a few solid video to share with you after the game, but even that will not do it justice. The next two, Franklin said, were “check-with-mes” – i.e., plays on which Hackenberg was given the option to audible from a pass to a run if the Wolverines were playing coverage, as opposed to stacking the box. We know they’re going to stuff the box.

Kendall Pierce remembered exchanging glances with her teammates, knowing if they could break the tie and get a few more points that it would slow down the game. They’re trying to hit you hard.

Hit Hackenberg. And keep hitting him. “That’s how it is”. Penn State let the clock run down to start the fourth quarter with the ball. Just tried to lay it all out there, give it everything I had.

Having won seven of its last nine games, Penn State enters the final home game of 2015 with a 6-0 mark in Beaver Stadium.

The Lions’ special teams – which struggled for much of the last two-plus seasons – helped spark a touchdown drive when junior linebacker Von Walker burst through the line to block a second-quarter punt, but punt returner DeAndre Thompkins coughed up a punt return of his own that gave way to a MI touchdown. “But Jim Breaugh thought I was amusing”. Nobody was manlier today than offensive line.