Hawkeyes say Cy-onara to Iowa State, 35-7

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Sept. 11, 2010

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Long before shadows reached the Iowa State bench on the east side of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, host University of Iowa turned the lights out on its rival in an authoritative way, 35-7.

The 58th football meeting between Iowa and the Cyclones was essentially decided seven minutes in when UI receiver Marvin McNutt lunged into the end zone with a 9-yard scoring reception.

While No. 9 Iowa flexed and moved to 2-0 on the season, Iowa State (1-1) sputtered to 17 consecutive quarters without a touchdown in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series before posting an inconsequential score with less than two minutes remaining. Iowa has won the last three meetings against the Cyclones.

“We’re thrilled to death with the way things went,” UI head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “I didn’t see this coming at all. It was good to see that execution — that was as crisp as we’ve executed in some time.”

Iowa controlled 35:38 of game clock and rolled to 479 yards (275 in the air and 204 on the ground) and limited the Cyclones to 179 yards through three quarters. Iowa State gained 96 yards during the final 15 minutes.

It marks the 10th straight time the Hawkeyes have won with a trophy on the line (three Cy-Hawk, three Floyd of Rosedale, two Heartland, one Outback Bowl and one FedEx Orange Bow).

University of Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was composed and proficient, completing 11 of 18 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He added a scoring sneak.

“We want to start fast and we want to control that intensity throughout the game,” Stanzi said. “Credit goes to the great concentration from the young guys up front. They did a great job blocking and controlling the tempo.”

The battle of the running Robinsons went to Iowa’s Adam — to the tune of 156 yards on 14 carries with a long of 75. Alexander Robinson of Iowa State was held to 48 yards on 11 tries.

Iowa State00077 Iowa Statistical Leaders Passing: Ricky Stanzi 11 of 18, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns
Rushing: Adam Robinson 14 carries, 158 yards, 1 touchdown Receiving: Derrell Johnson-Koulianos 5 catches, 65 yards Tackles: Jeff Tarpinian 11 total tackles

Iowa showed that the best way to neutralize a pregame 17-mile-per hour wind in the first quarter is by dominating the line of scrimmage and holding the ball for more than 13 ½ minutes.

With the offensive line giving plenty of time to survey the defense, Stanzi capped the opening drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to McNutt nearly seven minutes into the game. The Hawkeyes displayed an empty backfield and still Stanzi was not threatened. He found McNutt in the middle of the field and after the catch, McNutt easily found the end zone.

Robinson rushed eight times during the 13-play drive, gaining 33 yards. Stanzi was 4 of 5 passing for 38 yards and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos made two catches for 20 yards, including an 11-yarder on third-and-9.

Iowa State managed just three yards on its first three plays, a possession that lasted 1:26 and the Cyclones would not see the ball again in the first quarter. With Jewel Hampton as the primary rushing weapon on its second possession, Iowa drove to the Iowa State 13 before the first 15 minutes expired. The start of the second quarter signaled the continuation of Hampton’s first series since the 2009 Outback Bowl. He gave Iowa a 14-0 lead with a 2-yard plunge with 13:31 left in the half. Hampton picked up 48 yards on 11 carries; Stanzi and Johnson-Koulianos hooked up two more times for 23 yards.

Hampton finished with 84 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown. Johnson-Koulianos led the Hawkeyes with five catches for 65 yards.

“It was good to get (Hampton) out there,” Ferentz said. “It was the first live work he has had since the injury. I think he can move forward.”

UI defensive tackle Karl Klug secured a second straight three-and-out for the Hawkeye defense with a sack of Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud on third down. Iowa’s offense then showed what can be done with four plays, traveling 75 yards to take a 21-0 lead with 10:02 left in the half. Tight end Allen Reisner was on the receiving end of a 2-yard scoring toss from Stanzi, but the big play was a 66-yard first-down completion from Stanzi to McNutt.

Robinson provided a 75-yard spark on a draw play on Iowa’s next series, taking the ball from his own 24 to the Cyclone 1. The game’s largest gain followed a 10-yard sack of Stanzi by Iowa State linebacker Jacob Lattimer. Lattimer played a larger role in the Hawkeye score: after stopping Robinson on second-and-goal, Lattimer was flagged for an excessive celebration personal foul, giving Iowa first-and-goal from inches away rather than third-and -goal from the 2. Stanzi scored on a sneak on first down and with 2:52 left in the half, the Hawkeyes had a four-touchdown lead, 28-0.

When halftime arrived, the game statistics reflected Iowa’s dominance. The Hawkeyes held a yardage advantage of 203, scored all four times in the red zone and held the ball 11:10 more than Iowa State.

UI cornerback Shaun Prater and free safety Brett Greenwood intercepted Arnaud on back-to-back drives in the third period while the Hawkeyes continued its dominance. The offensive stars were Stanzi, Reisner and Robinson — with a huge lift from an ever-maturing offensive line. Stanzi completed a 55-yard pass to Reisner, taking the ball from Iowa’s 6 to the Cyclone’s 39. Robinson ran for a touchdown on the next play, leaving him with 156 rushing yards for the game and the Hawkeyes with a 35-0 lead.

Tyler Nielsen picked off a third Arnaud pass in the quarter, halting another Iowa State drive at the Iowa 10 on a fourth-and-12 play.

“All the interceptions were pretty, but Nielsen really made a nice play,” Ferentz said. “It’s always good when the defense comes up with the football. I’m happy about that.”

The lopsided score allowed the Hawkeyes to empty its bench and rest most regulars for more than the final 10 minutes. Arnaud hit receiver Darius Darks on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 1:46 remaining.

Iowa will face undefeated Arizona on Sept. 18 with a 9:36 p.m. (CT) kickoff from Tucson. The Hawkeyes won last season, 27-17, in Iowa City.

“It’s going to be a tough ball game,” Stanzi said. “They’re a good team and well-coached. There is still a lot of work to be done.”

“How are we going to handle a 2-0 start?” Ferentz asked. “That’s another challenge for our team.”