Iowa gets ugly win against Penn State

. -- Iowa slugged out an ugly win in soggy Happy Valley to upset Penn State for the second straight year.

Adrian Clayborn returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and the Hawkeyes beat mistake-prone No. 5 Penn State, 21-10, on Saturday night.

A year after a stunning 24-23 win knocked the Nittany Lions out of the national title race, the Hawkeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) took down Penn State (3-1, 0-1) again, this time in a drenching rainstorm.

“It was a team loss. No one person, or one play lost it,” said Penn State Coach Joe Paterno. “We got licked.”

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, Iowa’s defense shut down quarterback Daryll Clark and the Penn State spread offense with withering pressure. Broderick Binns’ sack led to a safety in the second quarter.

A defensive end, Clayborn rumbled 53 yards after blocking the punt to give Iowa an 11-10 lead with 12:21 left.

Clark was intercepted on the next drive to set up Adam Robinson’s 13-yard touchdown run to put the Hawkeyes up 18-10 with 8:32 left.

It didn’t get any better for Penn State.

A 36-yard punt return by Chaz Powell, plus a 15-yard personal-foul penalty, gave the Nittany Lions the ball at the Iowa 36 after Robinson’s touchdown.

But tailback Evan Royster fumbled the ball away on the next play.

“I thought the kids hung in there, tried to come back, and they kept making mistakes,” Paterno said.