With out its initiating quarterback, No. 4 Penn Whine true would possibly per chance per chance now now not defend shut on prolonged ample on the avenue in opposition to No. 3 Iowa.
The Nittany Lions took a 14-3 lead into halftime, but lost senior QB Sean Clifford to an hurt toward the tip of the half of. That left backup Ta’Quan Roberson, who hasn’t performed varied than garbage time, to see his first significant action. And he needed to defend shut out that in Kinnick Stadium, one of basically the most hostile avenue environments in the country.
Predictably, it did now not streak effectively. The Hawkeyes stormed back in the 2nd half of and pulled out a 23-20 victory to reside undefeated and hand Penn Whine its first lack of the year.
The Penn Whine protection held on for a while, but Roberson and the offense true would possibly per chance per chance now now not get in sync. Penn Whine would possibly per chance per chance muster simplest 68 yards and three points in the 2nd half of while the Iowa offense chipped away. Repeatedly backed up of their fetch territory attributable to precision punting from Tory Taylor, the Nittany Lions committed a bevy of fallacious originate penalties and can simply now now not get one thing going.
The Iowa offense, meanwhile, chipped away at the lead.
Two discipline objectives from Caleb Shudak nick the PSU consequence in 20-13 slow in the third after which 20-16 midway by intention of the fourth. Iowa in the end went forward when Spencer Petras hit Nico Ragaini on a play-action cross for a 44-yard touchdown with 6: 26 to play.
Penn Whine would force true previous midfield on its subsequent force, but a Roberson cross to Keyvone Lee on fourth-and-3 used to be wanting the sticks, giving Iowa the stop it wanted.
From there, Iowa cruised to a monster victory.
What does this suggest for Iowa?
Now 6-0, Iowa has one more impressive victory to add to its College Soccer Playoff candidacy. The clear favourite in a mediocre Mighty Ten West, the Hawkeyes possess simplest division opponents on their agenda the leisure of the methodology.
An undefeated document coming into the Mighty Ten title game is now now not out of the ask. This protection lived as much as the hype by forcing four Penn Whine turnovers — two interceptions by Clifford and two more by Roberson.
Penn Whine has a extraordinarily correct protection, but the Iowa offensive line and working game had been ready to lean on the PSU entrance for prolonged ample to possess some success because the game stepped forward. Tyler Goodson is one of the higher working backs in the country and Petras shook off a unhurried originate to produce some immense throws when it mattered.
The greatest task for Kirk Ferentz and his workers will be warding off a letdown because the Hawkeyes is often liked in every game transferring forward.
What does this suggest for Penn Whine?
That is a brutal loss for PSU, little doubt. The Nittany Lions, in spite of about a early turnovers, had been fully as much as the designate early on. All the pieces changed when Clifford went out.
Playing in the kind of demanding ambiance, Roberson never basically had grand of a raffle. He overlooked some originate receivers, but there had been also drops and methodology too many penalties.
Now 5-1, Penn Whine goes to must hope Clifford’s hurt is minor firstly. PSU has a bye subsequent week forward of web hosting Illinois on Oct. 23. The game after that is a scurry to Columbus to face mighty Ohio Whine.
Penn Whine has a extraordinarily correct employees, but this season would possibly per chance per chance streak downhill swiftly if Clifford is out for a significant time frame. If Clifford can advance back, there would possibly per chance be plenty left on the desk for the Nittany Lions.
