Perhaps the most telling play for the Michigan football team Saturday was the opening kickoff.
The Wolverines' Tyrone Butterfield caught the kick at the one-yard line, stumbled, and fell at the two. For Michigan, the rest of the day went the same way.
Penn State forced five turnovers and blocked a punt in a 29-17 victory over Michigan in front of 105,898 at Michigan Stadium.
The Wolverines outgained the Nittany Lions, 390-353, but it didn't matter. Michigan has turned the ball over 10 times in two weeks.
"You can't beat anybody with the number of turnovers we've had the last two games," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "We've lost the last two games because we've turned the ball over."
With their victory Saturday, the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions (5-2 Big Ten, 9-2 overall) stayed in contention for a bowl-alliance bid to the Fiesta Bowl. With the loss, No. 16 Michigan (4-3, 7-3) probably bought a ticket to Texas for either the Alamo or Sun Bowl.
Trailing Penn State, 22-17, with 4:54 left in the game, the Wolverines had the ball at their own 22-yard line. But on first down, Michigan quarterback Scott Dreisbach was intercepted by free safety Kim Herring at the Michigan 38.
On the first play following the turnover, Penn State running back Curtis Enis ran 38 yards up the middle for a touchdown. Brett Conway's extra point gave the Nittany Lions a 29-17 lead with just 4:42 remaining.
The Wolverines had one last-gasp chance on their next possession. Brian Griese replaced Dresibach at quarterback and quickly moved Michigan to the Penn State 29.
But on first down, Griese's pass for Tai Streets was intercepted in the endzone by Mark Tate. The Wolverines were done.
"If we hit that pass, and then get an on-side kick, we've got a great chance to win," Carr said. "We still had chances to win very, very late in the game, but we turned the ball over."
Dreisbach was 12-of-26 for 191 yards with three interceptions before giving way to Griese.
Dreisbach also lost a crucial fumble midway through the fourth quarter. Michigan was on the move at the Penn State 41, trailing 22-17. On third-and-four, Dreisbach was forced out of the pocket and appeared to pick up the first down before he fumbled. The Nittany Lions' Gerald Filardi recovered the ball at the 33.
The Wolverines' defense held, but then Dreisbach threw the interception to Herring on the first play after the punt.
"We got a touchdown ... off the turnover," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "But other than that, it was two good defensive teams."
Michigan trailed, 13-10, at the half, but took the lead early in the third quarter, courtesy of linebacker Jarrett Irons. The Nittany Lions had the ball near midfield when Irons blitzed senior quarterback Wally Richardson. Irons hit Richardson while the quarterback was attempting to lateral the ball to fullback Aaron Harris.
The ball went awry and Will Carr recovered for Michigan at the Penn State 30. One play later, Michigan running back Chris Howard went untouched 27 yards down the Penn State sideline for a touchdown. Remy Hamilton's extra point gave the Wolverines their first lead, 17-13.
But the Nittany Lions went back on top, 22-17, before the quarter ended, thanks to a Conway field goal and a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown.
"After they got ahead of us, our kids stayed in it," Paterno said.
For the game, Enis carried the ball 21 times for 114 yards to break the 1,000-yard rushing barrier this season. Penn State quarterback Wally Richardson completed 20 of 34 passes for 183 yards with no touchdown passes or interceptions.
Penn State now leads the all-time series with Michigan, 3-1, including three-straight victories. The Nittany Lions defeated the Wolverines, 31-24, at Michigan Stadium two years ago and 27-17 last season in State College.
So what's the secret to Penn State's continued success against Michigan?
"I don't know if there's a secret," Enis said. "I just know when we play a rivalry, we come ready to play."
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Together, Michigan defensive linemen Glen Steele and William Carr are a portrait of dejection after the Wolverines were beaten by Penn State on Saturday, 29-17.