Penn State fell 21-18 to Michigan on Saturday afternoon to extend the losing streak to four games and drop the team to 0-4 in Big Ten play.
Penn State received the ball first and marched methodically down the field. The Nittany Lions moved 69 yards on 16 plays and converted twice on third down. But as the Lions moved closer to the end zone, the offense sputtered, and the drive died at the five-yard line. Ryan Barker converted a 22-yard field goal to give Penn State a 3-0 lead nine minutes into the opening
quarter. The drive was Penn State’s longest of the season.
The field goal drive would be the only points on the board in the first half for either team, as both offenses struggled to find any footing. Penn State’s defense appeared to force a safety early in the second quarter, but the play was ruled dead for forward progress before the Lions could tackle Bryson Kuzdzal in the end zone. Zion Tracy caught an interception that bounced into his arms a few plays later to end the possession.
Shortly before halftime, Michigan was driving into Penn State territory when Josiah Zayas reeled in his second interception of the season one-handed:
Penn State allowed just 80 yards of offense in the first half. Chase Sowell had half of Penn State’s offense in the first half, with 74 yards on six catches.
Bryce Underwood was benched at halftime, and Michigan’s offense turned to Tommy Carr at quarterback for the second half. Rocco Becht threw an interception on Penn State’s first drive of the second half, which handed Michigan a short field. The dam finally broke for the defense, as Bryson Kuzdzal raced 43 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the drive and a 7-3 Michigan lead.
Chase Sowell made a tough catch in double coverage to move Penn State into Michigan territory, but a stunningly bad interception by Becht ended the drive, and Michigan ran it down the defense’s throats on the ensuing drive for a 14-3 lead. In a span of ten minutes, the game completely flipped on its head.
Desperate for anything to happen on offense, Penn State marched 75 yards in 12 plays, led by a pair of first down catches by Chase Sowell and a 21-yard reception from tight end Gabe Burkle that set up the Lions in the red zone. Carson Hansen finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run, and Rocco Becht found Benjamin Brahmer on the shovel pass for the two-point conversion. Penn State trailed 14-11 with 11:40 left in regulation.
Penn State had one final chance to drive downfield and win the game, but Rocco Becht was sacked and lost a fumble deep in Penn State territory. Three plays later, Tommy Carr scampered into the end zone on a third and nine to effectively ice the game.
Rocco Becht found Chase Sowell for a 24-yard touchdown late in the game, but the ensuing onside kick failed.
Mercifully, Penn State is on a bye next week before facing Purdue at home on Halloween. The kickoff time and TV network have yet to be announced.
