Game report: Iowa at Wisconsin

Game Ball

Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi completed 11-of-13 passes for 162 yards in the second half. He improvised on a dynamic 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Moeaki, where Stanzi scrambled from the pocket, ran to the right and threw a perfect pass to Moeaki in the back corner of the end zone to tie the game at 10-10.

“Rick's been doing that all year,” Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos said. “The kid has got poise like nobody. He never gets frustrated, he never gets flustered.”

Stanzi finished 17 of 23 for 218 yards and a touchdown.

Play of the game

Iowa capitalized on an Amari Spievey interception with a nine-play, 54-yard drive that tied the score at 10-10. On third-and-7 from the Wisconsin 24, Stanzi connected with Moeaki for the touchdown. It shifted the game's momentum and put Iowa in control.

Eye-popping statistic

Wisconsin ran all over Iowa in the first half, churning 89 yards on 24 carries. The Hawkeyes held the Badgers to minus-2 yards on nine carries in the second half.

Decisions, decisions

Stanzi has gotten drilled at times for his decision-making, including three interceptions for touchdowns this year. Saturday, he did not throw an interception but he fumbled and nearly gave up the lead.

With the score tied 10-10, Stanzi tried to pass on a third-and-15 at his 34, but fumbled and Wisconsin defensive end O'Brien Schofield recovered at the Iowa 25. But the Hawkeyes' defense held, and the Badgers missed a 38-yard field goal.

“I just don't want to put my team in a bad position,” Stanzi said. “I kind of did that with the fumble. That wasn't a good play by me.”

Road Warriors

Iowa has weathered its opponents' opening punch in each of its three road games. Iowa trailed 3-0 at Iowa State, 10-0 at Penn State and 10-0 at Wisconsin before holding all of them scoreless afterward.

Iowa outscored Iowa State 35-0, Penn State 21-0 and Wisconsin 20-0 to finish those victories. None of those teams scored in the second half against Iowa.

Questionable change?

Wisconsin scored its only touchdown midway through the second quarter to take a 10-3 lead. The Badgers then opened its next series with Curt Phillips replacing Scott Tolzien at quarterback, which promptly produced Wisconsin's first three-and-out.

Phillips ran the ball twice for 9 yards, but the drive stalled when he gained 1 yard on a third-and-2. He ran for 8 yards on his first carry.

“I thought that second play was going to go big; he almost broke it but there was one guy (Iowa safety Brett Greenwood) that brought him down,” Bielema said. “But would of, could of, should of.”

Just for kicks

Iowa kicker Daniel Murray connected on a career-best 48-yard field goal with 5:17 left in the game to stretch the Iowa lead to its final margin of 20-10.

“It was kind of a pressure kick a little bit,” Murray said. “It was kind of exciting for me.

“My job is just to do my job and help my team win games and score some points.”

Tight end race

Iowa's Tony Moeaki and Wisconsin's Garrett Graham are considered among the nation's top tight ends. Following Saturday's game, Moeaki established himself as the primary threat with a dash of irony.

Moeaki caught three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Graham hauled in two passes for 28 yards before he was knocked from the game with a concussion. Moeaki entered the game as the injury-prone player, having missed three games this season.

In 2007, Moeaki suffered a season-ending injury with a broken wrist and a dislocated elbow at Wisconsin. It was his fourth game that season, which enabled him to red-shirt so he can play this season. Saturday marked his fourth game played in 2009.

Iowa retakes rivalry lead

Saturday's game marked the 85th game between Iowa and Wisconsin. With the win, Iowa now leads 42-41-2 in the series. Iowa has won the last two meetings.