No. 13 PSU Overwhelms U-M 35-10

The University of Michigan football team dropped a 35-10 decision to Penn State on Saturday at Michigan Stadium. Michigan led 7-0 after the games opening drive, but didn't find the end zone again on the day.

ANN ARBOR - It was Graham Zug early and Graham Zug often as the No. 13-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1, 3-1) came to Ann Arbor and dominated the Michigan Wolverines (5-3, 1-3) 35-10 on Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Zug, a red shirt junior with four career touchdown receptions entering today’s game, finished with 5 catches for 59 yards and three scores.

Michigan scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game, but wouldn’t find the end zone the rest of the contest. Quarterback Tate Forcier struggled hitting just 10-of-27 passes following the games’ opening drive, and, in relief, Denard Robinson was 0-for-2 with an interception and a fumble.

“We obviously did not play well in any phase," Rich Rodriguez said. "It's disappointing. It starts with us as coaches. I told the team I thought we had prepared well, but maybe we didn't. As coaches, we have got to try and do a little bit more to get our guys into some situations where we can have some success.”

Michigan’s miscues gave Penn State the opportunity to begin pulling away late in the second quarter. Facing a 3rd-and-long, and backed up inside the 5-yard line, an ill-advised snap that sailed through the end zone gave Penn State a 12-7 lead.

Following the Wolverines free kick, the Nittany Lions quickly capitalized on a short field with Daryll Clark finding Andrew Quarless up the middle on the first play from scrimmage for a 60-yard score.

Jason Olesnavage added a 33-yard Michigan field goal late in the half to get with nine points, but Michigan got no closer. The Wolverines settled for three points after a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line went awry with a fumbled snap that forced a quarterback spike on third down.

“I didn't know if Tate knew the clock was running,” Rodriguez said, "so I had him spike the ball. I wanted to make sure we got some points on the board."

Penn State put the game out of reach early in the third quarter.

Chaz Powell returned the half’s opening kick-off into Michigan territory. Four plays later, Zug caught his second score of the game, a flag route from 11-yards out over Stevie Brown. Halfway through the quarter Clark found Zug again, this time on a slant route, following Robinson’s fumble deep inside Michigan territory.

“We had some turnovers that killed us,” Rodriguez said. "Penn State is a good football team, but it's very disappointing to have such a great crowd and a grea topportunity and obviously not play very good football."

Penn State added one final field goal in the fourth quarter.

On Michigan's lone touchdown drive of the game, a 70-yard, 11-play drive, Minor found a hole up the middle from 1-yard out. Martavious Odoms took a short Forcier pass 20 yards up the sideline to set up the score.

After the scoring drive, the Wolverines totaled just 180 yards of offense the remainder of the game. Minor led the team with 48 yards and a score on 12 carries.

The Wolverines look to snap a three-game losing streak in Big 10 play with a road trip to Illinois next week. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.