Penn State’s Losing Streak Extends to Four Games in Michigan Loss

· Yahoo Sports

| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor

Penn State’s losing streak has grown to four games with the 21-18 loss to Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions held a 3-0 lead at halftime, but multiple turnovers and a quarterback change by the Wolverines flipped the second half in Michigan’s favor.

Chase Sowell had the game of his five-year career, catching 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. His receptions and yards are both career highs. But it wasn’t enough for Penn State to get the win.

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Penn State’s Losing Streak Extends to Four Games

Penn State Takes the Early Lead

Penn State’s offense has struggled to find rhythm all season, and it continued to be an issue all day, except the opening drive. The Nittany Lions drove 69 yards in a stunning 16 plays, but ended with just a 24-yard field goal. It was the longest drive of the season for the blue and white, burning 9:02 off the clock.

Quarterback Rocco Becht got hot quick, completing 7-of-8 attempts for 40 yards. His favorite targets were Sowell (three catches for 21 yards) and Andrew Rappleyea (three catches for 10 yards).

Michigan’s opening drive was less eventful, moving 32 yards in nine plays. Defensive end Caleb Bacon made a big tackle for loss on freshman running back Savion Hiter to force a punt at Penn State’s 35-yard line.

Lots, and Lots of Punts

There were six combined punts in the second frame. The first came when Sowell entered the injury tent after suffering an apparent ankle injury on his 13-yard reception. Three plays later, Penn State folded and Michigan took over at its 26-yard line. However, the Wolverines went 3-and-out as the boos began to rain down in the Big House.

Sowell returned to action and Becht dotted a fade perfectly over Sowell’s shoulder for a 26-yard gain. The drive stalled again, but Penn State got the ball back after a circus interception where Jamison Patton broke up Andrew Marsh’s catch, causing the ball to pop up into the hands of a trailing Zion Tracy.

The following drive, again, didn’t amount to much. Penn State ran six plays for just 15 yards. Michigan’s possession was another eyesore, going for a loss of two yards in three plays.

Penn State took over on its own 21 with 1:51 remaining before halftime, still up 3-0. Becht found Sowell for the sixth time of the half for 14 yards, then again for a 27-yard gain, but it was called back for offensive pass interference, and the drive quickly ended.

Michigan was driving from its own 32-yard line with 1:07 left. The Wolverines went 32 yards in three plays until Bryce Underwood was intercepted for a second time. This one was an insane one-handed grab by freshman corner Josiah Zayas to take the Nittany Lions’ 3-0 lead into the half.

Michigan Changes QBs

Michigan opened the second half with four-star freshman quarterback Tommy Carr leading the offense onto the field. He completed his first pass over the middle to JJ Buchanan for 11 yards, but couldn’t pick up another first down. The Wolverines subsequently punted for a fourth time.

However, it all went downhill for Penn State when Becht’s first pass of the half was picked off by Rod Moore on a diving grab. Carr took a shot downfield on an unsuccessful flea-flicker, but the Wolverines hit big with a 43-yard touchdown run up the middle from Bryson Kuzdzal.

Penn State, now down 7-3, was able to get Sowell the ball twice for 33 yards, but Becht threw his second pick of the second half at the Michigan 26.

Michigan’s offense came alive after a dormant first half. Carr hit Hogan Hansen for 22 yards, then Hiter rushed for 18 more. Jordan Marshall picked up a fourth-and-2, and Carr rushed 23 yards to set up Marshall’s 1-yard touchdown.

Photo courtesy: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Mistakes, Mistakes, Mistakes

Penn State, now down 14-3, sent Becht out with the offense after his two previous turnovers. He hit Sowell twice for 21 yards, and found Gabe Burkle for a 20-yard gain to enter the red zone. Then, Carson Hansen plowed forward for a 2-yard touchdown, and Becht found Ben Brahmer on a shovel pass for the 2-point conversion.

With the lead cut to 14-11, Michigan looked to get some cushion, but went 3-and-out and gave Penn State the ball with 10 minutes left in regulation. But the Nittany Lions shared the same fate.

Hiter sparked the Wolverines with a 41-yard burst on the first play of the drive, but Penn State’s defense responded by stopping Michigan’s offense on the next three plays.

With six minutes remaining, the Nittany Lions drove 17 yards in two plays, but Becht was strip-sacked for his third turnover of the game, and the Wolverines took over at the Penn State 13-yard line.

Michigan ran four plays before Carr’s 12-yard touchdown sealed the Nittany Lions’ fate. Becht got Sowell a 24-yard touchdown before time expired.

The Last Word

This was one ugly loss for Penn State. The long opening drive felt as if the offense would finally put it all together, but it all unravelled quickly.

Becht’s three turnovers were brutal. Michigan scored all 21 points off his mistakes, and they were all in the second half. The only thing he did well was get Sowell the ball.

Becht finished with 267 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, a fumble, and completed 28-of-44 pass attempts.

While this loss is mostly on Becht’s second-half collapse, Penn State still didn’t show any improvement in two key areas.

The run game averaged 2.2 yards per carry for a second consecutive game. Hansen was the leading rusher with 51 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.

Penn State’s pass rush got home once, and it was Rojas again. He got the lone sack in Penn State’s loss to USC last week.

Credit to the rest of the defense, though. Rojas went off again with 12 tackles, two for a loss and a sack. Zayas and Tracy had impressive interceptions. The run defense is still concerning, allowing 221 yards and all three touchdowns.

Main Image: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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