Nov. 8, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
With today’s win, Iowa is now 6-4 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten play. The victory makes Iowa bowl eligible for the eighth-straight season, participating in bowl games six of the previous seven years.
Iowa has won six of the last seven meetings against Penn State. The Hawkeyes are now 11-10 all-time against the Nittany Lions, including a 4-7 record in Kinnick Stadium. Today was Penn State’s first visit to Kinnick Stadium since 2003.
Iowa has won 37 of its last 45 games (.822) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 campaign.
Today was Iowa’s first game against a ranked opponent this season. Iowa’s last win over a ranked opponent was a 10-6 triumph over 18th-ranked Illinois (10-13-07). Iowa’s last victory over a top-ten ranked opponent was a 30-7 win over ninth-rated Wisconsin in Kinnick Stadium on Nov. 20, 2004. Iowa’s last win over a top-five rated team was 54-28 win over fifth-ranked Illinois in Champaign on Nov. 3, 1990.Today was Iowa’s first one-point victory since a 21-20 win over Penn State on Oct. 19, 1996 at University Park, PA.
PK Daniel Murray made a 31-yard field goal with one second left to give Iowa the one-point victory (24-23). He is now 2-4 on the season in field goals. The field goal was his first field goal attempt since missing a 35-yard field goal at Pittsburgh (Sept. 20). His last make was a 44-yarder vs. Maine in the season opener. He also missed a 50-yarder into the wind vs. Iowa State.
Today is believed to be the first time Iowa won a game with a field goal in the final minute since the 2001 Alamo Bowl when PK Nate Kaeding made a 47-yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining to give Iowa a 19-16 win.
Today marked Iowa’s 36th consecutive sellout at Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2003 season.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. It marked only the second game this season the Hawkeyes started on defense. Iowa has started on offense in 100 of its last 114 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 102-of-120 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Penn State failed to score on its opening possession. All 10 Iowa opponents (Maine, FIU, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn State) failed to score on their opening drives this season.
Iowa scored on its first possession of the game on a RB Shonn Greene 14-yard touchdown. Iowa has scored on its opening possession in five of 10 games, collecting touchdowns against Maine, FIU, Wisconsin and Penn State and a field goal against Iowa State.
RB Shonn Greene, who ranks third in the country in rushing, accounted for 59 of Iowa’s 70 first-half yards. The junior finished the contest with 117 yards on 28 attempts (4.2 avg.). Greene became only the second running back to top 100 yards against Penn State this season (Michigan’s Brandon Minor). Greene eclipsed 100 yards for the 10th time this season and 11th time in his career. He is the only player in the FBS to top 100 rushing yards in every game this season.
RB Shonn Greene’s season totals improved to 226 carries for 1,374 yards, which ranks third in single-season rushing at Iowa. He entered the game ranked seventh and passed Fred Russell (2002), Dennis Mosley (1979), Albert Young (2005) and Fred Russell (2003) with his 117 yards today. His career totals stand at 295 attempts for 1,752 yards. He ranks 12th in Iowa career rushing yards.
Greene rushed for two touchdowns today (six yards and 14 yards). He now has 13 rushing touchdowns this season, which is the third-most by an Iowa player in a single-season. The record is held by Tavian Banks (1997) with 17 touchdowns, while Sedrick Shaw (1995) ranks second with 15 scores.
LB Pat Angerer amassed 10 first half tackles, marking the second game this season the junior had double-digit stops in the first half (12 vs. Wisconsin). The junior finished with a game-high 12 stops. He has topped double figures in tackles a team-best four times this season (Northwestern – 11, Michigan State – 11, Wisconsin – 16 and Penn State – 12).
P Ryan Donahue, who is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, punted three times for a 44.3 average today, including a long of 55 yards in the fourth period. He has recorded at least on punt over 50 yards seven of the last eight games (64 yards vs. Iowa State, 59 yards at Pittsburgh, 55 yards vs. Northwestern, 56 at Michigan State, 56 at Indiana, 51 at Illinois, 55 vs. Penn State).
PK Trent Mossbrucker made three PATs today to increase his season scoring total to 63 points (24-24 PATs and 13-15 FGs). The 63 points is a new school single-season scoring true freshman record, besting PK Nate Kaeding (2000)’s previous record. The freshman record is held by redshirt freshman Jeff Skillett (1988) with 64 points.
Senior DL Matt Kroul started his 47th consecutive game today, which is the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest among FBS players. He is only one start from equaling the school record of 48 set by OL Bruce Nelson (1999-02). Kroul was credited with five tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss and two QB pressures against the Nittany Lions.
Sophomore QB Ricky Stanzi started for the seventh-straight week and the eighth time in 10 games. He completed 15-25 attempts for 171 yards and one touchdown. Stanzi has thrown at least one touchdown pass the last six games.
WR Trey Stross had a 20-yard catch in the third quarter from QB Ricky Stanzi. The 20-yard reception is the longest of the season for Stross.
Penn State totaled 203 yards on 47 offensive plays, while Iowa totaled only 70 yards on only 15 plays, in the first half. The Nittany Lions maintained possession for 23:34, compared to 6:26 for the Hawkeyes in the first two periods.
Penn State took advantage of two Hawkeye turnovers (one fumble and one interception) today, scoring 10 points.
Iowa collected two turnovers today, an interception and a fumble. DB Tyler Sash returned an interception 14 yards in the fourth quarter, his second of the season. Iowa turned the theft into the game-winning three points. Iowa’s Bruce Davis also recovered a Penn State fumble on the last play of the game. Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 30 of its last 32 games, dating back to the 2006 season.Along with his interception, Sash recorded four solo tackles and four assists for eight stops in the game.
The interception by Sash was Iowa’s 17th of the season and just the third interception thrown by Penn State this season. Iowa entered the game ranked third in the nation in interceptions.
WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from QB Ricky Stanzi in the third period. The score was the second of the season for Johnson-Koulianos (FIU, 59 yards). Additionally, it marked only the fifth touchdown pass Penn State’s defense has allowed this season.
Iowa remains home next Saturday for its final home game of 2008 when it entertains Purdue at 11 a.m. CST (BTN). Iowa closes the regular season Nov. 22 at Minnesota (6 p.m., BTN).