UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Erick All wasn’t even sure he was going to play.
Hobbled by a high ankle sprain the last two weeks, Michigan’s top tight end woke up Saturday morning still feeling the effects of the injury. He was sore and wanted to test it out on the field first before deciding whether to gut it out.
As it turns out, the decision to play was a game-changing one. All scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:29 left in Saturday’s 21-17 win over Penn State, flipping momentum and keeping the Wolverines’ Big Ten hopes alive. On second-and-10 from the PSU 47-yard line, All caught a pass from Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara on a crossing route over the middle, turned up field and headed for the end zone.
“I practiced all week, and it was hurting,” All said. “I was probably like 80 percent on it.”
The play was an important one. Penn State had flipped the game following a fourth-quarter touchdown and successful two-point conversion, tying the game at 14, only exacerbated moments later when McNamara fumbled the football away during a sack.
The Nittany Lions went from trailing by eight points to up three, thanks to a 31-yard field goal with 5:55 to play, catching Michigan off guard.
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“I feel like we practice this stuff all the time,” All said. “We get down in these situations, especially against our defense in practice — a top-tier defense. I feel like everybody has a competitive drive, and feel like we didn’t flinch at all.”
Michigan’s also made a point of practicing that play, in particular. After the coaching staff called five straight run plays for Hassan Haskins (31 carries, 156 yards), the engine that made the Wolverines’ offense go on Saturday, McNamara dropped back and saw All open. He connected with All, his 6-foot-4, 245-pound roommate, on three previous plays for 17 yards. But nothing went for a big gain, prompting Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks, described by All as “No. 13,” to say a few words to him on the field.
The message?
“We know about you. We’ve been scouting you,” All said. “We know your ankle’s messed up. You ain’t going nowhere.”
“Like trying to get in my head,” All continued. “Well …”
Once All turned the corner, all he saw was a wide-open field. McNamara said afterward that Penn State had shown man-coverage in big-game situations like these in the past and praised Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis for recognizing it.
McNamara said they anticipated it, crowded the left side of the field and it opened things up for All, who outran Penn State defenders to the right pylon for the score.
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“We haven’t called it much, but when we got the man-coverage — we were excited to call that one,” head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Erick took a really perfect pass on the crossing route and circled the entire defense. I mean, they were out of leverage — and it was good for us. Erick took it and went the distance.
“He was rolling.”
All’s moment highlighted a group of banged up Michigan players who contributed to Saturday’s win, including receivers Andrel Anthony (1 catch, 13 yards) and Roman Wilson (three catches, 31 yards). Even running back Donovan Edwards, who sat out the last two games with an undisclosed injury, got in the game for two carries. The Wolverines were without their other star running back, Blake Corum.
“Not just Erick, but other guys,” McNamara said. “It just shows how much these dudes care about each other. It upsets ‘em when they’re not able to be out there with their brothers, and I think that just goes to show.
“Erick made a huge play for us. I’m sure he wasn’t thinking about that ankle; I’m sure he was thinking about the team.”
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Michigan TE Erick All plays through injury, trash talk to score winning TD - MLive.com
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