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The Tommy Carr era of quarterback may have begun at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, as the true freshman entered the game in the second half for sophomore Bryce Underwood, and led the Wolverines to a 21-18 win over visiting Penn State.
Quarterbacking drama aside, it's a stabilizing win for the Wolverines' new coaching regime six games in and the first Big Ten win for Kyle Whittingham as head coach.
And Mitten Football is as always pleased to publish a gallery of some of the best shots from Rachel Leggett.
Some fans made their feelings on the recent events of the bye week known, supporting Zack Marshall after the tight end's messages critical of offensive coordinator Jason Beck got leaked. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Beck and the rest of the Wolverines publicly downplayed the situation, and Marshall publicly apologized. He also did not play on Saturday. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Cornerback Jyaire Hill and safety Rod Moore Jr. salsa dance pregame. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And running back Jordan Marshall stays light amidst the pregame. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Wolverines touch the banner. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht started out strong, but his day would later unravel. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Penn State took an early 3-0 lead, a score that would hold all the way until halftime. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Saturday was also homecoming in Ann Arbor, meaning alumni cheerleaders got to join their student counterparts on the field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And hijinks ensued. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Meanwhile, neither offense could find any traction. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan was hurt by a pair of interceptions thrown by Bryce Underwood, the first being an unlucky bounce on an underthrown deep shot to an open Nick Marsh. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marsh got his hands on it, but couldn't reel it in before a bad bounce sent the ball right to a Penn State defender. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Marsh did make the tackle, though. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Penn State celebrated the pick. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)However, Michigan's defense kept the Nittany Lion offense from cashing in on either turnover. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the Wolverines equally struggled on offense, with 80 yards at halftime. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Underwood threw a second interception shortly before halftime, on a spectacular individual effort by Penn State's Josiah Zayas. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Zayas celebrated his interception with Zion Tracy, who had the earlier takeaway. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the Penn State sideline loved it. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Michigan returned the favor to start the third quarter, with Moore hawking down an interception. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Michigan sideline got to celebrate the takeaway. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As did Moore and Co. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And it finally happened: Tommy Carr had entered the game at quarterback the prior drive — eventually a punt for Michigan — replacing Underwood out of halftime. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)At first, the Wolverines couldn't quite breakthrough. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But then Bryson Kuzdzal broke out to the left side for a chunk gain. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And then he made a cut at the second level and broke out for a 43-yard touchdown run. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Kuzdzal's touchdown run was a breath of fresh air for Michigan Stadium. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the Wolverines got to celebrate some points, finally, and a 7-3 lead. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Penn State got down into Michigan territory on the next drive, as wideout Chase Sowell was a preferred target for Becht. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But then Becht threw another interception, this one to Chris Bracy. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)It was Bracy's first interception at Michigan since transferring in during the offseason. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)His teammates had plenty of love for him, too. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Moore, in somber twist, rode a cart to the locker room with what is apparently not a long-term lower body injury. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Savion Hiter had a nice day, leading the Wolverines with 79 yards on 11 carries. All the while, Underwood watched from the sidelines in the second half. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Carr nearly had a touchdown to put Michigan up 14-3. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Hiter also got close, but not across the goal line. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Then Marshall burst through for the touchdown. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And the celebration was on, up 13-3 and then 14-3 a few moments later. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)However the Nittany Lion's spirits, nor antics, were dampened. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Becht and Penn State looked for a response on offense, and moved the ball OK. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Nittany Lions would eventually score to make it 14-11, but not after a 12-play slog for 75 yards. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Underwood talks to tight end Deakon Tonielli as Carr walks past, but the benched quarterback wasn't bitter or sour on the sideline and celebrated with his team throughout the second half. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Michigan's defense couldn't ultimately keep Penn State out of the end zone. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Moore came back on the sideline after leaving earlier, but didn't re-enter the game. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)If a pylon is missing from Michigan Stadium, check the Nittany Lion's suit. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)The Nittany Lions on the field managed to make it a game with a touchdown and a two-point try to trail by three with 11:40 left. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Then both offenses reverted to first half form, and the teams traded punts. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Occasionally not much turned into something more. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Like Brett Eskildsen getting away from Smith Snowden. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But it still wouldn't amount to points. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Then Bracy came up with a sack fumble to cap his interception and eight tackles. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Enow Etta had the easiest fumble recover of his career, scooping up the ground ball with some soft hands. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Michigan was set up deep in the opponent's end. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)Which was plenty of reason to celebrate. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And finally, Carr would get a touchdown run, seeing a cut back lane against the flow of the play. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)With just enough space to cruise into the end zone. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But with a good chunk of time remaining, Michigan still needed to defend its 21-11 lead with some ferocity. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Becht and Co. were desperate for a touchdown. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)As such came the misses down the field. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)And Penn State head coach Matt Campbell looked on as his team swirled around an 0-4 start to conference play in his tenure as head coach there. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But the Nittany Lions did get a last-gasp score, a touchdown to Sowell with 1:11 left. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)But Michigan recovered an onside, and just needed to kneel it out. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)All that was left was the postgame social at midfield. (Rachel Leggett/Mitten Football)
