U-M Defense, Ground Attack Key in Road Win Over No. 9 Penn State

Saturday, November 11

State College, Pa.

Noon

Michigan

10-0 , 7-0

Penn State

8-2 , 5-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Michigan	0	14	3	7	24
Penn St.	3	6	0	6	15

Blake Corum (Michigan Photography)

U-M Defense, Ground Attack Key in Road Win Over No. 9 Penn State

11/11/2023 3:50:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Notes Participation In the Trenches: Penn State Recap PDF Boxscore Photo Gallery

By: Dave Ablauf, Chad Shepard

Site: State College, Pa. (Beaver Stadium)
Score: #2 Michigan 24, #9 Penn State 15
Records: U-M (10-0, 7-0 B1G), PSU (8-2, 5-2 B1G)
Attendance: 110,856
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 18 -- at Maryland (College Park, Md.), TBD (TV: Fox or FS1)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan football team outlasted No. 9-ranked Penn State in a 24-15 defensive duel Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11) at Beaver Stadium. The Wolverines held the Nittany Lions to just 74 passing yards and allowed them to convert on only 4-of-14 third-down attempts.

Important in securing the victory was U-M's control of the clock in the second half with a run game which was heavily used throughout the victory. The Maize and Blue closed the game with a stretch of 30 consecutive running plays as they spent 18 of the final 30 minutes on offense.

Michigan ran for 227 total yards, including important efforts from running backs Blake Corum (26 attempts for 145 yards and two touchdowns) and Donovan Edwards (10 carries for 52 yards and one touchdown). Quarterback J.J. McCarthy recorded 34 ground yards of his own, including a pair of key third-down conversions which led to U-M scores.

Both defenses were energized out of the gate, holding the first quarter offenses to a total of 100 yards and forcing three total punts. Penn State mixed in a six-minute drive that resulted in a key U-M third-down stop at the goal line, forcing a Nittany Lions field goal to send them ahead 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.

After totaling just 11 yards and punting on each of their first two drives, Michigan's third proved different, totaling 75 yards on nine plays, including a key 22-yard rush by Edwards and a third-down conversion on a 19-yard screen pass between McCarthy and wide receiver Semaj Morgan. The drive culminated in a three-yard score by Corum three minutes into the second quarter and a 7-3 lead.

Corum solidified a big first half on Michigan's next drive with a 44-yard rush helped by a substantial left-edge block by tight end AJ Barner. This big play allowed the Wolverines to find the end zone yet again on a 22-yard third-down cutback rush by Edwards -- his third touchdown of the season -- to push the U-M advantage tp 14-3.

Penn State scored again with under 30 seconds remaining in the first half on an 11-yard rushing touchdown buoyed by two fourth-down conversions on the drive. After a failed Nittany Lions two-point conversion attempt and an evenly-matched half for the teams, the Wolverines went to the locker room with a 14-9 lead.

Michigan's offense used more than eight minutes of clock in its sole third-quarter drive which resulted in a 22-yard James Turner field goal -- the first points allowed by either team in the third quarter this season. The drive took place entirely in Penn State territory as a result of a U-M forced turnover on a Rayshaun Benny forced fumble recovered by Makari Paige -- career firsts for both players.

A battle for field position took hold from that point forward, with the teams trading punts on six straight possessions. Over the course of eight drives from the second quarter on, Michigan ran the ball 35 times in a stretch of 37 total plays in an effort to control the clock, while never recording a pass attempt in the second half.

The heavy use of the run late in the game included a second Corum touchdown -- his 18th of the season -- on a 30-yard run with four minutes remaining in the contest to send Michigan ahead 24-9.

Penn State added another touchdown with less than two minutes left in the game, chalking the final score at 24-15, the Wolverines' first win of the season over a ranked opponent.

Michigan will travel to College Park to take on Maryland next Saturday (Nov. 18) at SECU Stadium. Kickoff was announced for noon and the game will be televised on Fox.