Penn State at Iowa - Update Through Three Quarters

IOWA CITY - Unlike the 2009 meeting against Penn State, the Iowa Hawkeyes jumped on the Nittany Lions early for the first home night game of the year at Kinnick Stadium.

Riding out an efficient offense, the Hawkeyes flew to a 17-0 lead late in the first half and are holding off Penn State 17-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi took Iowa's opening drive for four first downs, with the Hawkeyes reaching the Penn State 3-yard-line before settling for a 20-yard field goal from Michael Meyer.

Yet the Hawkeyes' defense was profound, only allowing Penn State with a mere one yard of offense for the Nittany Lions' first three drives.

Late in the first quarter, Stanzi hit receive Derrell Johnson-Koilianos for a 9-yard touchdown pass as Iowa led 10-0 at quarter's end.

Penn State finally got a first down in the second quarter but the Hawks held once again.

Stanzi and receiver Marvin McNutt connected on a pair of 18-yard completions late in the first half, leading to Stanzi's one-yard touchdown push as Iowa grabbed a 17-0 lead.

Penn State went into the locker room with a 25-yard field goal by kicker Collin Wagner, cutting the deficit to 17-3.

Iowa's defense stiffened on a critical sequence in the third quarter.  Penn State drove the length of the field to open the second half but the Hawkeye defense stuffed Penn State's Robert Bolden on 4th and goal from the Iowa 1.