Game Report: Iowa vs. Pittsburgh (with locker room videos)

BY THE NUMBERS

21 - Points down by Iowa to Pittsburgh until a rushing TD with 1:16 left in the third quarter

17 - Points down by Iowa to Pittsburgh until a 14-yard TD pass with 9:55 left in the game

129 - Yards receiving by Cedar Rapids native Keenan Davis, a personal best

399 - Yards thrown by James Vandenberg, tied for seventh-most in a single game for Iowa

6 - Tackles for loss by Iowa 

REPORT CARD

A-minus - They are the Most Interesting Football Team in the World. That guy with the beard in the beer commercial, even he's shaking his head today.

 -Marc Morehouse

B-plus - That crafty cougar may linger in Iowa City, but the Panthers somehow were slayed.

 -Mike Hlas

B-plus - In a staredown with James Vandenberg, Chuck Norris blinked.

 -Scott Dochterman

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK ...

Iowa has participated in some great last-second comebacks in recent years, such as the Capital One Bowl against LSU and the last-second touchdown catch by Marvin McNutt at Michigan State. But Saturday's 31-27 win against Pittsburgh was historic.

Officially, the 21-point deficit (24-3) against Pittsburgh was the largest Iowa had slayed on the way to victory. Iowa's previous best comeback was by 18 points in a 34-31 win against Oregon in 1949.

"Taking that knee, I didn't let go of the ball until I almost got into the locker room," Iowa junior quarterback James Vandenberg said. "I just couldn't even comprehend it."

GAME BALL

If you want to crown him, crown him King James. After 42 minutes,Vandenberg played like a member of the Brady 6. For the final 18 minutes, Vandenberg channeled his inner Tom Brady.

Vandenberg completed 17 of 20 passes for 217 yards after Iowa was down 24-3. At one point he hit 10 straight spanning three drives. He finished with 399 passing yards.

"I'll just say it: he was in a zone," Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt said. "He was doing everything we needed and more sometimes."

Vandenberg scored on a quarterback sneak and then threw three fourth-quarter touchdowns for the win. 

NOWHERE TO HYDE

Junior Micah Hyde switched from free safety to cornerback, and the results were sterling.

Hyde had 10 tackles and two interceptions in his grand return to corner. Hyde picked off a Tino Sunseri pass at Iowa's 2-yard line midway through the second quarter. He preserved the comeback win in the fourth quarter when he stepped inside Pitt receiver Devin Street and intercepted Sunseri's final pass at Iowa's 37-yard line.

"They took it up the field, and the quarterback tried taking a chance," Hyde said. "I just remembered the ball coming in slow motion at me, and I just tried to make a play on it."

Sunseri remembered the play somewhat differently.

"Street had (Hyde) beat down the sideline," Sunseri said. "I've just got to put more on it and put it a little bit more outside."

Hyde's interception sealed the comeback and brought relief for Vandenberg.

"When Micah picked that one off, that was a rush I don't think I've ever felt," Vandenberg said. "I was overcome with emotion and trying to figure out how the clock was going to work that one extra second."

GRAHAM CRACKER

The game literally pulled Pittsburgh Coach Todd Graham in all sorts of directions. With his team facing third down at Iowa's 3-yard line early in the fourth quarter, Graham sprinted up the sideline trying to call a timeout. In the process, he pulled his hamstring.

"It was pretty stupid, but I did," Graham said. We had a young guy in there that was lined up wrong. It was a very critical down.

"I hadn't taken off like that in a while."

The play didn't work, either. Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri lined up in the shotgun and dropped the ball after the center snap. Iowa safety Jordan Bernstine covered him up for a four-yard loss. The Panthers kicked a field goal to take a 27-10 lead but lost a chance to build a three-touchdown lead with 12:09 left in the game.

"I just took my eye off the ball because I had my mind made up where I was going and I wanted to get there as fast as I could," Sunseri said.  

WHIFF OF IRONY

For the first game this season Iowa's defense prevented an opposing 100-yard rusher and it came against the nation's leading rusher, Pitt's Ray Graham. Graham ran for 97 yards, down from his national average of 161 yards entering the game.

LOOKING AHEAD

Iowa closes out non-conference play next week at home against Louisiana-Monroe (1-2). The Warhawks led TCU 17-14 early in the game before falling 38-17. Louisiana-Monroe was thrashed 34-0 in the opener at Florida State and beat Grambling State.