IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa spoiled Terry Smith’s first game as Penn State interim coach and Ethan Grunkemeyer’s first start at quarterback, rallying to beat the Nittany Lions, 25-24, Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium.
Penn State drove from its 22 to its 49, but was stopped on fourth-and-4 when the Hawkeyes (3-1 Big Ten, 5-2) blitzed several defenders and rushed Grunkemeyer into an incompletion with 1:14 left.
The Lions (0-4, 3-4) dropped their fourth straight at the end of a tumultuous week, which began with the firing of James Franklin after 11-plus seasons as coach.
Grunkemeyer, who handled himself with poise, completed 15-of-28 passes for 93 yards with two interceptions. Kaytron Allen carried 28 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski was 10-for-16 passing for 68 yards and an interception, but he hurt Penn State with his feet by rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
After Iowa cut it to two with 13:17 left, Penn State used more than eight minutes and drove from its 25 to the Iowa 10. Grunkemeyer’s 13-yard pass to tight end Andrew Rappleyea on third-and-12 to the Iowa 40 was the key play.
On first down from the 10, Grunkemeyer rolled to his right and threw a pass off the chest of Trebnor Pena in the end zone. Ryan Barker drilled a 32-yard field goal, which put the Lions up 24-19 with 4:56 left.
But on the next play from scrimmage, Gronowski burst through the middle of the defense for a 67-yard gain to the Penn State 8. Kaden Wetjen scored on the next play to put Iowa up by one with 3:54 left.
Penn State took a 21-10 lead by going 75 yards on its opening drive of the second half. Grunkemeyer threw a dart to Devonte Ross for an 11-yard gain on third-and-7 and Iowa was flagged for pass interference on third-and-14.
Three plays later, Allen broke an arm tackle and scored on an 8-yard run.
Iowa answered with a 74-yard drive, which was highlighted by Gronowski’s 38-yard scramble on third-and-3 to the Penn State 29.. Five plays later, he called an audible and ran it around left end for a 4-yard score that made it 21-16.
On its next series, Penn State faced fourth-and-1 from its 40. The Lions tried to surprise Iowa when Grunkemeyer faked that he couldn’t hear the signals and tight end Luke Reynolds took a direct snap. But Reynolds was stopped for no gain.
After Kamari Moulton’s 21-yard run, Iowa’s Drew Stevens kicked a 31-yard field goal, which trimmed it to 21-19 early in the fourth quarter before Barker’s field goal..
The first half ended with a bizarre play. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz decided to have Stevens try a 66-yard field goal with the wind with six seconds left.
Penn State’s Xavier Gilliam blocked the kick. Elliot Washington II scooped up the ball at the Iowa 35 and sprinted into the end zone to give the Lions a 14-10 lead at the break.
Moments earlier, Ferentz decided to punt from the Iowa 39 on fourth-and-1. Penn State took over at its 20 after a touchback. On third-and-6, Grunkemeyer’s pass went off Reynolds’ hand and into the arms of Xavier Nwankpa, who returned it 28 yards to the Lions’ 1.
Gronowski scored on a sneak to put the Hawkeyes up 10-7.
Penn State took advantage of Gronowski’s interception on Iowa’s first series to score first. Zion Tracy tipped it and Zakee Wheatley made a one-handed interception at the Iowa 35.
Ten plays later, Allen scored on fourth-and-inches from the 1 to make it 7-0.
Iowa drove into Penn State territory on its next two series. Stevens booted a 39-yard field goal and missed one from 46 yards.
The Lions finished the half with just 98 total yards, compared to 119 for Iowa.
Source: Berkshire mont