Iowa vs. #4 Penn State Postgame Notes
Sept. 23, 2017
POSTGAME NOTES
#4 Penn State (4-0, 1-0) defeated Iowa (3-1, 0-1), 21-19, at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night.
INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES
LB Josey Jewell had game-high 16 tackles, matching his career high. Jewell had a career-best three tackles-for-loss and added two pass breakups and one interception. The interception was the fifth of his career. Jewell has 345 career tackles, 12th in program history. He passed George Davis (330), Bobby Diaco (334), Melvin Foster (337), and Aaron Kampman (342) in tonight’s game.
DE Anthony Nelson tied his career-high with 2.5 sacks (7 yards).
DB Amani Hooker had 13 tackles in his first career start. DB Manny Rugamba had a career high nine tackles.
QB Nate Stanley threw two touchdowns today. He has thrown 12 touchdowns since being intercepted on his third pass attempt of the season.
QB Nate Stanley’s 70-yard touchdown pass to RB Akrum Wadley was the longest passing and receiving plays of their respective careers.
RB Akrum Wadley (19 carries, 80 yards) moved has 363 career carries for 2,101 yards. He passed Jordan Canzeri (2,073) for 13th all-time. Wadley was Iowa’s leading rusher and receiver today (4 receptions, 75 yards). He scored two touchdowns tonight to move into 18th place in career scoring (156).
WR Matt VandeBerg had two receptions for 27 yards. He has at least one reception on 23 consecutive games played. He has 116 career receptions, 13th all-time.
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s 29-yard reception in the third quarter was a career long.
RB Ivory Kelly-Martin had his first career reception (6 yards).
DE A.J. Epenesa forced a fumble in the third quarter, the first of his career. Epenesa also had a sack (5 yards),
P Colton Rastetter punted seven times for 288 yards (41.1). He had two punts of 50-plus yards, including a career long 53 yarder.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa ran one play in Penn State territory in the first half (21-yard touchdown reception by WR Nick Easley). Iowa had 219 yards of offense in the second half. Iowa had 54 yards of offense in the first half.
Iowa had three scoring drives today, all touchdowns. The three drives combined for seven plays in 2:36 (1-21-0:06 | 3-74-1:30 | 3-80-1:00).
The Iowa defense was on the field for 19:30 in the first half, and allowed just three points. It was the first time this season Penn State did not score a touchdown in the first half. Penn State held a 39:39-20:21 advantage in time of possession. Iowa entered the game averaging 35:35 in TOP, sixth in the country.
Iowa had won five straight Big Ten openers. Before tonight, its last conference opening loss was in 2011 at Penn State (13-3).
Iowa has hosted 15 night games in Kinnick Stadium’s history, holding a 10-5 record in those contests. The Hawkeyes had won four straight night games in Kinnick Stadium prior to tonight.
Prior to tonight, Iowa had won three straight games at home against top five opponents
2008 24-23 vs. #3 Penn State
2010 37-6 vs. #5 Michigan State
2016 14-13 vs. #2 Michigan
Iowa surrendered a safety for the first time since 2008. The Hawkeyes had a field goal blocked, their first since 2011.
Penn State won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 231 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 179 times (109-70). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 52 times (29-23).
Instant replay was used three times today:
1) Barkley 36-yard rush (ruled out of bounds, 25 yard gain)
2) Barkley rushing touchdown (call was confirmed)
3) Penn State interception (call was overruled)
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes play at Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. in East Lansing, Michigan. The game will be televised on FOX.