Nov. 15, 2008
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
| Photo Gallery #2
With today’s win, Iowa is now 7-4 on the season and 4-3 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have now won back-to-back games decided by five points or less. Iowa has won 38 of its last 46 games (.826) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 campaign.
Iowa has now won the last six meetings against Purdue in Iowa City. Iowa now owns a 20-18-2 advantage in games played vs. Purdue in Iowa City. Overall, the Hawkeyes have won 16 of the last 22 games against the Boilermakers.
Today was the final home game for 16 Iowa seniors: OL Wesley Aeschliman, DL Tyler Blum, WR Andy Brodell, OL Rob Bruggeman, DB Bradley Fletcher, DB Drew Gardner, DT Mitch King, DT Matt Kroul, LB Gavin McGrath, FB Jordan McLaughlin, TE Brandon Myers, DL Anton Narinskiy, FB Jared Oberland, OL Seth Olsen, OL Austin Postler and TE Michael Sabers.
Senior DL Matt Kroul started his 48th consecutive game today, which is the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest among FBS players. The 48-straight starts ties OL Bruce Nelson’s school record (1999-02). Kroul was credited with two tackles today against the Boilermakers.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer. It marked the second-straight game, and third time this season, the Hawkeyes started on defense. Iowa has started on offense in 100 of its last 115 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 102-of-121 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Purdue failed to score on its opening possession. All 11 Iowa opponents (Maine, FIU, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Penn State and Purdue) failed to score on their opening drives this season.
Iowa scored on its first possession of the game on a RB Jewel Hampton 22-yard touchdown. The 22-yard run equals Hampton’s longest rush of the season, a 22-yard scoring run vs. Maine in the season opener. Iowa has scored on its opening possession in six of 11 games, collecting touchdowns against Maine, FIU, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue and a field goal against Iowa State.
Iowa drove 68 yards in eight plays on its opening touchdown drive. The Hawkeyes ran the ball every play; RB Shonn Greene had 43 yards (six attempts), while RB Jewel Hampton totaled 25 yards (two carries). The Hawkeyes also had a three-play, 36-yard touchdown drive in the third period, with all three plays runs by Greene.
RB Shonn Greene ran for a career-long 75-yard touchdown run in the second period, his 14th score of the year. The 75-yard run is the 19th-longest rush in school history. The 75-yard rush is the longest by an Iowa player since RB Damian Sims scampered 71 yards vs. Minnesota on Nov. 19, 2005.
Greene topped 100 rushing yards for the 11th contest this season and 12th time in his career. The junior went over 100 rushing yards in the second quarter today. He is the only running back in the country to eclipse 100 rushing yards in every game this season. Greene’s 75-yard run moved him past Sedrick Shaw and into second place on Iowa’s single-season rushing chart. He finished today’s contest with 211 yards on 30 carries (7.0 avg.). Today marks the 12th time an Iowa running back eclipsed 200 yards rushing in a single-game. The 211 yards rank as the ninth-best in a single-game at Iowa.
Greene is only the third Iowa running back to rush for over 200 yards in a game twice in one season (217 vs. Wisconsin). Tavian Banks rushed 29 times for 314 yards and four TDs vs. Tulsa (9-13-97) and 18 carries for 202 yards and two scores vs. Northern Iowa (9-6-97). Sedrick Shaw had 42 attempts for 250 yards and one TD vs. Michigan State (10-7-95) and 214 yards and three scores on 41 carries vs. Wisconsin (11-18-95).
Greene, who ranks third nationally in rushing, has amassed 1,585 yards on 256 carries this season. Greene is only 106 yards from matching Tavian Banks’ single-season school record of 1,691 yards, which he set in 1997. Greene’s career totals stand at 325 attempts for 1,963 yards. He now ranks 11th in Iowa career rushing yards.
Greene also rushed for a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give Iowa a 22-10 cushion. The score was his 15th of the season, which ties Sedrick Shaw (1995) for second-place. Tavian Banks is Iowa’s single-season leader with 17, which he set in 1997. Greene has rushed for multiple touchdowns in three of the last four contests.
Iowa rushed for three touchdowns today, marking the fourth game this season it collected three rushing scores or more (Maine – 4, Indiana – 4 and Wisconsin – 4).
Iowa’s defense held another Big Ten top running back under 100 yards. Purdue RB Kory Sheets rushed for only 53 yards on 16 attempts (3.3 avg.). The Hawkeyes have allowed only one 100-yard rusher in 11 games this season (Maine’s Jhamal Fluellen rushed for 104 yards on 21 carries in the season opener).
RB Jewel Hampton had a season-long 52-yard kickoff return late in the fourth quarter. His previous long was a 40-yard return at Michigan State. Hampton finished today’s game with two returns for 76 yards.
Iowa collected two turnovers today, a fumble in the third quarter and an interception in the fourth period. The interception is Iowa’s 18th of the year. Iowa entered today’s contest ranked third in the country in passes intercepted. The Hawkeyes have recorded at least one takeaway in 31 of their last 33 games, dating back to the 2006 season.
PK Daniel Murray converted a season-long 45-yard field goal in the third period to extend Iowa’s lead to 15-10. His career-long is a 47-yarder at Wisconsin last season. Murray is 3-5 on field goals this season, including making the game-winner from 31 yards last week against No. 3 Penn State.
LB Pat Angerer intercepted his team-leading fifth pass on Iowa’s five-yard line to silence a Purdue scoring threat in the fourth quarter. Angerer also collected nine tackles today to increase his team-leading season total to 92.
FS Brett Greenwood collected a career-high 14 tackles (6 solo). DT Mitch King, who started his 43rd-straight contest, collected five tackles, including three for loss, and a QB sack.
WR Andy Brodell had four receptions for a team-high 42 yards. He now has 90 career receptions for 1,338 yards.
In the last seven years, Iowa is 46-7 when leading at the half and 51-6 when leading after three quarters.
Today’s attendance was 67,676 at Kinnick Stadium, snapping a 36-consecutive sellout streak that dated back to the 2003 season.
PK Trent Mossbrucker missed two PAT attempts in the first half. The two misses are the first missed PAT attempts by an Iowa place kicker this season. Iowa had made the previous 33 PAT kick attempts this season.
One play was reviewed by Instant Replay today. A WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos fumble was upheld by replay.
Iowa closes the regular season next Saturday at Minnesota (6 p.m., BTN).