Penn State Vs. Iowa Game Review Penn State Makes Light Work of Iowa, Sets Up Showdown Against Ohio State

   The last time Penn State went into Kinnick Stadium and came out with a win was in 1999 when they defeated Iowa 31-7 (Yeah, I know according to the NCAA the win doesn't count, but they're just a bunch of dumb cowards who gave into media pressure) but besides all that, playing at Iowa hasn't always been a place the Nittany Lions have been able to make themselves feel at home, as they had lost 4 straight at Iowa. Going into the game some, if not many, were thinking this game had the potential to be a great defensive battle. However, Bill O'Brien and the Nittany Lions had other ideas.

    After exchanging a total of three straight 3&outs by both teams (PSU 1 IOWA 2) Penn State got the ball once again starting at their own 16. Penn State used a good mixture of passing and running plays that set up a Matt McGloin 31 Yd TD pass to cap off a 9 play 84 yd. drive to give the Nittany Lions a very important 7-0 lead.  Iowa who had came back from a 10 point deficit last week against Michigan State, was no stranger to having their backs against the wall. Unlike last week though, Iowa had no answer on either side of the ball.


    For the first time this season, Iowa had been held scoreless in the first half. While Penn State scored its most points in the first half of the season with 24, and have scored first in each of its seven games.  McGloin would take Penn State on another 9 play scoring drive and finished it off by hitting his favorite and emerging receiver Alan Robinson for a 8 yd TD Pass to give Penn State a 14-0 lead in the early part of the second.  Bill Belton continued to showcase his abilities as he rushed for 103 yds. and found the endzone on three different occasions. Zach Zwinak and the rest of Penn State's rushing game helped the Nittany Lions amass for over 200 yds on the ground. Penn State would go on to score 10 more points before the half (FG by Fickens, Rushing TD by Belton) to give the Nittany Lions a 24-0 lead in front of a stunned Iowa crowd heading into the half.

    With a commanding lead to start the second half, Penn State would receive the ball and showed no signs of putting on the brakes. Jesse Della Valle returned the ball 46 yards to the Iowa 45. The very next play, Matt McGloin completed a pass to Brandon Moseby-Felder for 42 yds. to setup a Bill Belton 3 yd TD run, quickly giving Penn State a 31-0 lead not even 30 seconds into the second half.

    Iowa Quarterback James Vandenberg already had a turnover when he lost a fumble in the first half  and Penn State's ruthless defense didn't let up. On Iowa's very first play of the second half, James Vandenberg was intercepted by Linebacker Mike Mauti giving Penn State the ball inside Iowa's 20. Vandenberg would go on to throw another INT, this time picked off by LB Mike Hull. Bill Belton scored on a 5 yd. run on the second play of the the 4th quarter to give Penn State a 38-0 lead. Iowa would manage to return the ensuing kickoff for a TD and later add another late in the 4th when James Vandenberg threw a TD Pass to Keenan Davis. Nonetheless, Penn State's dominated on both sides of the ball and were able to sack Vandenberg four times, caused 2 fumbles and intercepted the ball twice.

    Penn State, who has now reeled off 5 straight games, heads back home next week for a showdown with Ohio State for control of the Big Ten's Leader Division.
    
Source(s) Picture courtesy of rivals.com via The Associated Press

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