The "battleship" is gaining momentum in the Big Ten race

The Wolverines collected more points on Saturday at Michigan Stadium, totaling 403 yards of offense while keeping Penn State at just 186 points, allowing Michigan to remain alone at the top of the Big Ten East with three games to play.

More: Michigan beats Penn State behind strong defense, 42-7

A year ago, the Michigan defense had allocated over 500 yards to Penn State in a 42-13 loss. Don Brown's squad saw coach James Franklin attempt to score another touchdown in the final seconds.

On Saturday, a growing Michigan team had its aftermath.

More: Michigan football notes: praise for Penn State's dominance

"I was not part of the team last year, but I understood that Penn State had completed the score of last year," said Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, who scored two goals and ran Saturday. "Our state of mind was to come here and play our best game.

"And if we had the chance, we would run him too."

The rumor and message from Michigan were clear early as Patterson designed a first 76-yard run, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown on a goalkeeper from the area to score 7-0.

The Wolverines (8-1, 6-0) had some problems with shots on goal and scoreless goals against the rest of the first quarter, but they took over the table when Patterson rolled to his right and delivered a 23-yard laser in Donovan. Peoples-Jones for a score.

After the touchdown, Peoples-Jones crossed the back of the goal area with a celebration of an airplane windmill – a nod to the former star from Penn State, Saquon Barkley, who had managed that a year ago against the Wolverines.

"It was personal from the start, since the jump," said Michigan running back Karan Higdon, who broke the 100-yard mark (132) for his seventh straight game. "We jumped and we wanted to make sure we were increasing the intensity, so there was no downhill.

"We did a great job throughout this game."

Chase Winovich, Michigan, center, celebrates his sack against Penn State with his teammates. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

Michigan was barely 14-0 at half-time despite Penn State doubling in rushing yards, but kept the lead for the remainder of the third quarter with a 13-yard, 90-yard run. Is over on a tight pass from Zach Gentry on Patterson. a seven-yard touchdown strike at the back of the end zone.

From there, the rout was launched.

Brandon Watson scored 28-0 less than a minute later when he intercepted Penn State substitute quarterback Tommy Stevens in the Trace McSorley match. He ran 62 yards for a touchdown.

After another quick stop, the Michigan offense scored 53 yards in six games, crowned by a four-yard run to the race, Karan Higdon. After that score was raised to 35-0, Patterson followed suit with the McSorley Baseball Run celebration.

The Wolverines score once again, this time on a 12-yard run after a David Long interception to mark the game at 42-0 before the Nittany Lions were able to reduce the score for their only goal, 1 : 59 from the end. in the game.

"Yes, it's personal, you aspire to happiness, to exaltation, you want to win," said Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. "From start to finish, from all sides of the ball, the Michigan football team was really impressive tonight, I'm really proud of them."

"I'm going to put an exclamation point on my pride."

When Michigan entered the 2018 season with an unproven line-up and a quarterback, many experts suggested a three-game series that would define the season: home vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 13, at Michigan State on Oct. 20 and at home. against Penn State Saturday.

Michigan played impressively on all three pitches. The Wolverines fled Wisconsin home, physically using Michigan State on the road and hitting Penn State in front of an angry crowd at Michigan Stadium to stay in the driver's seat for the Big Ten East title, a place in the match for the championship title and a chance at the college football game.

Saturday, an offensive line that was ineffective a year ago neutralized the race at the top of the Big Ten pass by hitting the ball 52 times for 259 yards and three goals. Patterson, the quarterback who changed the Wolverines offensive game, added three scores.

And Brown's defense, dominant throughout the season, has added a new jewel to a growing collection.

"The most impressive thing for me is Don Brown, I remember the old 70s jingle." You said Don Brown, you said everything, "said Harbaugh laughing." He is the king, he is the king of the defensive coordinators. "

Michigan enters its final quarter-final on Saturday at Rutgers before returning to Michigan Stadium for a home final against Indiana. The last game of the year will be on November 24 at Ohio State.

The Wolverines insist that they will continue to take it one day at a time.

But they are not afraid to let everyone know that they are confident, they trust each other and look like contenders.

"We feel (the fans), they feel us, we have a great relationship going on, and a few weeks ago, when we beat Wisconsin (and started) the Revenge Tour, we had a movement on the move. there, "said Winovich. "Now it looks like we're going to be in those last two games, then to Columbus, like a battleship, I think everybody is trying to get on board.

"We have momentum and we need to keep going every week."