Sept. 27, 2009
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Iowa has opened Big Ten play on the road in nine of 11 seasons under Coach Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa outscored Penn State 16-0 in the second half en route to victory.
Iowa extended its winning streak to eight games, dating back to last season. Also, Iowa has now won eight of its last 10 against Penn State, including five of the last six at University Park, PA.
Tonight’s game was a sellout (109,316). The attendance marks the fourth-largest crowd to see an Iowa football game. The largest three crowds for Iowa football, all over 110,000, were at Michigan Stadium.
Penn State won the toss and elected to defer, with Iowa electing to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 106 of its last 121 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 108-of-127 games under Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa did not score a touchdown on its opening possession vs. Penn State. Iowa scored a touchdown on its opening drive vs. Arizona and a field goal on its opening drive vs. Northern Iowa. Iowa did not score on its opening drive at Iowa State.
Penn State, with a 79-yard passing touchdown on its first offensive play of the game, became the first Iowa opponent in 17 games to score on its first possession. The 79-yard pass is the second longest play against Iowa this season, as Northern Iowa had a 50-yard pass play in the opening game. The score is also the longest touchdown allowed, since Illinois scored on a 50-yard pass play last Nov. 1 at Illinois.
Brandon Wegher had a 28-yard run on his first carry, longest run of his career. Wegher had the first KO return (25 yards) of his career late in the first period.
Both of Penn State’s interceptions were deflected off an Iowa receiver’s foot. The first turnover resulted in three Penn State points. The second theft came after a pass was tipped by a PSU defender, but PSU did not score.Iowa opponents have scored 16 points following seven Iowa turnovers (five interceptions, two fumbles). Northern Iowa scored field goals following two Iowa fumbles in week one. Iowa State did not score following two interceptions in game two.
Iowa has not allowed a defensive rushing touchdown in 29 quarters, dating to last season. Additionally, Adam Robinson’s rushing score in the fourth quarter was the first rushing touchdown Penn State has yielded this season.
Instant Replay was used once in the second period and once in the third. A Penn State pass was ruled incomplete, and the call on the field was upheld in the first period. Later, the call on the field of a PSU interception was also upheld.
Junior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos returned to action after missing last week. Junior OL Bryan Bulaga missed his third straight game and senior TE Tony Moeaki missed his second straight game. DJK extended his streak of 10 straight catches against PSU resulting in a first down.
Iowa started the exact same line-up (both offense and defense) for the second straight week, marking the first time this season all 22 starters have been the same in consecutive weeks.
Iowa’s first points of the game came on a safety, due to a fumble caused by DE Broderick Binns on a hit to QB Darryll Clark. The safety is the first for Iowa since OLB A.J. Edds tackled the Maine quarterback in the end zone of the opening game of the 2008 season in Iowa City.
Iowa scored its fourth period touchdown on a 53-yard blocked punt return by junior DE Adrian Clayborn. The touchdown on the blocked punt is the first for Iowa since Sean Considine had a seven-yard return for a score in Iowa’s win over LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl.
The blocked punt by Adrian Clayborn is Iowa’s first of the season. Clayborn had a blocked field goal as a freshman in 2007 in a win at Northwestern. The touchdown is the first of his career.
Karl Klug had six tackles, including two for loss. He also recovered a fumble in the fourth period and later tipped a pass on third down that was intercepted by A.J. Edds.
Senior LB Pat Angerer had his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter (38-yard return), leading to Iowa’s second touchdown of the period. Angerer tied for the team lead last season with five interceptions for 34 yards. Later against the Nittany Lions, he forced a fumble that was recovered by DT Karl Klug. Angerer finished with a game-high 14 tackles.
Iowa’s tailback tandem of Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher were effective, combining to rush 33 times for 161 yards. Robinson, a redshirt freshman, rushed 19 times for 88 yards and a score, while Wegher had 14 carries for 73 yards. Robinson also had three receptions for 46 yards, while Wegher had a 25-yard KO return.
Including the blocked punt, Iowa forced turnovers on four consecutive Penn State possessions in the fourth period. That included interceptions by Pat Angerer, Shaun Prater and AJ Edds and a fumble recovery by Karl Klug.
Penn State scored three points off two Iowa interceptions, while the Hawkeyes converted four second-half Penn State miscues into 10 points. The visitors also scored a touchdown on a 53-yard blocked punt return by Adrian Clayborn. Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 38 of its last 40 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign.
Iowa was 2-2 in the red zone tonight, while Penn State converted a field goal on its only red zone possession.
Junior PK Daniel Murray connected on a 41-yard field goal in the second period and a 31-yarder in the fourth quarter. Murray made two field goals in a game for the fifth time in his career and the first time since Iowa’s win at Minnesota last season. Murray is 4-6 on field goals this season after making one of two in the win over Northern Iowa and missing a 42-yard attempt at the end of the second period vs. Penn State. He was also 3-3 on PATs against Arizona to remain perfect on the season.
Junior QB Ricky Stanzi completed 11-26 for 135 yards. Both of his interceptions against Penn State came off deflections.
Iowa plays its final non-conference game next week, hosting Arkansas State (11 a.m., ESPN Classic or ESPN2). The Hawkeyes return to Big Ten play Oct. 10, hosting Michigan (7:12 p.m., ABC/ESPN).