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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
UNIVERSITY PARK -- Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State's 24-15 loss to Michigan on Saturday at Beaver Stadium:
Play of the game: There probably wasn't one single game-defining play. But down 17-9, facing second-and-4 from PSU 34 with 12 minutes left, Drew Allar, off a flea flicker, was sacked and called for intentional grounding. That cost the Lions 10 yards and a loss of down and epitomized Penn State's passing-game futility.
Offensive player of the game: Blake Corum rushed 26 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive player of the game: The Wolverines' entire defense, none of whom had more than six tackles.
Most telling statistic: Penn State averaged 3.2 yards on 23 passing attempts.
Hidden statistic: Michigan rushed 30 times in the second half and attempted one pass, which drew a pass interference penalty so it didn't count in the statistics.
Most deceiving statistic: The Lions made seven tackles for loss to UM's three.
Best run: On fourth-and-1 from the PSU 29, the Lions had Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy contained but he cut back for 9 yards to the PSU 20, setting up a field goal and a 17-9 lead.
Best pass: Allar found Tyler Warren over the middle for 19 yards in the first quarter. It went south from there.
Worst pass: On fourth-and-6 from the Lions' 30 with 4:21 left, Allar threw to a spot with no PSU receiver in the same zip code. One play later, UM went up 24-9.
Best catch: Kaden Saunders kept the chains moving with a fourth-down reception in the second quarter.
Catch it, will ya: Didn't see a drop.
Hold it, won't ya: Allar fumbled away a PSU possession in the third quarter.
Best block: Michigan tight end A.J. Barner sealed the edge and sprung Corum's 41-yard burst in the second quarter.
Best tackle: UM linebacker Michael Barrett dumped Kaytron Allen on first-and-goal from the 3 in the first quarter, saving a TD.
Worst tackle: On the best run, the Kings -- Kalen and Kobe -- had the angle on McCarthy but he found daylight.
Best hit: Abdul Carter jolted an early fumble out of Corum, but Corum recovered.
Best kick: Riley Thompson got his 51-yard punt to check up at the Wolverines' 3 late in the third quarter.
Worst kick: Wasn't one.
Best call: On third-and-8 from the PSU 25, McCarthy hit Semaj Morgan on an underneath screen that went for 19 yards, setting up the Wolverines' first TD.
Worst call: It wasn't necessary and way too soon to go for the 2-pointer down 14-9 in the first half. Wrong move, James Franklin.
Best effort: Penn State safety Kevin Winston made a game-high 12 tackles, also a career high.
Unsung hero: QBs aren't usually unsung heroes, but McCarthy completed 7-of-8 for 60 yards, ran eight times for 34 and didn't turn the ball over.
Best moment: Honorary captain Spider Caldwell, who came to PSU as a student manager 40-plus years ago and was recognized in the first quarter.