The Wolverine Now

Oct. 13, 2013 Quadruple Misery Wolverines Kick One Away In Four OTs, 43-40 By John Borton If there's numbness beyond pain, Michigan's football players and coaches might have been feeling it as night crept over a valley that shouldn't have been happy, but wound up delirious. Penn State's improbable, unthinkable, at times ridiculous ramble to a 43-40 quadruple-overtime win was one for Nittany Lions fans to remember. And one every Michigan follower will try desperately to forget. When Penn State's Bill Belton swept around left end for the final two yards of the game — and the only touchdown in overtime — the valley exploded. So did Michigan's undefeated record, the Wolverines (5-1) getting bounced from the unbeaten in the most unbelievable fashion. "We had opportunities throughout the game," U-M head coach Brady Hoke acknowledged. "We had opportunities; we missed tackles. We had opportunities to make a play on the ball. We had opportunities to hit a hole a little better. We had opportunities to finish blocks. There's no doubt." They saw opportunities collapse in a three-turnover first half when they dug a 21-10 hole. They missed opportunities to put the game away after they'd roared back to take a 34-24 lead. And they still had a chance to cash in opportunities at the end, but placekicker Brendan Gibbons went just 2-of-4 in overtime on field goals, with one blocked. Gibbons will have plenty of company, though, in wondering about the failure to finish. "I don't think the game is won until they say Michigan wins," noted junior defensive end Frank Clark. "Unfortunately, we failed." Clark appeared to have set the Wolverines up for a win in the third overtime, diving on an Allen Robinson fumble on an end around. That meant Michigan needed just a field goal to head home victorious. But Gibbons shoved a 33-yard attempt wide left, extending the game. He cashed in from 40 yards out in the fourth overtime, but Penn State didn't settle for a field goal. Running behind Belton (27 carries, 85 yards) and getting a key end zone pass interference call against sophomore safety Jerrod Wilson, the Nittany Lions finished U-M off. "Both teams kept sticking around," Hoke said. "It's a tough one every time you go into overtime, but we've got to move forward. " Penn State kicker Sam Ficken opened the door in the very first overtime, missing a 40-yard attempt. But Penn State's Kyle Baublitz blocked Gibbon's 40-yard chance to win it. Both kickers connected in the second overtime, Gibbons from 25 and Ficken from 36. Most reviewing the tape will wonder how it ever came to that — perhaps both ways. U-M desperately needed a jumpstart, coming into the

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