Oct. 22, 2011
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With the 45-24 win over Indiana, Iowa wins its second consecutive game and improves to 5-2 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten play. Iowa has won 54 of its last 65 games in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season. The Hawkeyes are a perfect 5-0 at home this season, and 22-4 since the start of the 2008 season.
Iowa improves to 42-27-4 all-time against Indiana, including a 23-10-3 mark in Iowa City.
IOWA HOMECOMING
Iowa’s homecoming record improves to 54-41-5, including a 9-5-1 record against Indiana. Iowa has won three straight homecoming games. Iowa has scored over 40 points in three of the last four meetings with the Hoosiers. Additionally, the Hawkeyes have scored 45 points or more six times all-time against Indiana.
THIRTY-ONE OR MORE
Iowa has scored 31 points or more in six of its first seven games. The last time the Hawkeyes accomplished this was 2002. Iowa scored touchdowns on all five possessions in the first half against Indiana and added a field goal on its first drive of the third quarter.
Iowa has scored a combined 86 points in its last two games (41 vs. Northwestern and 45 vs. Indiana). The last time Iowa scored 41 points or more in consecutive games was in its first two games of the 2008 season (46 vs. Maine and 42 vs. Florida International).
MCNUTT SETS TOUCHDOWN RECORD
Senior WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. set the Iowa career record for touchdown receptions with an 80-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He added scoring receptions of 28 and 24 yards in the second period.
McNutt, Jr. has 24 career scoring receptions, breaking the previous mark of 21, previously held by Tim Dwight (1994-97) and Danan Hughes (1989-92). McNutt, Jr. had six receptions for a personal-best 184 yards today against Indiana and now has 129 career receptions for 2,303 yards. McNutt, Jr. now ranks eighth in career receptions and second in career yards. He has at least 100 yards receiving in four of seven games in 2011. For the season, McNutt, Jr. has 41 receptions for 757 yards (18.5 avg.) and eight scores. His receiving total for the day (6-184) ranks eighth best for a single game at Iowa. The Iowa record for TD receptions in a game is four (twice).
COKER LEADS GROUND GAME
Sophomore RB Marcus Coker led the Iowa rushing attack with 23 carries for 139 yards. He scored on two short runs in the first half. He has scored two touchdowns in four games in his career, including the last two games.
Coker surpassed 100 rushing yards for the fourth time this season and for the sixth time in his career. He had a season-best 41-yard run.
Coker surpassed 100 yards rushing twice as a freshman. He rushed 33 times for 219 yards against Missouri and rushed 22 times for 129 yards in a win at Indiana.
STARTING ON OFFENSE
Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. Iowa has started on offense in 130 of its last 150 contests. The Hawkeyes have started the game on offense in 133-of-156 games under Coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa games vs. Iowa State (9/10/11), Minnesota (11/27/10), Wisconsin (10/23/10), Ohio State (11/14/07), 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 20 games.
VANDENBERG ON TARGET
Junior QB James Vandenberg had an 80-yard touchdown strike in the first quarter and added scoring strikes of 28 and 24 to WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. in the second quarter and a one-yard touchdown pass to TE Brad Herman in the fourth period. The last time an Iowa QB tossed four touchdowns in a contest was Ricky Stanzi in a 35-3 win at Iowa State in 2009.
Vandenberg has 16 touchdown passes this season, with 11 of the 16 covering 20 yards or more.
He also had three scoring strikes in wins over Pittsburgh and Louisiana-Monroe. For the day he completed an efficient 12-16 passes for 253 yards (21.1 avg.) and four touchdowns.
OPENING DRIVE
Iowa scored points on its opening possession for the fourth time in seven games, collecting an early touchdown. Iowa also scored a touchdown on its opening drive vs. Iowa State and ULM.
Indiana scored a touchdown on its first possession. Iowa has allowed four opponents to score on their opening drive, including three field goals and a touchdown. Iowa has allowed 20 first-quarter points in seven games. Iowa has allowed 12 opponents to score on their opening drive in its last 46 games.
IN THE RED ZONE
Iowa was 4-4 inside the red zone today for the second consecutive week. Iowa had two Marcus Coker TD runs, a Brad Herman scoring reception and a field goal. Iowa entered today’s game ranked seventh in the country in red zone offense. The Hawkeyes have scored on 132 of the last 143 red zone possessions (84 TDs and 44 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa has scored on its last 23 red-zone trips and is 113-124 combined inside the red zone in its last 36 games.
Indiana was 4-5 inside the red zone today. The Hoosiers had two rushing touchdowns and a passing score, and connected on a field goal. Iowa’s defense stopped Indiana on a fourth-and-goal at the five-yard line on its other red zone possession.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
There were no turnovers in today’s game by either team.
Iowa has scored 30 points in seven games following 11 opponent turnovers (five fumbles, six interceptions).
The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 61 of its last 69 games, dating back to 2006.
Iowa opponents have scored 14 points following eight Iowa turnovers in 2011.
QUICK HITS
? Senior Tyler Nielsen did not play after starting Iowa’s first six games. OLB Tom Donatell started for the second straight week. DL Steve Bigach also started for the second straight week.
? LB James Morris returned to the starting line-up after missing the Northwestern game. DL Tom Nardo missed his second straight game and LB Anthony Hitchens has now missed three straight games.
? The 80-yard touchdown pass from QB James Vandenberg to WR Marvin McNutt, Jr. ties as the ninth longest in school history. McNutt, Jr. has three of Iowa’s longest scoring receptions ever, covering 92, 88 and 80 yards.
? The 7:10 time of possession on Iowa’s opening drive of the game is its longest touchdown drive of the season, by time. The drive covered 69 yards in 12 plays.
? DB Jordan Bernstine had a 62-yard KO return in the third quarter, the longest for Iowa this season and the longest of Bernstine’s career. He finished the game with three returns for 115 yards (38.3 avg).
? Defensively, Christian Kirksey led Iowa with 12 total tackles. Also with double-digit tackles were James Morris and Tanner Miller, with 10.
MEYER ADDS TO TOTAL
Sophomore PK Mike Meyer made a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter, improving to 12-14 on the season. He is 28-28 on PAT kicks. He has made 26-31 career field goals.
INSTANT REPLAY
Instant replay was used three times in the game. An Indiana touchdown reception was reviewed in the opening quarter, with the call on the field being upheld. In the third, an Indiana rush was ruled a touchdown. After review, the runner was ruled down at the one. Indiana was held to a field goal.
Late in the third quarter, an Indiana pass was ruled incomplete, as opposed to an interception. The call on the field was upheld.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
Iowa travels to Minnesota next weekend (2:37 p.m., BTN) before hosting Michigan on Nov. 5.