By now this should come as no surprise to fans of the blue and white. To many this was the same story that we have seen over the better part of the past decade.

Iowa 21, Penn State 10.

Iowa beats Penn State...again

With a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, Iowa may have taken the Nittany Lions out of the big picture once again.

The night started off well for Penn State. After forcing the Hawkeyes to punt on the game’s first possession Daryll Clark wasted little time giving Penn State a lead. On Penn State’s first offensive play of the game Clark connected with wide receiver Chaz Powell for a 79-yard touchdown pass, putting Penn State up 7-0 just a couple minutes into the game.

Iowa had a decent drive going on the ensuing possession until Penn State’s Nick Sukay came up with an interception on a tipped pass, which would be the theme of the night as the game developed. Penn State took a much different approach on their drive, methodically moving the ball down field with 20 plays that chipped their way down field. Penn State was unable to enter the end zone though and settled for a field goal to go up 10-0.

Iowa would hang around though with terrific special teams and relentless defense.

After pinning Penn State deep in their own end-zone, and aided by a Penn State false start penalty, Iowa knocked the ball out of Daryll Clark’s hands in the end-zone. Penn State recovered the ball in the end-zone, resulting in a safety for Iowa, cutting the lead to eight. Iowa would inch closer a couple possessions later when old Penn State nemesis, Iowa kicker Daniel Murray, successfully kicked a 41 yard field goal in the soggy conditions.

On Penn State’s final real possession of the second quarter Clark appeared to have completed a pass to Powell but the referees called the play incomplete. Video replays on the ABC telecast appear to show that Powell had his hands beneath the ball for a complete pass, but the official’s review upheld the original call. The play would have given Penn State a first down, or within inches of one. Instead Penn State was forced to punt the ball away two plays later.

After forcing Iowa to punt the ball it appeared that Penn State was going to make it to the locker room at half time with an eight point lead, but a running into the kicker penalty was called on Sukay. Once again, the video replay seemed to show that Sukay was pushed into Iowa punter Ryan Donahue. The penalty gave Iowa a first down and enabled the Hawkeyes to set up a second field goal by Murray. This time a 42 yard field goal sailed wide, keeping the Nittany Lions on top 10-5, but the momentum had already shifted by the time the first half ended.

The second half would see Iowa in complete control.

The half started ominously for Penn State when Clark was intercepted on the opening drive. The Penn State defense bailed Clark and the offense out, as they did for most of the night, with linebacker Josh Hull coming up with the big play, sacking Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Penn State’s 48-yard field goal attempt by Collin Wagner on their next drive fell just short of the goal post. Iowa took control of the ball but their drive would end when A.J. Wallace intercepted another tipped pass from Stanzi.

Penn State took the following possession into the fourth quarter and when the drive stalled at the Iowa 47 yard line, the game officially went down hill.

Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn shoved aside a Penn State punt blocker and not only blocked the punt from Nittany Lions punter Jeremy Boone, but returned it 53 yards for an Iowa touchdown. With the Hawkeyes taking an 11-10 lead, Kirk Ferentz opted wisely to go for a two point conversion. After burning a time out to get the proper personnel in the game, Iowa still was unable to push the lead to three points as Penn State came up with the big stop.

Penn State had eight minutes and 32 seconds to come up with a field goal.

It never happened.

Penn State took their next possession from their own 23 yard line and worked to get out to the Iowa 49-yard line before Clark was intercepted once again. Iowa’s Pat Angerer returned the ball to where Penn State started their drive and three plays later Iowa freshman running back Adam Robinson waltzed into the end-zone, breaking off Penn State defenders who were displaying uncharacteristically poor tackling skills. the touchdown, and extra point, put Iowa up 18-10.

Penn State returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to mid-field, and a personal foul penalty for a late hit let Penn State start their drive at the Iowa 36 yard line. Needing to score a touchdown the Nittany Lions were given terrific field position but on their first play Evan Royster rushed for 18 yards before having the ball punched out of his right hand from behind. Iowa recovered and worked the clock as best they could.

Iowa took four minutes off the clock but still had to punt the ball back to Penn State. After two incomplete passes from Clark, the third was once again tipped and intercepted by Iowa. The Hawkeyes took three minutes and 40 seconds off the clock and were able to set Murray up for another field goal, which was good. With Iowa up 21-10 with just eight seconds left, the Nittany Lions were handed their first loss of the season.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

With nobody on either team really standing out on offense, and with nobody especially taking control on defense (both team’s defenses were full team efforts) the game ball for today has to go to Iowa’s Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn’s blocked punt and return for a touchdown officially took the steam out of the Penn State faithful, both in Beaver Stadium and in living rooms all over the Keystone State and beyond.

Clayborn’s touchdown gave Iowa the lead that they would not give up, although the momentum was already in Iowa’s favor. The touchdown just punctuated that.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

For weeks I have been pointing out the huge question mark that is the offensive line. Penn State was able to get by Akron, Syracuse and Temple with sub-par performances form the line, but Iowa’s defense made the proper adjustments after the first two Penn State possessions and just out-played the Penn State offensive line.

Looking at the big picture it is important to note that there is still something to play for this season. A loss hurts, but Iowa should not be dismissed. They are a very good team and they just out played Penn State in this game. The Big Ten title is still up for grabs so if Penn State takes care of business from this point a trip to Pasadena is not out of the question.

What we know is that the offensive line needs to improve, and Daryll Clark also needs to play better in a high profile game. He may not have mad much protection but he had some poor passes. Was it the weather? Not in the second half, when the rain was letting up.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Penn State has little time to be sour over this loss. Next week the Nittany Lions take to the road for the first time this season when they travel to Illinois. Illinois is coming off a shut-out loss at Ohio State (30-0). Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium in two weeks to take on Eastern Illinois.

Iowa returns home for a game against Arkansas State before taking on Michigan the following week.