Sept. 12, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2 | Photo Gallery 3
Iowa improves to 38-19 all-time against Iowa State, including wins in five of the last seven years. Iowa had lost two straight in Ames since a win in 2003. Iowa has opened the season with consecutive wins for the fourth straight season. Today’s 35-3 win is Iowa’s is Iowa’s largest triumph over the Cyclones since a 63-20 win at Iowa State in 1997.
Iowa takes a 3-2 lead in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk series. Iowa has won the Cy-Hawk series three of the five years the series has been contested. Iowa improves to 4-1 on Sept. 12, with two of the wins over Iowa State.
Iowa State won the toss and elected to defer, with Iowa electing to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 104 of its last 119 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 106-of-125 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa did not score on its opening possession vs. Iowa State after opening the Northern Iowa game in week one with a field goal drive. Iowa, last season, scored on its first possession in seven of 13 games, including six touchdowns. Iowa had scored points on its first possession in four straight games, dating back to Penn State a year ago.
Iowa State did not score on its first possession. Iowa has not allowed the opponent to score on its first drive in 15 consecutive games.
Iowa State had not scored a touchdown against Iowa since the second period of Iowa’s win in Iowa City in 2008, a string of 14 consecutive quarters. The Cyclones won on five field goals in 2007 (15-13) and Iowa allowed just one field goal and a safety last season (17-5).
Three Iowa players started for the first time in their career. Those players were redshirt freshman Riley Reiff at left tackle, sophomore William Lowe at cornerback and redshirt freshman Adam Robinson at running back. Reiff started in place of Bryan Bulaga, Lowe replaced Greg Castillo and Robinson started in place of Paki O’Meara.
Sophomore DB Tyler Sash had his first interception of the season on ISU’s first possession, adding a 21-yard return. Sash had his second theft of the game in the second period, adding a 31-yard return to set up Iowa’s second touchdown. He tied the Iowa single-game record with his third theft in the fourth period. Sash tied the record held by LB Grant Steen in a win at Indiana on Oct. 19, 2002. In addition to his school-record-tying three thefts, Sash finished with a team-high 10 tackles (8 solo), including two for loss and a forced fumble.
Sash tied for the team lead last season with five interceptions and totaled 147 return yards. He also had two interceptions in Iowa’s win over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl. The first interception of his career came last season in Iowa’s 17-5 win over Iowa State. Sash has collected six interceptions in Iowa’s last four games (Minnesota – – 1; South Carolina – – 2; UNI – – 0; ISU – – 3).
Junior DB Brett Greenwood had Iowa’s third interception of the half in the closing minutes of the second period. Greenwood had two interceptions in each of his first two seasons and he added a second theft in the third quarter vs. ISU.
The three interceptions by Iowa in the first half matched Iowa’s best of last season and the Hawkeyes added a fourth in the third period and a fifth in the fourth quarter. In 2008, Iowa had three interceptions in wins over Iowa State, Wisconsin and South Carolina. The five interceptions are the most for Iowa since also collecting five in a 59-0 win over Illinois in 1985.
Iowa also had a fumble recovery early in the third period against ISU. The six turnovers are the most for Iowa since collecting six (four interceptions, two fumbles) in a 2006 win at Illinois.
Iowa had pass completions to seven different receivers in the first half, matching the number of receivers in the first game of the season. True freshmen Brandon Wegher and Kennan Davis both had the first receptions of their careers, respectively. TE Allen Reisner, WR Colin Sandeman and WR Paul Chaney, Jr. increased that total to 10 receivers with receptions in the second half.
Both Iowa and Iowa State failed to score in the first period following a pass interception. Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 35 of its last 37 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. On the day, Iowa scored 28 points following six ISU turnovers. Iowa did not score in game one after collecting one Northern Iowa turnover. Last season, Iowa scored 99 points following 32 opponent turnovers.
Iowa turned the ball over twice in the game, with Iowa State failing to score after each of the interceptions. Northern Iowa scored six points following two Iowa fumbles in the opening game.
Iowa’s first period touchdown reception by FB Brett Morse (one yard from QB Ricky Stanzi) marked the first score of his career. Morse had five receptions a year ago and one in Iowa’s opening win. Iowa’s scoring drive was set by by the recovery of an onside kick by LB Bruce Davis. ISU attempted the onside kick after its first period field goal. Davis also recovered a fumbled kickoff last season on the last play of Iowa’s win over Penn State.
True freshman Brandon Wegher scored the first touchdown of his career in the third period on a one-yard run. Wegher ended the game with 15 carries for 101 yards and had two pass receptions for 17 yards. Iowa has had a true freshman rush for over 100 yards for the second straight season. Jewel Hampton had 114 yards at Indiana last season.
Junior TE Allen Reisner scored his first career touchdown in the third period on a seven yard reception and true freshman Keenan Davis added his first career touchdown in the fourth period.
Jerermiha Hunter recovered an ISU fumble early in the third period, the second of his career. Hunter had a fumble recovery in Iowa’s win at Indiana last season.
Junior QB Ricky Stanzi had a career-high four touchdown passes today. He had three scoring strikes in 2008 in wins over Florida International and Minnesota. On the day he completed 18-34 for 197 yards. He now ranks 14th in career passing yards (2,395) after passing Nathan Chandler and Ed Podolak vs. Iowa State. His 34 attempts match his career high (vs. Northern Iowa).
Iowa scored four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown while scoring on five of six drives inside the red zone. Iowa did not score after reaching the red zone in the closing minutes. Iowa has scored on 38 of the last 40 red zone possessions (26 TDs and 12 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 19-20 combined inside the red zone its last four games. Iowa State did not reach the red zone in the contest.
Junior punter Ryan Donahue had a 57-yard punt in the second period. He has at least one punt over 50 yards in 11 of Iowa’s last 13 games. He is on the Ray Guy Watch List this season.
Instant Replay was used once in the first period and once in the third period. The first replay confirmed Iowa RB Adam Robinson was out of bounds at the one yard line. The second replay featured a reversal, as Iowa RB Brandon Wegher was ruled to be down inside the one-yard line before scoring. Wegher scored on the following play.
LE Broderick Binns collected a career-high nine tackles.
Iowa returns home to play Arizona next Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN) before beginning Big Ten play at Penn State on Sept. 26 (7 p.m., ABC/ESPN).