[ad_1]
You can debate whether Penn State or Iowa deserved their top-5 ranking in Saturday’s game, but you can’t question the caliber of either defense or kicking play. the other team.
All units were outstanding at Kinnick Stadium in a nagging Big Ten battle as the No.3 Iowa edged out No.4 Penn State 23-20 in front of 69,250.
James Franklin’s Lions (5-1) had to take a shot without quarterback Sean Clifford for more than two quarters and leading defensive tackle PJ Mustipher for all but a handful of plays. The two walked away with undisclosed injuries, although it’s clear Mustipher has a significant knee problem.
Lions kicking specialist Jordan Stout delivered on every punt, kickoff, field goal attempt and extra run, and Iowa punter Tory Taylor pinned the Lions offense to his 2, 8, 4, 4 and 8. Stout averaged 50.4 yards on five punts and made field goal attempts from 32 and 44 yards.
It wasn’t an easy day for either offense, but the fact remains that Penn State was leading 17-3 at one point in the first half.
But with the Penn State offense essentially grounded after Ta’Quan Roberson replaced Clifford, Iowa (6-0) converted a brilliant play call into winning points with 6:26 remaining.
The Penn State defense, clinging to a 20-16 lead, couldn’t stop Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras from connecting with wide Nico Ragaini on a 44-yard touchdown.
Raigani, lined up on the left side, snapped in the middle and then suddenly cut it to the outside, catching the ball at PSU 18 and rushing into the end zone. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown was the closest Penn State player in pursuit.
The Lions offense, which rolled early with Clifford, finished with 287 total yards, Iowa compiled 305.
The Lions lose Clifford in the second quarter: Penn State’s 17-3 second-quarter lead looked good for a few minutes, but Clifford left the game with an undisclosed injury mid-quarter, and that all changed. As Clifford came off the field, Petras teamed up with spreader Charlie Jones for a nine-yard scoring throw to make it a one-scoring game with 7:08 to go. Roberson, a third-year quarterback who had yet to make a significant decision in his career, came in and the Lions committed three false start penalties in a row before kicking without a first down. Clifford finished 15 of 26 for 145 yards and two interceptions and the quarterback ran for 36 yards on three carries. Roberson had 34 passing yards and 27 rushing yards.
Mustipher leaves early: Penn State’s top defensive tackle PJ Mustipher left the game on the Lions’ first defensive possession with an apparent knee injury. Mustipher appeared to injure himself as he engaged with Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum on the play. Mustipher did not return and watched the second half of the game in formal attire while maneuvering on crutches. Dvon Ellies replaced him.
The Iowa defense had three interceptions in the first half: The Hawkeyes’ reputation as ballhawks is well deserved. Iowa, which forced 16 turnovers in its first five games, intercepted three assists in the first 30 minutes – one by linebacker Jestin Jacobs, one by corner kick Riley Moss and one by safety back Jack Koerner. Clifford threw two interceptions, Roberson one. Iowa finally froze the game with a fourth interception from corner corner Matt Hankins with 2:13 remaining.
The teams trade goals on the field in the third quarter: Stout connected on a 44-yard basket with 6:40 left in the third quarter to make it 20-10 and Caleb Shudak of Iowa reduced the Lions’ margin to 20-13 on a basket of 48 yards with 1:36 to play the third. Shudak kicked his third basket, a 36-yard punt, with 8:08 left to make it 20-16, PSU.
64
The Lions lead 14-3 after a: Penn State finished a pair of touchdowns with runs scored by Noah Cain and Clifford. Cain capped the Lions’ first practice with a 2-yard rush with 8:37 left in the third. PSU came 75 yards in nine plays, and one of the key plays was the pass interference call from Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner off Lions KeAndre Lambert-Smith at Iowa 2. Clifford added a touchdown, a designed 4-yard run, with 3:21 left in the first.
Ebiketie, Mustipher make big bets early: Clifford’s interception on his first pitch of the game positioned Iowa at Penn State 8, but the Hawkeyes had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Shudak. Iowa’s first two games won a yard and late Arnold Ebiketie sacked Petras for a nine yard loss on the third down. Later in the first quarter, Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker intercepted a pass from Petras to Iowa 39 and Clifford scored four games later.
Jacobs shines: Lions second-year linebacker Curtis Jacobs played his best game yet. Jacobs finished with two tackles for a loss, including a sack, and added a quarterback hit. Jacobs speed proved to be an issue for Petras and the Iowa offensive line.
Various: Penn State defensive tackle Dvon Ellies, safety half Jaquan Brisker and spreader KeAndre Lambert-Smith briefly left the game in the first half but returned. … Lions running back John Lovett, a major part of the team’s backfield rotation in recent weeks, has not played. … Penn State great LaVar Arrington was in attendance for the game.
[ad_2]
Source link