Michigan Wins on Game’s Last Play

Chad Henne threw a touchdown pass to Mario Manningham from 10 yards out with no time left to lift Michigan to a 27-25 victory over No. 8 Penn State on Saturday.

“That’s as wild a game as I’ve ever been in, just unbelievable,” Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr said.

Michigan (4-3, 2-2 in the Big Ten) avoided its worst record in mid-October since 1967.

“It’s a huge win,” Wolverine linebacker David Harris said. “It’s a big turning point in our season.”

The Nittany Lions (6-1, 3-1) are off to their best start since 1999, but fell out of sole possession of first place in the conference with their seventh consecutive loss in the series.

“It was a great football game. Our kids hung in there,” Nittany Lion Coach Joe Paterno said. “I’m proud of them. I’m disappointed for them.”

Michael Robinson scored his second touchdown from three yards out with 53 seconds left to give the Nittany Lions a 25-21 lead, but Steve Breaston returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield to help set up the game-winning score.

A second was left on the clock when Henne took the last snap and connected with Manningham in the middle of the end zone.

“Chad put it right there,” Manningham said.

Michigan led, 3-0, at halftime but Penn State scored 15 points in 17 seconds to take an 18-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

But Michigan quickly responded with Henne’s 33-yard scoring pass to Manningham and Mike Hart’s two-point conversion run to tie the score.

And Garrett Rivas’ 47-yard field goal with 3:45 left put Michigan ahead, 21-18.

Last week, he missed two second-half field-goal attempts during a 23-20 loss to Minnesota.

With no timeouts left, the Nittany Lions took over on their 19-yard line.

Robinson ran for a first down on fourth and seven and scored the go-ahead score on a quarterback draw.

The Wolverines then made just enough plays and had just enough time to earn the victory they -- and a much-maligned Carr -- desperately needed.