DJK, Moeaki driving the No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes

MADISON, Wis. - All luxury vehicles sometimes require regular maintenance.

Just think of it that way for Tony Moeaki and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. Try to think of their injuries and whatnot as work in the garage, tuning up for the long haul. Saturday, the Hawkeye receiving duo cruised up and down Camp Randall Stadium field during Iowa's 20-10 victory over Wisconsin.

The Hawkeyes are 7-0 overall, 3-0 in Big Ten and ranked No. 6 in the first BCS poll, seventh the in latest Associated Press and Harris polls and eighth by USA Today.

They travel to Michigan State (4-3, 3-1) this Saturday.

Iowa needed its stars to be stars last Saturday against the Badgers.

They were exactly that.

Moeaki and Johnson-Koulianos combined for 11 catches and 168 of Iowa's 283 yards of offense. They had hands in both of Iowa's touchdown drives, one of which was a 24-yarder to Moeaki that tied the game 10-10 with 7:58 left in the third quarter.

“They're our playmakers,” quarterback Ricky Stanzi said. “Whenever we can get them the ball, we have a good chance to move the football.”

Johnson-Koulianos, who missed a game with a hamstring injury this season, helped set up Iowa's first and only score of the first half - a 37-yard Daniel Murray field goal - with a 34-yard grab from Stanzi. After being shoved out of bounds while trying to execute a double move on Wisconsin defensive back Aaron Henry, Johnson-Koulianos worked his way back in and caught a pass for a 24-yard gain that helped set up Adam Robinson's 10-yard TD run.

“All day we were kind of going at them with the out route, the out route, the out route,” said Johnson-Koulianos, who nearly matched his season output with season highs of eight receptions for 113 yards. “When ran it again and attached the up route to it. He tried to collision me, Rick kept his eyes on me and I was able to make the play.”

On Iowa's next drive, the Hawkeyes faced a third-and-13 from their 37. Stanzi found Moeaki, who finished with three catches for 55 yards, down the seam for a 27-yard gain to Wisconsin's 36. The throw beat UW safety Jay Valai. Linebacker Jaevery McFadden was called for pass interference, but it didn't matter. Iowa had its first down and, six plays later, had its clincher, a career-long 48-yard field goal from Daniel Murray.

“We were backed up and we had to take a shot,” Stanzi said. “They had been double teaming Tony in certain situations, but on that one, there was a hole there and he made a great catch. That was just a really good play by him.”

Wisconsin bracketed Moeaki most of the day, keeping a linebacker underneath and a safety over the top when he was in route. Offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe adjusted with some different motions with Moeaki and that slowed the double teams.

“They were trying everything they could do to stop Tony,” Stanzi said. “We had to make some adjustments on what we were calling. Coach O'Keefe did a good job changing part of the game plan. Not completely, but just how we went about what we wanted to do. We were able to get the ball in those guys' hands.”

Stanzi beat the coverage with the throw on the 27-yarder. On Moeaki's 24-yard TD, Stanzi beat a blitz with a shuffle to the right and made a perfect throw just inside the back of the end zone.

“That was another great throw by Ricky,” said Moeaki, who missed three games with a sprained ankle. “He just dropped the ball in there right before I went out of bounds.”

They're unique football weapons, but what they do is similar.

Moeaki and Johnson-Koulianos have great size and strength and they use it to their advantage. Moeaki is 6-4, 250 pounds. Johnson-Koulianos is 6-1, 200 and is one of the stronger receivers with a bench press in the 400-pound range.

“They really open up the passing game,” Stanzi said. “They're both big targets, but they make good receiver plays.”