Penn State

“I’d say it’s probably in the top five (wins of his career) mainly because we were 0-5 coming into this game,” said senior center Michal Menet, “and this team just needed a win more than anything right now.”

Penn State did several things it hadn’t done during its five-game losing streak, such as taking a halftime lead and playing turnover-free football. The Lions went into Saturday’s game with 13 giveaways, the second-most in the Big Ten, which had led to 51 points for their opponents.

“It all comes down to the execution of our details, which we’ve been talking about,” Menet said. “Today we just did it. That was the theme. We stopped talking about everything and actually started to do all the things that we’ve been coached.”

Quarterback Sean Clifford, who had lost his starting job last week, returned to the lineup and played efficiently. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 163 yards and ran nine times for 73 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked just once.

Clifford, who has 10 turnovers, was asked if he had doubted himself the last few weeks.

“I have not and will never doubt myself,” he said testily. “I know how hard this team works. I know how hard I work, so there’s not one person or anybody who could tell me different.”

Clifford looked more poised and more decisive in the pocket and found freshman Parker Washington nine times for 93 yards.

“The biggest difference for Cliff was that he was playing with confidence,” said Menet. “He was protecting the football and doing the things we’ve been talking about.

“I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m surprised because I know who Cliff is as a player. This is who Sean Clifford is.”

Penn State also received production from another freshman, running back Keyvone Lee. WIth Devyn Ford at his Virginia home because of a death in his family, Lee carried 22 times for a careerhigh 134 yards and one touchdown.

The Lions rushed for a seasonhigh 254 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.1 a carry.

“The offense line did a tremendous job protecting and getting that forward push, “Lutz said. “They kind of dominated the line of scrimmage all day.”

Lutz, a seniior, enjoyed the best game of his Penn State career, catching three passes for 30 yards, including a 16-yard reception that set up Lee’s 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.“That’s what college football is about, a guy like Isaac Lutz,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “He comes here and works his tail off and maybe doesn’t get opportunities. But when his opportunity came, he was ready.”

The Penn State defense also had its moments. Freshman cornerback Marquis Wilson, making his first start, broke up a fourthdown pass on Michigan’s first possession at the Lions’ 42.

In the fourth quarter, Penn State’s Daequan Hardy sacked and stripped the ball from quarterback Cade McNamara. In a scramble for the ball, defensive end Shaka Toney batted the ball to keep it from going out of bounds and was penalized 10 yards, nullifying Jayson Oweh’s recovery.

But moments later, Brooks tackled Hassan Haskins after a 1-yard gain on third-and-2 and then backup quarterback Joe Milton for no gain on fourth down.

“No. 5 (Milton) came in the game, started off in the Shotgun and went under center, which isn’t their usual MO (modus operandi), so my antenna was up,” Brooks said. “I was just trying to make a play. We had energy the whole game.”

Penn State picked up three first downs and ran out the final 5:37, giving the Lions their third win over Michigan in the last four years and some relief.

“We really had to understand what it took to win,” defensive tackle PJ Mustipher said. “When you’re losing so much, you forget how winning feels and what’s required to get the W on Saturdays. I think the monkey’s definitely been lifted off our backs.”