Oct. 18, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 
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Iowa regained possession of the Heartland Trophy with today’s 38-16 triumph over the Badgers. Iowa is also in possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy, another traveling trophy, with its 17-5 win over Iowa State (Sept. 13).
The 38 points are the most by an Iowa team vs. Wisconsin, in a single-game, since a 38-24 win on Nov. 18, 1978 at Iowa City. Iowa has scored 35 points or more in back-to-back league games for the first time since scoring 62 vs. Northwestern (Nov. 9, 2002) and 45 at Minnesota (Nov. 16, 2002).
With today’s victory, Iowa improved to 5-3 on the season and 2-2 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin drops to 3-4 overall and 0-4 league play. Wisconsin has now lost four-straight conference games for the first time since 1996. Today was the 84th meeting between Iowa and Wisconsin. The series is now tied 41-41-2. Iowa has won 22 of the last 30 meetings. The Hawkeyes own a 24-15-1 advantage in contests played at Iowa City.
Iowa has won 36 of its last 44 games (.818) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 campaign.
Starting for the first time this season was LT Andy Kuempel and DE Chad Geary. Kuempel and Geary replaced the injured LT Seth Olsen and DE Adrian Clayborn as starters.
Junior RB Shonn Greene topped 100 yards rushing for the eighth-straight game, rushing 25 times for a personal-high 217 yards. Greene’s 217 yards ties Nick Bell for the sixth-most rushing yards in a single-game in Iowa history. Bell rushed 31 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 14, 1989. Greene’s 217 yards is the most by an Iowa running back since Albert Young totaled 202 yards on 38 carries at Northwestern on Nov. 5, 2005.
RB Shonn Greene is the first Iowa running back to ever run for over 100 yards in eight-straight games. Greene is the first FBS running back to eclipse 100 yards rushing, in a single-game, the first eight games this season. This marks the ninth 100-yard rushing game of his career. His career totals stand at 246 attempts for 1,532 yards. He ranks 19th in career rushing yards at Iowa.
RB Shonn Greene equaled a school-record with four rushing touchdowns today (12, 34, 34 and 52 yards). The last time the feat was accomplished was by RB Tavian Banks vs. Iowa State (Sept. 20, 1997). The four scores are the most by an Iowa player since Ed Hinkel caught four touchdowns in a 52-28 win vs. Minnesota (Nov. 19, 2005). The four touchdowns tie a Kinnick Stadium record, by an Iowa player. Additionally, Greene’s 24 points ties a school record held by eight others. Greene now has 10 rushing touchdowns this season, the sixth-most by an Iowa player in a single-season.
RB Shonn Greene scampered 34 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, his second score of the game. The 34-yard run, which is his third-longest carry of the season, increased his season rushing total over 1,000 yards. Greene becomes the second-fastest Iowa running back to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a single-season. RB Tavian Banks eclipsed 1,000 yards in six games in 1997. In eight games this season, Greene has 177 attempts for 1,154 yards, which ranks eighth-best in a single-season at Iowa. He is the 12th Iowa running back to top 1,000 rushing yards in a single-season.
Greene’s 1,154 yards is the most for an Iowa running back in the first eight games of the season since Tavian Banks gained 1,251 yards in the first eight games of the 1997 season.
Today marked the second-straight game an Iowa running back had at least three rushing touchdowns. Jewel Hampton had scoring runs of one, one and 10 yards last week at Indiana. Greene’s 52-yard run is his longest rush of the season, besting a 35-yard scamper vs. FIU (Sept. 6).
Paki O’Meara blocked a Wisconsin punt in the third quarter, his first block of his career. It was Iowa’s second blocked kick of the season. DE Christian Ballard blocked a Northwestern field goal (Sept. 27). O’Meara’s blocked punt was Iowa’s first since Andy Brodell blocked an Indiana punt on Oct. 15, 2005.
Iowa scored two touchdowns and a field goal on its three red zone possessions today. The Hawkeyes have scored on their last 11 red zone trips (six touchdowns, five field goals), dating back to the Michigan State game (Oct. 4).
RB Shonn Greene scored a 12-yard touchdown on Iowa’s first possession of the game, marking the fourth time in eight contests the Hawkeyes scored on their initial drive. Iowa scored three points on its first possession against Iowa State. Iowa tallied touchdowns vs. Maine, FIU and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin failed to score on its opening possession. All eight Iowa opponents (Maine, FIU, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana and Wisconsin) failed to score on their opening drives this season.
RB Shonn Greene scored his seventh touchdown of the season on Iowa’s first drive. Greene accounted for 40 of Iowa’s 70 yards on the touchdown drive. QB Ricky Stanzi completed both pass attempts for 30 yards on the drive.
TE Allen Reisner caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from QB Ricky Stanzi to push Iowa’s lead to 28-9 in the third period. The scoring reception was the first of Reisner’s career.
In the last seven years, Iowa is 45-7 when leading at the half and 50-6 when leading after three quarters.
Wisconsin won the toss and elected to receive. Today is the first game of the season that Iowa started the game on defense. The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 99 of its last 112 contests, including 7-8 games this season. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 101-of-118 games under Kirk Ferentz.
The Hawkeyes collected three takeaways today. Iowa collected three interceptions, two by LB Pat Angerer and one by DB Lance Tillison. Angerer returned his first interception 14 yards and his team-best fourth pick five yards. He is the first Hawkeye to intercept two passes in a single-game since CB Charles Godfrey had two vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 1, 2008. Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 28 of its last 30 games, dating back to the 2006 season. RB Shonn Greene scored a touchdown from 34 yards after the first interception and PK Trent Mossbrucker converted a 35-yard field goal after the second theft. Iowa has scored 47 points following 16 opponent turnovers in eight games.
Iowa’s offense did not turn the ball over for the second-consecutive game.
Sophomore QB Ricky Stanzi started for the fourth-straight week and the sixth time in eight games. He completed 11-18 attempts for 114 yards and one touchdown. Stanzi has thrown at least one touchdown pass the last four games.
PK Trent Mossbrucker has made at least one field goal in seven of Iowa’s first eight contests. He converted from 35 yards in the fourth period vs. Wisconsin. Mossbrucker has made 10-of-11 field goal attempts, with the only miss being blocked vs. Florida International. The Indiana native added 5-5 PATs against the Badgers.
LB Pat Angerer amassed a career-high 16 tackles, 12 of which came in the first half. He also collected a career-high two interceptions. The 16 stops are the most by an Iowa player this season. Tyler Sash had 12 vs. Iowa State and Jeremiha Hunter had 12 vs. Northwestern.
Senior DL Matt Kroul started his 45th consecutive game today, a streak that ties for first in the Big Ten with Purdue’s OL Sean Sester. Kroul was credited with seven tackles against the Badgers.
DB Lance Tillison collected Iowa’s third interception of the contest, on Iowa’s five-yard line, on the last play of the game. He returned his first career theft 27 yards.
Iowa is idle next Saturday, but returns to action Nov. 1 at Illinois (TBD).