You can debate whether Penn State or Iowa were deserving of their top-5 rankings coming into Saturday’s game, but you can’t question the caliber of either team’s defense or kicking game.
All of the units were outstanding at Kinnick Stadium in a tenacious Big Ten battle as No. 3 Iowa edged No. 4 Penn State 23-20 in front of 69,250.
James Franklin’s Lions (5-1) had to make a go of it without starting quarterback Sean Clifford for two-plus quarters and top defensive tackle PJ Mustipher for all but a handful of plays. Both left with undisclosed injuries although it was clear Mustipher has a significant knee issue.
Lions kicking specialist Jordan Stout delivered on every punt, kickoff, field-goal attempt and extra point, and Iowa punter Tory Taylor pinned the Lions’ offense at its 2, 8, 4, 4 and 8. Stout averaged 50.4 yards on five punts and he made field-goal attempts of 32 and 44 yards.
It was not an easy day for either offense, but the fact remains Penn State led 17-3 at one point in the first half.
But with Penn State’s offense essentially grounded after Ta’Quan Roberson replaced Clifford, Iowa (6-0) converted one brilliant play call into the winning points with 6:26 left.
Penn State’s defense, clinging to a 20-16 lead, couldn’t prevent Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras from connecting with wideout Nico Ragaini on a 44-yard touchdown.
Raigani, aligned on the left side, broke across the middle then suddenly cut it back to the outside, catching the ball at the PSU 18 and racing into the end zone. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown was the closest Penn State player in pursuit.
The Lions’ offense, which was rolling early with Clifford, finished with 287 total yards, Iowa compiled 305.
Lions lose Clifford in second quarter: Penn State’s 17-3 lead in the second quarter looked good for a few minutes but Clifford left the game with an undisclosed injury midway through the quarter, and everything changed. As Clifford was heading off the field, Petras teamed with wideout Charlie Jones for a nine-yard scoring throw to make it a one-score game with 7:08 left. Roberson, a third-year quarterback who had yet to take a meaningful snap in his career, entered and the Lions committed three-straight false start penalties before punting 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 wound up 34 passing yards and 27 rushing yards.
Mustipher leaves early: Penn State’s best defensive tackle, PJ Mustipher, left the game on the Lions’ first defensive possession with an apparent knee injury. Mustipher appeared to injure himself while engaged with Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum on the play. Mustipher did not return and watched the second half of the game in street clothes while maneuvering on crutches. Dvon Ellies replaced him.
Iowa’s defense corrals three interceptions in first half: The Hawkeyes’ reputation as ballhawks is well-deserved. Iowa, which forced 16 turnovers in their first five games, intercepted three passes in the opening 30 minutes – one by linebacker Jestin Jacobs, one by corner Riley Moss and one by safety Jack Koerner. Clifford threw two interceptions, Roberson one. Iowa eventually iced the game with a fourth interception by corner Matt Hankins with 2:13 to play.
Teams swap third-quarter field goals: Stout connected on a 44-yard field goal with 6:40 left in the third quarter to make it 20-10 and Iowa’s Caleb Shudak cut the Lions’ margin to 20-13 on a 48-yard field goal with 1:36 left in the third. Shudak kicked his third field goal, a 36-yarder, with 8:08 to play to make it 20-16, PSU.
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Lions build 14-3 lead after one: Penn State finished a pair of touchdown drives with scoring runs by Noah Cain and Clifford. Cain capped the Lions’ first drive with a 2-yard run with 8:37 left in the third. PSU marched 75 yards in nine plays, and one of the key plays was Iowa defensive back Jack Koerner’s pass interference call on Lions wideout KeAndre Lambert-Smith at the Iowa 2. Clifford added a touchdown, a designed 4-yard run, with 3:21 left in the first.
Ebiketie, Mustipher make big plays early: Clifford’s interception on his first throw of the game positioned Iowa at the Penn State 8, but the Hawkeyes had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Shudak. Iowa’s first two plays gained one yard and end Arnold Ebiketie sacked Petras for a nine-yard loss on third down. Later in the first quarter, Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker intercepted a tipped Petras pass at the Iowa 39 and Clifford scored four plays later.
Jacobs shines: Lions second-year linebacker Curtis Jacobs played his finest game to date by a large margin. Jacobs finished with two tackles for loss, one of them a sack, and he added a quarterback hit. Jacobs’ speed proved to be a problem for Petras and the Iowa offensive line.
Miscellaneous: Penn State defensive tackle Dvon Ellies, safety Jaquan Brisker and wideout 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 the lasdt few weeks, did not play. … Penn State great LaVar Arrington was in attendance for the game.
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