New QB sparks Wolverines to comeback win over Penn St.
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ANN ARBOR -- Tommy Carr jogged onto the same field where his grandfathers led a national championship team and set the school record for career interceptions, and the crowd roared.
And, he made the most of the opportunity.
Carr converted a third down on a 12-yard touchdown run with 2:58 left to play, giving Michigan a two-score lead it needed in a 21-18 win over Penn State on Saturday.
“To score that touchdown to seal the game was huge,” he said.
The Wolverines (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) needed the win to avoid losing their first three conference games in a season for the first time since 1967.
It might not have happened if first-year coach Kyle Whittingham didn’t agree to bench Bryce Underwood at halftime and to give Carr a chance to turn around a lackluster offense and perhaps fire up a listless team.
“The idea at halftime was to create a spark and Tommy did just that,” Whittingham said.
Michigan will face a big test next week at home against No. 5 Indiana and Whittingham wasn’t ready to say who would start at quarterback in that game.
Family legacy
Tommy Carr’s brother is Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, with both grandsons of 1997 national championship winning coach Lloyd Carr and All-America defensive back Tom Curtis, a former Wolverine who set a program record with 25 interceptions. Tommy Carr is the son of Michigan graduates, including former walk-on quarterback Jason Carr.
Lloyd Carr attended the game and said, “wow,” after his grandson ran for a touchdown. Lloyd Carr also played quarterback for a year at Northern Michigan University in 1967, leading the Wildcats to an undefeated season.
“Can’t wait to see him,” Tommy Carr said.
Spark comeback
Michigan suddenly had success on offense after Carr entered the game to cheers and Rocco Becht threw two interceptions, taking a 14-3 lead in the third quarter on Bryson Kuzdzal’s 43-yard touchdown run and Jordan Marshall’s 1-yard run for a score that was set up by Carr’s 22-yard draw.
The Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4) pulled within three points early in the fourth on Carson Hansen’s 2-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion.
They had the ball with a chance to drive for a tie or the lead, but Becht lost a fumble at the Penn State 16 to set up Carr’s touchdown run.
“This game is super humbling,” Becht said.
Becht bounced back with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Chase Sowell with 1:11 to go, pulling the Nittany Lions within three points again.
Michigan recovered the onside kick, sealing the win.
Underwood gets benched
Underwood threw two interceptions in the second quarter against Penn State. It was his fifth interception in three games and sixth this season, surpassing his total of five passing touchdowns.
“Bryce couldn’t have handled it any better,” Whittingham said.
Up next
Penn State: After a bye
Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr, right, runs for a touchdown against Penn State in the fourth quarter on Saturday in Ann Arbor. (AP photo)
Michigan: Hosts No. 5 Indiana on Saturday.