Oct. 31, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 
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The fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes have started the season 9-0 for the first time ever. Also, Iowa boasts a 13-game winning streak for the first time under Head Coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has won 13 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.
Iowa overcame a 14-point second half deficit to beat the Indiana Hoosiers 42-24. Iowa outscored Indiana 28-0 in the fourth period to propel the Hawkeyes to victory. Indiana’s 14 point advantage marked Iowa’s biggest deficit of the season. Iowa trailed by 10 points in wins over Northern Iowa, Penn State and Wisconsin. Iowa has trailed in eight of nine games this season.
Iowa has outscored its opponents 148-54 in the second half in nine games, including 107-41 in the fourth period. The 42 points scored against Indiana is Iowa’s season high (35 at Iowa State). The Hawkeyes scored 28 points in the fourth period against the Hoosiers.
With Indiana leading 21-7 and inside Iowa’s red zone looking for more points in the third quarter, Iowa safety Tyler Sash intercepted a pass on a deflection. It is his team-best sixth interception of the season. He returned the theft 86 yards for an Iowa touchdown, the first of his career. Sash now has 11 career interceptions. He holds Iowa’s record for interception return yards with 350. The 86-yard touchdown is the fifth longest interception return in school history. The longest interception return is 98 yards. His six thefts this season tie as the sixth highest total for a single season.
True freshman Brandon Wegher started for the first time in his career at running back and responded with a career-high three touchdown runs. Wegher rushed 25 times for 118 yards in the game and had one reception for eight yards. He has six touchdowns this season.
QB Ricky Stanzi finished the game 13-26 for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Stanzi was 10-23 for 160 yards with five interceptions and zero touchdowns through three quarters, but was a perfect 3-3 for 177 yards and two scores in the final period.
Iowa posted back-to-back long touchdowns in the fourth quarter to claim the lead: Stanzi’s 92-yarder to Marvin McNutt and 66-yarder to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos.
Iowa WR Marvin McNutt had a 92-yard reception for a touchdown, his second scoring reception in two weeks. McNutt ended the game with four receptions for 155 yards. The 92-yard play is the fourth-longest pass play in school history.
Iowa improves to 40-27-4 in games against Indiana. The Hawkeyes have won 16 of the last 24 contests in the series.
With today’s attendance of 70,585, Iowa has sold out 40 of its last 42 home games.
Iowa’s secondary collected three second-half interceptions, two in the fourth period. SS Tyler Sash returned a pick 86 yards for a score in the third quarter, while DB Shaun Prater and LB A.J. Edds collected thefts in the fourth. LB Pat Angerer finished the game with a game-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and forced a fumble. DL Karl Klug totaled nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss.
There were eight interceptions in the game today: five by Iowa and three by Indiana.
Iowa outgained Indiana 480-306 in total yards, 21-13 in first downs and 143-79 in rushing yards.
Iowa won the toss and deferred, with Indiana electing to receive. Iowa had started on offense in 10 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 has started on offense in 110 of its last 126 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 112-of-132 games under Ferentz.
Iowa games vs. Indiana (10/31/09), 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 13 of the 16 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 also did not score on its opening drives at Iowa State, at Penn State, vs. Michigan, at Wisconsin, at Michigan State and vs. Indiana.
Indiana scored a rushing touchdown on its opening possession. Iowa has allowed just two opponents (Penn State, game four) to score on their opening drive in its last 22 games.
Iowa’s opponents have scored the first points of the game in five games, including all four road games. Iowa State, Wisconsin and Michigan State opened with a field goal, while Penn State and Indiana started with a touchdown. Iowa scored 35 straight points at Iowa State, 21 at Penn State and 20 at Wisconsin.
Iowa was 2-2 in the red zone against Indiana, with two rushing touchdowns. Iowa has scored on 55 of the last 59 red zone possessions (35 TDs and 20 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 36-40 combined inside the red zone its last 12 games. Indiana was four of six, scoring 24 points, inside the red zone (two passing TDs, one rushing TD, one field goal). Iowa opponents are 20-23 in the red zone this season, with nine FGs and 11 touchdowns.
Iowa scored 14 points following two turnovers, returning one of the two interceptions 86 yards for a touchdown. Iowa has at least one turnover in eight of nine games, with no turnovers vs. Michigan State. Iowa entered the Indiana game leading the nation in interceptions (15) and ranking fourth in total turnovers. Iowa has scored 81 points (10 TDs, four FGs) following 25 opponent turnovers (17 interceptions, seven fumbles, one blocked punt).
Iowa has recorded at least one takeaway in 41 of its last 43 games, dating back to the 2006 campaign. Before the win at Michigan State (no turnovers), Iowa had collected at least one turnover in 20 consecutive games, dating back to the final contest of the 2007 season.
Indiana scored 10 points following six Iowa turnovers. Iowa opponents have scored 40 points following 16 Iowa turnovers (12 interceptions, four fumbles). Michigan, Arkansas State and Arizona returned interceptions for touchdowns and Northern Iowa scored field goals following two Iowa fumbles. Penn State scored three points following an interception. Indiana scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble on an Iowa punt return and added a field goal following a third period interception.
WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos surpassed 1,600 career receiving yards. He had three receptions for 117 yards, increasing his career totals to 107 catches for 1,611 yards. He had a 66-yard scoring reception in the fourth period to give Iowa a 28-24 advantage and that is the longest reception of his career. He is tied for 15th in career receptions and ranks 13th in receiving yards.
Two of Indiana’s scoring drives in the first half began on the Iowa side of the field as Indiana drove 35 and 12 yards for touchdowns. Indiana scored its first touchdown of the second half after an interception return to the Iowa four-yard line and the Hoosiers added a field goal after taking over at the Iowa 24. In the first eight games, only three opponent possessions began in Iowa territory.
Instant replay was used twice in the second period and three times in the third. Indiana challenged the spot on a third down play. The call on the field was upheld. An Indiana pass in the end zone was ruled incomplete and out of bounds. The call on the field was upheld. An Indiana pass in the end zone was ruled a touchdown. The call was overturned and the pass ruled incomplete. An Iowa pass in the third period was ruled complete. The call was overturned and the pass ruled incomplete.
Iowa remains home next Saturday, hosting Northwestern (11:02 a.m., ESPN). Iowa plays at Ohio State Nov. 14 and hosts Minnesota on Nov. 21.