The Wolverine Now

BY JOHN BORTON M ichigan defenders played like their lives — or at least their season — depended on it, taking to heart head coach Brady Hoke's dictum of "If they can't score, they can't win." Penn State couldn't score over the final 30 minutes of play, the Wolverines manhandling quarterback Christian Hackenberg and slam- ming back the Nittany Lions, 18-13. This one didn't feature the fireworks of Michigan Stadi- um's first two night games, supplanting flash with grit and desperation. And at this point, it didn't matter how, or how pretty, for the 3-4 Wolverines. "It wasn't pretty at times, but I don't know if anything is pretty all the time," Hoke said. "We've got guys who are tough, guys who understand what it is to play as a team, play for each other and play for Michigan. I'm excit- ed for them as much as anything for how they stuck together." They stuck together despite trailing, 13-10 at the half, despite gaining only 256 total yards, and despite going without top tailback sopho- more Derrick Green, out for the season with an injury. They did it in large part because — after adjusting to Penn State's offensive tweaks made in the Nittany Lions' bye week — the Wolver- ines put Hackenberg in a vise grip. The Nittany Lions gained only 65 yards the entire second half, Michigan allowing three first downs over those final 30 minutes. U-M sacked Hackenberg (21-of-32 passing, 160 yards, one TD, one INT) six times, including a crucial game-clincher of a 13-yard throw-down by senior defensive end Frank Clark. Meanwhile, fifth-year senior Michigan sig- nal-caller Devin Gardner shook off a leg injury to hobble back onto the field and finish 16-of- 24 passing for 192 yards, a touchdown and an interception, directing the Wolverines to the last of senior placekicker Matt Wile's three field goals. When it was all over, Gardner and the Wol- verines stood tall. "It feels great," Gardner said. "We lost a few games. For us to come back and respond, at 18 13 FIVE BEST PLAYERS OF THE GAME 1. Senior defensive end Frank Clark — A week removed from a big swing and a miss on Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova, Clark took dead aim. He recorded seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and a 13-yard sack while achieving constant pressure on Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg. 2. Fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Gardner — Gardner willed himself back onto the field following a painful leg injury. He finished off a 16-of-24 day with 192 yards and one touchdown pass. Michigan wasn't moving the ball without him, and he did just enough. 3. Senior placekicker Matt Wile — Wile drilled filed goals of 45, 42 and 37 yards, never missing on the night. When your team scores 18, that's a big deal. 4. Sophomore cornerback Jourdan Lewis — Lewis managed five tackles, and his clutch interception in the second half set the Wolverines up to tie the game, 13-13, on a field goal. 5. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jake Ryan — Ryan recorded 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss, on the evening. On a night when defense meant everything, Ryan was liter- ally in the middle of the melee. — John Borton

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