Oct. 18, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 
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Iowa has started 7-0 for the first time under Coach Kirk Ferentz and for the first time since 1985 (7-0). Also, Iowa boasts an 11-game winning streak for the first time under Ferentz. Iowa has won 11 straight games for the first time since winning 20 straight games between Nov. 6, 1920 and Oct. 20, 1923. Iowa had a 9-0-1 unbeaten streak in 1956 &1957. Iowa’s winning streak is the second longest in the nation behind Florida.
With the win, Iowa leads the series against Wisconsin by a 42-41-2 margin. Iowa maintains possession of the Heartland Trophy and holds a 4-2 advantage in the series since the two teams began playing for the Heartland Trophy in 2004.
Dating back to 2008, Iowa has won its last five games away from Iowa City, including wins at Minnesota, Iowa State, Penn State, Wisconsin and over South Carolina in the 2009 Outback Bowl Iowa has allowed just 33 points in those five games.
With the win at Wisconsin, Iowa is assured a winning road record, with wins at Iowa State and Penn State as well. Iowa has road games remaining at Michigan State and Ohio State.
Iowa won toss and elected to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 109 of its last 124 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 111-of-130 games under Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has started on offense in nine straight games. Iowa deferred after winning the toss last year in a win over Purdue and the Boilermakers elected to receive on a very windy day in Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa games vs. Purdue (11/15/08), Penn State (11/08/08), Wisconsin (10/10/08), Minnesota (11/10/07), at Northwestern (11/3/07), vs. Michigan State (10/27/07), at Penn State (10/6/07), vs. Iowa State (9/16/06), vs. Minnesota (11/19/05), vs. Michigan (10/22/05), at Purdue (10/8/05), at Minnesota (11/13/04), vs. Purdue (11/6/04), at Miami, OH (9/7/02) and at Michigan State (9/27/03) are the only contests that the Hawkeyes didn’t start on offense. Iowa won 12 of those 15 games.
Iowa did not score on its first possession of the game. 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 drives at Iowa State, at Penn State and vs. Michigan.
Wisconsin did not score on its opening possession. Iowa has allowed just one opponent (Penn State, game four) to score on its opening drive in its last 20 games. The Badgers became the third Iowa opponent to score the first points of the game.
Iowa had just one change in its starting line-up, with WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos starting for the first time this season. DJK led Iowa’s receivers, tying a career-high with eight catches (113 yards). DJK’s career-high of eight receptions came in a 2007 win at Northwestern. He had seven catches against Penn State last year.
With eight catches against Wisconsin, DJK went over the 100-career catch mark. He now ranks 19th in career receiving at Iowa, with 101 catches for 1,435 yards.
Iowa was 2-3 in the red zone against Wisconsin. Iowa has scored on 47 of the last 52 red zone possessions (31 TDs and 16 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 30-34 combined inside the red zone its last 10 games.Wisconsin scored 10 points on two drives inside the Iowa red zone, collecting a field goal and a rushing touchdown. Iowa opponents are 14-15 in the red zone this season, with six FGs and eight touchdowns. Wisconsin did not reach the Iowa red zone in the second half.
Iowa scored seven points following one of its three interceptions. Iowa, in seven games, has scored 67 points (eight TDs, four FGs) following 23 opponent turnovers (15 interceptions, seven fumbles, one blocked punt). Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 40 of its last 42 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. Iowa has collected at least one turnover in 20 consecutive games, dating back to the final contest of the 2007 season.
Iowa’s defense has collected four or more takeaways in three games this season (four at Penn State, five vs. Michigan and six at Iowa State). For the season, Iowa has amassed 23 takeaways (plus one blocked punt). The Hawkeyes ranked second in the nation (one behind Air Force) in takeaways through six games.
Wisconsin failed to score following Iowa’s third quarter fumble, missing a 38-yard field goal. Iowa opponents have scored 30 points following 11 Iowa turnovers (eight interceptions, three fumbles). Michigan, Arkansas State and Arizona returned interceptions for touchdowns, Northern Iowa scored field goals following two Iowa fumbles and Penn State scored three points following an interception.
Iowa PK Daniel Murray had a 27-yard field goal in the second period and added a career-best 48-yard kick in the fourth quarter. He made three field goals in four attempts, both career-bests, last week vs. Michigan. He made 2-3 field goals in a win at Penn State earlier this season. His previous career best was 47 yards, that at Wisconsin in 2007. Murray has made 11-15 field goal attempts this season.
TE Tony Moeaki had a 24-yard touchdown reception in the third period, his third in two weeks and fourth of the season. He had three catches for 55 yards against Wisconsin.
Against Michigan, Moeaki had six catches for 105 yards, including scoring receptions of 34 and 42 yards. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Moeaki had 10 receptions for 83 yards and one score vs. Northern Iowa. He did not play in three games due to injury. Moeaki had a career-best three touchdown receptions in a 2007 win over Syracuse. He also had a career-high 112 receiving yards vs. Syracuse.
Junior QB Ricky Stanzi completed 17-23 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown to TE Tony Moeaki. Stanzi threw a career-best four touchdown passes earlier this season in a win at Iowa State. Stanzi ranks eighth in career passing yards (3,533) after passing Brad Banks against Michigan. His 26 career touchdown passes rank seventh best at Iowa.
Junior DB Amari Spievey had two pass interceptions, his first and second of the season. OLB A.J. Edds added an interception in the fourth quarter, his second of the year. Spievey had four thefts for 127 yards a year ago. Edds, a senior, now has five career interceptions.
Iowa’s opponents have scored the first points of the game in all three Iowa road games this season. Iowa State opened with a field goal and Penn State with a touchdown. Iowa won 35-3 at Iowa State and 21-10 at Penn State.
Iowa outscored Wisconsin 17-0 in the second half and scored the final 20 points of the game. Iowa has outscored its opponents 101-41 in the second half in seven games. The 20 points at Wisconsin is the lowest total for Iowa this season (21 at Penn State).
Instant replay was not used today.
Iowa handed Wisconsin its first home loss under Coach Bret Bielema when the game started 11 a.m. (15-1).
Iowa is on the road again next weekend, traveling to Michigan State (6 p.m., BTN).