STATE COLLEGE, Pa – Michigan’s defense ruled in Happy Valley.

The fourth-ranked Wolverines smothered Penn State’s offense, and Adrian Arrington and Mike Hart each scored touchdowns to provide enough offense for Michigan to stay unbeaten with a 17-10 win on Saturday night.

Michigan’s front seven was too tough and fast for Penn State, getting into the backfield often to pressure or sack Nittany Lion starting quarterback Anthony Morelli, who was knocked out early in the third quarter after what appeared to be helmet-to-helmet hit from Alan Branch.

Backup Darryl Clark left the game too after limping off following a scramble. Yet Michigan still got a late scare after Tony Hunt turned a screen pass from third-stringer Paul Ciancolo into a 43-yard touchdown, energizing a crowd eager to see Penn State end its seven-game losing streak to the Wolverines.

Michigan was forced to punt on its next drive, but Ciancolo ran out of magic when Penn State got the ball back. A incomplete pass sealed the victory on fourth down with a minute left sealed the victory.

Branch, defensive end LaMarr Woodley and their fellow linemen had a field day, holding tough Hunt in check on the ground and blanketing the Lions’ fast receiving corps.

Penn State defense wasn’t too bad, either, holding quarterback Chad Henne to 15-of-30 for 196 yards. Henne also didn’t have star Mario Manningham after the receiver had knee surgery.

Arrington, a junior, stepped up, slipping out of the reach of freshman cornerback A.J. Wallace to grab a pass from Henne down the left seam and run in the end zone for 25-yard touchdown to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead.

Hart’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave Michigan a 17-3 lead. Hart finished with 112 yards on 26 carries.

Henne returned to his native Pennsylvania first the time with Michigan since spurning a verbal commitment to Penn State to sign with the Wolverines coming out of high school three years ago – not a popular move with the Nittany Nation.

A loud, enthusiastic crowd appeared to give Henne problems barking out plays on offense often.

Morelli finished 11-of-18 for 133 yards. Hunt had 13 carries for 33 yards rushing, 78 below his season average, against Michigan’s top-ranked rush defense.

AP-ES-10-14-06 2328EDT

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