ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Jared Odrick -- or as he calls himself, the "crazed dog" -- didn't have to wait long to get the points that were once right in his grasp.
Moments after the senior just missed a safety when he couldn't bring down quarterback Tate Forcier in the end zone, the defense was the beneficiary of a safety against Michigan for the second straight season.
Back in the shotgun, Forcier was faced with a quarterback's nightmare: a third-and-16 at his own 2-yard-line. It got only worse from there as the snap from center David Moosman went out of the end zone for a safety.
"A play like that is really demoralizing," Odrick said. "For that to happen at that point in the game, it's definitely a turning point."
But the possible game-changer could've never happened, as Penn State head coach Joe Paterno had a decision to make when his team had the ball at the Michigan 33-yard line faced with a fourth-and-three.
Should he go for it? Attempt the long-range field goal?
No, Paterno went to punter Jeremy Boone, and it was an easy decision that paid off.
Despite going into the wind, Boone successfully pinned the Wolverines down at their own 8-yard line with a fair catch.
Linebacker Josh Hull then broke through the line to stuff Carlos Brown for a 3-yard loss on first down. It was one of the linebacker's nine first-half tackles, including three for a loss.
Then Michigan's drive self-destructed.
A false start and delay of game sandwiched Odrick's near takedown of the freshman signal caller in the end zone.
"I had him in my hands, but I didn't have him in my arms," Odrick said. "I thought he was at the back of the end zone and the only thing he could do was step up but he got outside of me and there wasn't anybody else here."
While the play lacked the safety, it was instead the perfect microcosm of Michigan's pocket protection.
The Nittany Lions' defensive front didn't leave much space in the running lanes for Tate and Denard Robinson, two quarterbacks with escape ability. The duo, which combined for seven rushing touchdowns entering the game, carried the ball 18 times and mustered just 30 rushing yards with no scores.
"Our front four guys did a great job keeping him in the pocket," defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "When he did get out, they kept good leverage and lanes on him. He makes a lot of his big plays when he scrambles around and gets out of there. We emphasized, 'Hey lets keep him from getting up the field, lets make him run wide,' and we figured we could run him down a little bit."
When assessing one outside reason for Michigan's troubles deep in its own territory on that possession, Odrick said there was a lot of noise, although he wasn't sure if it came from the Michigan faithful or the much smaller Penn State contingent.
Regardless, the defensive end said the left and right guards seemed a little confused with the checks and may have not heard some of the calls.
Such confusion appeared to play a role in the game changer -- the safety. Odrick didn't have to put pressure on Forcier this time, as the ball was snapped and whizzed by Forcier to put the Lions up 12-7. Then, they quickly scored on their next offensive play when quarterback Daryll Clark found Andrew Quarless for a 60-yard touchdown pass.
In about a blink of the eye, Penn State compiled nine points with one offensive play, a tackle for loss, a safety, two accepted penalties and a conversation with Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez for Forcier and Moosman after the series.
"Young kids, young quarterback, and the goal line with your back against the wall, it kind of cracked there and that was big for us," Sean Lee said.
