Sept. 5, 2009
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Iowa blocked two Northern Iowa field-goal attempts in the final seven seconds of the game to record a 17-16 win over Northern Iowa. Broderick Binns blocked the first attempt from 40 yards and Jeremiha Hunter blocked the second attempt from 41 yards. The two blocked field goals ties the Iowa school record for most blocks in a single-game.
Iowa improves to 14-1 all-time against Northern Iowa. Iowa improves to 88-31-1 in season openers, including a 9-2 mark under Ferentz. Iowa improves to 2-1 in games played on Sept. 5
Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 103 of its last 118 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 105-of-124 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Today’s game was a sellout (70, 585). Iowa has recorded a sell out in 37 of its last 38 games, dating back to the 2003 season.
Iowa scored a field goal (Daniel Murray, 39-yards) on its first possession. Iowa, last season, scored on its first possession in seven of 13 games, including six touchdowns. Iowa has scored points on its first possession in four straight games, dating back to Penn State a year ago.
Northern Iowa did not score on its first possession. Iowa has not allowed the opponent to score on its first drive in 14 consecutive games.
Instant Replay was used once in the third period and twice in the fourth period. The first replay confirmed an Iowa pass reception by senior WR Trey Stross. The second confirmed a six-yard scoring reception by Iowa TE Tony Moeaki and the third confirmed the block was recovered behind the line of scrimmage by Northern Iowa with one second remaining.
Iowa did not score after recovering a UNI fumble on the kickoff to start the second half, as the Hawkeyes fumbled on their second play from scrimmage.
Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 34 of its last 36 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. Last season, Iowa scored 99 points following 32 opponent turnovers. Iowa turned the ball over two times today, with UNI collecting a field goal after turnover. Northern Iowa scored three points (39-yard FG) after recovering an Iowa fumble in the first period. The Panthers added a 34-yard field goal following an Iowa fumble early in the third period.
Seeing their first career action today were redshirt freshmen Greg Castillo, Jeff Brinson, Adam Robinson, Jason White and Jack Swanson and true freshmen Micah Hyde, Brandon Wegher and Keenan Davis.
Starting for the first time in their career today for Iowa were RB Paki O’Meara, OL Adam Gettis and WR Marvin McNutt on offense and DL Karl Klug, DE Broderick Binns and DB Greg Castillo on defense.
Iowa LB Jeff Tarpinian recovered a UNI fumble on the kickoff to start the second half. It is the first recovered fumble for the Hawkeye junior.
Sophomore WR Marvin McNutt made the move to wide receiver after playing quarterback previously. He started his first career game and had five receptions for 48 yards. McNutt previously had one career reception for 11 yards.
Redshirt freshman Adam Robinson scored the first touchdown of his career in the third period on an 11-yard run. Robinson ended the game with a team-high 15 carries for 63 yards.
Junior QB Ricky Stanzi (22-34 for 242 yards and one TD) surpassed 2,000 career passing yards against Northern Iowa. Stanzi entered the game with 1,956 career passing yards. He now ranks 16th in career passing yards (2,198). His 22 completions and 34 attempts are career highs.
Stanzi completed 16-21 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in the second half.
Senior TE Tony Moeaki, a pre-season candidate for the John Mackey Award, had a six-yard scoring reception in the fourth period to give Iowa a 17-13 advantage. Moeaki ended the game with a game and career-high 10 receptions for 83 yards.
Brett Greenwood and Pat Angerer led the Hawkeyes with 12 tackles each. Angerer also was credited with a tackle for loss. The Black and Gold recorded a total of five TFLs, seven pass break-ups and four QB hurries.
After Northern Iowa scored a field goal early in the third period, the Iowa defense forced four-straight UNI possessions of three plays and out before the Panthers converted a third down with just eight minutes remaining.
Iowa scored a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown on its two drives inside the red zone. Iowa has scored on 33 of the last 34 red zone possessions (21 TDs and 12 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is a perfect 14-14 combined inside the red zone its last three games.
Today marked Iowa’s lowest scoring first half since scoring seven points vs. Penn State on Nov. 8, 2008. It is also the first time Iowa did not score a touchdown in the first half since scoring two field goals at Illinois on Nov. 1, 2008.
Junior punter Ryan Donahue had a 56-yard punt in the second period. He has at least one punt over 50 yards in 10 of Iowa’s last 12 games. Nineteen of his punts last season were downed inside the 20. He is on the Ray Guy Watch List this season.
Iowa will play a second straight in-state opponent next week, traveling to Ames to meet Iowa State (11:10 a.m., FSN). Iowa returns home to play Arizona Sept. 19 (2:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN).