No. 7 Penn State dominates No. 24 Iowa in the Whiteout

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Revenge is a dish best served cold.

On a chilly, rainy night, amidst a sea of white, Penn State avenged its 2021 loss at Iowa, taking the top-25 matchup 31-0.

The game started with Iowa’s opening drive stalling out around midfield before pinning the Nittany Lions at their own 5-yard line. Following a three-and-out, Cade McNamara began his second drive at the Penn State 48.

However, momentum shifted in Penn State’s favor as Erick All fumbled as Iowa moved into the red zone, and Curtis Jacobs came out of the bottom of the pile with it.

Drew Allar and the offense orchestrated a beautiful 17-play drive moving deep into Hawkeye territory, including a 4th and 1 conversion. However, penalties derailed the possession, but Alex Felkins was able to convert on his 46-yard field goal to put the first points on the board, 3-0.

Iowa got the ball back, and its drive ended after three plays, but its defense stymied the Penn State offense.

To begin the second quarter, it was the Hawkeyes hurting themselves, as a muffed punt gave the ball back to the Nittany Lions at the Iowa 39-yard line.

On the second 4th and 1 of the drive with 9:17 left in the second, Drew Allar connected with Khalil Dinkins for a 9-yard touchdown, electrifying the crowd, 10-0.

It was the first catch of the season for the tight end out of Wexford, Pennsylvania, and second career touchdown.

The rest of the first half was tough sledding as both punters, Riley Thompson and Tory Taylor, got plenty of action flipping the field. The score remained the same as Penn State headed into the locker room with a 10-0 lead.

Allar went 15-23 for 100 yards and a touchdown, while the rushing attack struggled, gaining 62 yards on 25 rushes for 2.5 yards per carry.

As for the Nittany Lion defense, they were outstanding, holding Iowa to 63 total yards, with Adisa Issac notching the lone sack. In the second quarter, the Hawkeyes totaled negative three yards and had four straight three-and-outs going to the half.

To open up the second half, Allar and the offense marched straight down the field with a 15-play, 75-yard drive, taking over six minutes, and it ended with a passing touchdown to Tyler Warren, 17-0.

It was Allar’s second passing touchdown of the night and Tyler Warren’s third receiving touchdown of the year.

Following the fifth straight Iowa three-and-out, Allar conducted another gracious touchdown drive, going 12 plays for 71 yards in 5:50, and some would call it déjà vu as he connected with Warren again, 24-0.

On the first play of the next Iowa drive, Chop Robinson finally broke through for a strip sack recovered by Adisa Issac. It was Robinson’s first sack of the season, and it set up Allar at Iowa’s 19-yard line.

Looking to capitalize off the turnover to begin the 4th quarter, Felkins came out for another field goal, but it was blocked. The Nittany Lions caught a break as the Hawkeyes committed a penalty that kept the drive going.

On the next play, Allar lofts it up to Keandre Lambert-Smith, who made a great snag for the touchdown, 31-0.

It was Allar’s fourth touchdown pass of the game and the third straight drive with a touchdown for Penn State.

Iowa opted to go to backup quarterback Deacon Hill with around 10 minutes left, but it didn’t matter as the blue and white caused the sixth three-and-out.

With the game out of reach, coach James Franklin brought in Beau Pribula. In his first drive under center, he drove down the field but came up empty-handed as Felkins missed the 43-yard field goal wide left.

It did not matter if the backups were in as the defense terrorized the Iowa offensive line, and Amin Vanover stripped Hill, recovered by Zuriah Fisher.

This is the second straight game where the Penn State defense forced four or more turnovers.

A few more first downs by Pribula iced the game as the Nittany Lions improved to 4-0.

Matthew Scalzo is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him email, matt.scalzo8@gmail.com or mms7477@psu.edu.