Penn State Upended by Iowa

After losing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead, Iowa settled down during an overtime that must have felt oddly familiar.

C.J. Jones’ six-yard touchdown reception in the overtime held up for the Hawkeyes (4-1), who upset the No. 12 Nittany Lions, 42-35, Saturday in a Big Ten opener.

Penn State (3-1) had a chance to force a second overtime, but Zack Mills’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete to give the Hawkeyes their third win in row over the Nittany Lions.

It was only the second overtime game for both teams, with the first coming against each other two years ago. In that game, the Hawkeyes kicked a field goal in the second overtime, then intercepted a pass from Rashard Casey to win it, 26-23.

Brad Banks had 261 passing yards and four touchdowns for Iowa, which has won four of five against Penn State and hasn’t lost at Happy Valley since 1994.

After the game, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno ran after the officials and grabbed one by the shoulder. Paterno later said he was upset over a “couple of lousy calls on the other side of the field.”

Iowa is only the third school to beat a Paterno-coached team three years in a row. Alabama (1987-89) and Michigan (1997-2001) also did it.

“We were hoping our defense would hold Penn State and they were able to come together and win it for us,” said Iowa’s Fred Russell, who ran for 142 yards and a touchdown. “It felt like it did two years ago, when we won it in overtime here.”

Penn State staged a frantic comeback in the last 7 1/2 minutes of regulation, scoring three touchdowns and converting a two-point conversion to force overtime.

But in the overtime, Penn State wasn’t nearly as effective. On second and eight from the nine-yard line, Mills threw to Tony Johnson, but Johnson was ruled out of bounds. Two plays later, Mills’ final pass attempt hit the back of center Joe Iorio’s helmet and fell to the ground, ending the game.