Iowa State at Iowa Postgame Notes

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2 | Photo Gallery 3

Iowa’s 9-6 loss today snaps a four-game home winning streak to Iowa State. The loss also snaps a 12-game overall home win streak to non-league opponents, dating back to the 2008 season. It marks Iowa’s second loss inside Kinnick Stadium in the last 26 non-conference home games.

The Cyclones retain possession of the Cy-Hawk Trophy and take a 5-2 lead in the 2012 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

Both teams combined for 15 total points, the lowest scoring contest in the series since Iowa defeated Iowa State 10-3 on Sept. 24, 1988. The last two games between the two schools were each decided by three points.

Iowa’s second-half defense has been solid the first two games. Last week against Northern Illinois, the Hawkeyes yielded seven points and 81 total yards. Today, the Black and Gold allowed no points and only 110 total yards in the second half.

PK Mike Meyer made 21- and 23-yard field goals today. The junior is 6-of-7 this season. Meyer now has 177 points and is 11th on Iowa’s all-time scoring chart. He has made 34-44 career field goal attempts.

WR Kennan Davis led Iowa with 75 receiving yards on four catches. TE C.J. Fiedorowicz recorded four receptions for a career-high 61 yards.

RB Damon Bullock led Iowa in rushing for the second straight game (22 carries, 60 yards). Bullock also led the Hawkeyes with a career-best five receptions for 56 yards.

Iowa was 2-2 in the red zone today, making two field goals. The Hawkeyes have scored on 153 of the last 173 red zone possessions (101 TDs and 52 FGs), dating back to the Michigan State game in 2008. Iowa is 134-154 combined inside the red zone its last 45 games. Iowa State was 2-5 in the red zone (1 TD, 1 FG, 2 fumbles and 1 interception).

QB James Vandenberg was 20-42 for 236 yards today. Vandenberg has completed 325-574 pass attempts for 3,902 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career. His 236 yards today increased his career total to 3,902 yards which moved him past Gary Snook for eighth in Iowa career history.

Defensively, LB Anthony Hitchens amassed a personal-best 19 tackles, 14 of which came in the first half. LB James Morris also was in double-digit tackles with 12, including one tackle for a loss (1 yard). Morris also recovered a fumble and returned an interception 49 yards in the fourth quarter. The linebacking duo helped limit the Cyclones to no points, five first downs and 110 yards in the second half.

Iowa started on defense today and for the first time this year after Iowa State won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have started on offense in 136-of-164 games. Iowa is 15-13 in the games it has started on defense under Ferentz.

For the second consecutive week, PK Mike Meyer converted a field goal on Iowa’s first possession. Meyer made a 23-yarder today. WR Keenan Davis had a 34-yard pass reception during the drive, which is Iowa’s longest play from scrimmage this season. Iowa State became Iowa’s first 2012 opponent to score on an opening possession, scoring a touchdown (missed PAT).

Iowa collected four takeaways today, one each in each quarter (two fumbles and two interceptions). The Hawkeyes failed to score on its first two possessions but tallied a field goal on its third. Iowa was intercepted in the fourth quarter following an Iowa State interception. The Hawkeyes collected fumble recoveries in the first and third quarters to thwart scoring threats inside the red zone. SS Tom Donatell intercepted his first career pass in the second period near midfield. For the season, Iowa is +3 in turnover margin (+1 vs. Northern Illinois and +2 vs. Iowa State). The Hawkeye defense has collected at least one takeaway in 66 of its last 76 games, dating back to 2006. Iowa State intercepted Hawkeye QB James Vandenberg twice, but did not score.

On Iowa State’s second offensive possession, DB Micah Hyde recorded his third career forced fumble. DE Dominic Alvis recovered his first career fumble. The defensive effort thwarted a Cyclone scoring threat inside the red zone.

Instant replay was used once today. A WR Keenan Davis catch that was ruled a touchdown was overturned by replay. Davis stepped out of bounds at the 3-yard line.

Iowa remains at home next week when it hosts Northern Iowa at 2:42 p.m. (BTN) inside Kinnick Stadium.