Iowa 31, South Carolina 10

Jan. 1, 2009

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Iowa recorded a 31-10 triumph over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl. Iowa, a team that ranks third in the Big Ten with 23 bowl appearances, competed in its seventh bowl game in eight years today, five of which have been January bowl games. Iowa (.543, 12-10-1), Penn State (.675, 26-12-2) and Purdue (.533, 8-7) are the only Big Ten teams with a winning percentage in bowl games.

Iowa RB Shonn Greene was named the 2009 Outback Bowl Most Valuable Player. Greene finished with 121 yards and three touchdowns on 29 rushing attempts. Greene announced after the game that he is forgoing his senior year and entering the NFL Draft.

Iowa is now 2-1 all-time in the Outback Bowl; the Big Ten Conference is now 9-11 in the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes have played in the Outback Bowl three of the last six years. Coach Kirk Ferentz improves to 4-3 in bowl games at Iowa.

Iowa finished the season winning six of its last seven games, while South Carolina lost its last three. Today was the first-ever meeting between Iowa and South Carolina. The Gamecocks are now 3-6 all-time against Big Ten competition.

Iowa recorded its first nine-win season since recording 10 in 2004. The Hawkeyes have won nine or more games 12 times, including five times under Coach Ferentz.

SS Tyler Sash collected two interceptions today, which ties an Iowa bowl record. Devon Mitchell had two in the 1983 Gator Bowl vs. Florida and Tork Hook had two in the 1988 Peach Bowl vs. NC State. Also, Sash’s two interceptions ties an Outback Bowl record held by five other players. Sash returned his first pick 29 yards and his second 45 yards.

SS Tyler Sash’s 45-yard return is his second-longest of the season (58-yard return at Minnesota) and is an Iowa bowl record. The previous Iowa bowl record was 33 yards by Anthony Wright against Wyoming in the 1987 Holiday Bowl.

LB A.J. Edds collected a career-high two fumble recoveries today – – the second and third of his career.

Iowa’s defense forced five South Carolina turnovers today (3 interceptions, 2 fumbles). The three interceptions ties an Iowa bowl record. Iowa had three against Texas Tech in the 2001 Alamo Bowl. Iowa’s two fumble recoveries ties for the fourth-most in an Iowa bowl game. Iowa’s bowl record for most fumble recoveries is five vs. NC State in the 1988 Peach Bowl. South Carolina entered today’s game ranked 118th out of 119th FBS teams in passes intercepted.

Iowa scored 86-straight points, dating back to Iowa’s regular season finale at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes won 55-0 at Minnesota and scored the first 31 points of the Outback Bowl. Iowa held its last two opponents scoreless for seven quarters.

Shonn Greene, who set an Iowa single-season rushing record this season, finished the game with 121 yards on 29 carries and three touchdowns. The 29 rushing attempts, three rushing touchdowns and 18 points are new Iowa bowl records. Eleven Hawkeyes previously scored two touchdowns in a bowl game. PK Nate Kaeding (twice) and PK Tom Nichol each held the Iowa bowl scoring record of 13 points. RB Aaron Greving previously held the rushing attempts record of 25 attempts in the 2001 Alamo Bowl. Greene’s 121 yards are the second-most by an Iowa player in an Outback Bowl (150 yards by Fred Russell in 2004).

Greene finished the season with 1,850 yards, a total that ranks seventh-best in Big Ten single-season annals. Greene, this season’s Doak Walker Award winner and Big Ten MVP, rushed for an Iowa bowl record three touchdowns. He finished the campaign with 20 scores, which is the 12th-most in Big Ten single-season history. The 120 points scored this season ties a school single-season scoring record (120 by PK Nate Kaeding in 2002). The 120 points are the most by a skill-position player in a single-season at Iowa, besting Tavian Banks’ 114 points in 1997. Greene collected multiple rushing touchdowns five of the last six contests this season.

Greene, Iowa’s second-ever consensus all-American running back, is the only FBS running back to rush for over 100 yards in all 13 games this season.

Iowa’s rushing defense allowed only 43 rushing yards on 14 attempts today. The Hawkeye rushing defense yielded only 1,222 yards (94.0 per game) this season, which is the fifth-fewest rushing average in a single-season in school history. Iowa’s defense allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season – – Maine’s Jhamal Fluellen (104 yards on 21 attempts) in the season opener.

Iowa’s defense allowed only 10 points today and 169 in 13 games. Iowa’s scoring defense of 13.0 per game ties the 1981 season for ninth-best scoring defensive average in school single-season history. Iowa’s rushing defense did not allow a rushing score today. For the season, the Hawkeyes allowed only seven rushing TDs this season, which ties for the fewest in a single-season (1981 and 1984).

Iowa intercepted three passes today to give them a total of 23 for the season. The Hawkeyes entered the bowl season tied with Boise State for sixth in the country in thefts. The 23 thefts equals a school single-season record, previously established in 1986. For the season, the Hawkeye defense recorded 32 turnovers (23 interceptions, 9 fumble recoveries).

Today’s game featured six first-half turnovers. Iowa collected four (three interceptions, one fumble), while South Carolina had two (two interceptions).

Iowa scored a touchdown on its first possession on a six-yard scoring strike from QB Ricky Stanzi to WR Trey Stross. The Hawkeyes have scored in seven of 13 games, collecting TDs against Maine, FIU, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina and a field goal vs. Iowa State.

South Carolina failed to score on its opening possession. SS Tyler Sash intercepted his first pass of the game and returned the theft 29 yards, his third-longest return of the season. All 13 Hawkeye opponents failed to score on their opening drives.

Iowa’s opening touchdown drive covered 64 yards in 13 plays in 7:21. The drive of 7:21 is Iowa’s longest scoring drive, in terms of time of possessions, this season besting a 6:56 drive that covered 91 yards in 12 plays at Minnesota.

Iowa was a perfect 3-3 on third down conversions on its opening touchdown drive. QB Ricky Stanzi connected with TE Brandon Myers on all three third-down conversions (10, 11 and 17 yards).

QB Ricky Stanzi completed 13-19 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown today. He finished the season completing 150-254 passes for 1,956 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 14 touchdown throws ties for the 16th-most in a single-season at Iowa.

Iowa converted the early South Carolina turnover into seven points. RB Shonn Greene scored a one-yard touchdown to give Iowa a 14-0 advantage. The rushing score was Greene’s 18th of the season, which bested Tavian Banks’ previous mark of 17 set in 1997. He later scored his 19th and 20th rushing touchdowns in the second and third quarters, respectively.

LB A.J. Edds recovered his first fumble of the season and second of his career on South Carolina’s second drive. He also recovered a fumble vs. Michigan State last year (Oct. 27, 2007).

South Carolina won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Iowa has started on offense in 102 of its last 117 contests, including 10-13 contests this season. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 104-of-123 games under Kirk Ferentz.

Iowa collected two interceptions and a fumble on South Carolina’s first three possessions. Today marked the sixth time this season Iowa collected at least three turnovers in a game. The five turnovers Iowa’s defense collected were a season best, besting three turnovers collected in five other games this season. DB Bradley Fletcher picked-off his third pass of the season (Maine and Illinois) in the end zone early in the second period. The interception was the fifth of his career; he had two last season.

Iowa’s tight ends caught six passes for 81 yards in the first half. TE Brandon Myers had three catches for 43 yards, while TE Tony Moeaki had three receptions for 38 yards. Iowa’s wide receivers had two catches for 24 yards in the first half.

FB Wade Leppert started his fourth game of the season. Today was his first start in seven games. His last start was at Michigan State (Oct. 4).

TE Tony Moeaki caught a 39-yard pass in the second quarter, his longest reception of the season. The 39-yard reception is the longest by an Iowa tight end this season. TE Allen Reisner caught a 37-yard pass in Iowa’s win over Iowa State. Also, the 39-yard catch is Moeaki’s second-longest of his career; he had a 52-yard touchdown reception vs. Syracuse last season.

Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 33 of its last 35 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. The Black and Gold scored 17 points following five South Carolina miscues today. For the season, Iowa scored 99 points following 32 opponent turnovers. Iowa turned the ball over two times today, but kept South Carolina off the scoreboard. Hawkeye opponents scored 46 points after 22 turnovers this season.

DT Matt Kroul, DT Mitch King, OL Rob Bruggeman, RB Shonn Greene and LB Gavin McGrath were today’s game captains. Kroul, King and Bruggeman served as captains in all 13 games this season.

DT Matt Kroul started his 50th-consecutive game today, a school record. Kroul’s streak is the longest active in the Big Ten and third-longest by an FBS player this season. The senior finished the game with four tackles today and 238 for the season. His 238 tackles rank 32nd-best in a career at Iowa.

Iowa improved to 48-7 when leading at the half and 53-6 when leading after three quarters the last seven seasons.

The Hawkeyes have scored on 31 of the last 32 red zone possessions (19 TDs and 12 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game. Iowa was a perfect 5-5 inside the red zone today. Iowa is a perfect 12-12 combined inside the red zone its last two games.

LB Pat Angerer registered a team-high six tackles today. Iowa had five players register four tackles: LB Jeremiha Hunter, DB Bradley Fletcher, LB Jeff Tarpinian, DT Matt Kroul and SS Tyler Sash. Fletcher also had a forced fumble and an interception, while Angerer had Iowa’s only QB-sack.

Iowa punted only twice today, allowing only one return for five yards. For the season, the Hawkeyes allowed only 12 returns for 60 yards.

Instant Replay was used four times by today’s Big East officiating crew. The first replay confirmed an Iowa fumble recovery in the first period. The second replay reversed the call on the field, moving an Iowa interception that was ruled down on the one-yard line to a touchback. The third replay reversed an Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi scoring run to being down on the one-yard line. The fourth replay reversed a RB Jewel Hampton fumble on the one-yard line to being down on the one-yard line.

Iowa Bowl Records Set TodayRushing Attempts		29	Shonn GreeneRushing Touchdowns		3	Shonn GreenePoints 			18	Shonn GreeneLongest Int. Return	48	Tyler SashInterception Yards		74	Tyler SashInterceptions		2	Tyler Sash*#Team Interceptions		3	Iowa*

*- – Tied an Iowa bowl record#- – Tied an Outback bowl record

Updated Iowa Record Books After Today’s Game
*Iowa’s rushing defense of 93.9 ranks fifth-best in a single-season
*Iowa’s rushing defense allowed only seven rushing TDs, which ties for the fewest in a single-season (1981 and 1984)
*Iowa’s scoring defense of 13.0 ties for ninth-best in a single-season (1981)
*Shonn Greene’s 20 rushing scores are the most in a single-season
*Shonn Greene’s 120 points ties PK Nate Kaeding (2002) for the most points in a single-season
*Shonn Greene’s 120 points are the most by a skill-position player in a single-season
*Ricky Stanzi’s 1,956 passing yards rank 19th-best in a single-season

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