Wolverines rally late in fourth quarter to secure victory

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: November 13, 2021

Photo by Kathy Reed

Courtesy of GoPSU Athletics
Penn State Falls to Michigan, 21-17

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 23/23 Penn State football team fell to No. 9/8/6 Michigan, 21-17, in a Big Ten matchup at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

In a close defensive contest, the teams remained within one possession for the entirety of the matchup. Penn State tied the game and take the lead midway through the fourth quarter, before Michigan pulled ahead in the closing minutes to earn the victory.

Several members of the Nittany Lions defense had strong games, highlighted by Ellis Brooks who led the unit with 16 tackles and Arnold Ebiketie who recorded 7 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Quarterback Sean Clifford completed 23-of-43 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Warren was on the receiving end of the score, the first receiving touchdown of his Penn State career. Parker Washington was the team’s leading receiver with 92 yards, while Keyvone Lee tallied 88 yards on 20 carries on the ground.

Penn State will wrap up its home schedule on Nov. 20when the Nittany Lions host Rutgers at noon on Senior Day at Beaver Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Special Teams trickery set the Nittany Lions up in the red zone on their opening drive when punter Jordan Stout completed an 18-yard pass to linebacker Curtis Jacobs. Stout later put Penn State on the board with a 42-yard field goal.

The Wolverine’s jumped in front in the second quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Cade McNamara to Roman Wilson.

After the Penn State defense forced Michigan to turn the ball over on downs late in the fourth, Sean Clifford found Parker Washington deep over the middle for 44-yards to set Penn State up in the red zone. Jordan Stout connected on a 52-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-6 at the half.

Michigan extended its lead on the opening drive of the second half on a 1-yard pass from McNamara to Wilson.

Midway through the fourth quarter Penn State fought to even the score, going on a 15-play scoring drive that was capped off with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Clifford to Warren. The Nittany Lions tied the game at 14 when Clifford found Jahan Dotson in the end zone for the 2-point conversion.

The Penn State defense forced a turnover on the following drive on a strip sack by Ebiketie that was recovered by Derrick Tangelo at the Michigan 16-yard line. The Nittany Lions jumped ahead, 17-14, on a 31-yard field goal.

Michigan regained the lead on the ensuing drive on a 47-yard touchdown pass from McNamara to Erick All. The Wolverines would hold on to win 21-17.