Highs and lows from Penn State football's win over Iowa

UNIVERSITY PARK — Following are the highlights and lowlights from Penn State’s 31-0 victory over Iowa on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium:

Play of the game: Up 3-0 early in the second quarter, PSU punted. The ball inadvertently went off an Iowa player, and Curtis Jacobs recovered at the Iowa 39. The muff set up the Lions first touchdown.

Offensive player of the game: KeAndre Lambert-Smith caught eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Six of his catches went for first downs.

Defensive player of the game: Chop Robinson had two quarterback hurries, a sack and a forced fumble.

Most telling statistic: The Hawkeyes were held to a mere two first downs through three quarters and four total.

Hidden statistic: Penn State’s defense held Iowa to just 33 plays – an unheard of number. (PSU doesn’t keep a record for fewest opposing plays.)

Most deceiving statistic: Drew Allar averaged only 4.4 yards in 37 passing attempts.

Best run: Nick Singleton started right, slipped and then cut back for a 19-yarder burst in the third quarter.

Best pass: On fourth-and-1, Allar zinged a 9-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Dinkins, pushing the Lions’ lead to 10-0 in the second quarter.

Worst pass: Iowa QB Cade McNamara really didn’t have time to make one.

Best catch: Lambert-Smith had a nifty reception of a 3-yard TD in the fourth quarter, bumping the Nits’ lead to 31-0.

Catch it, will ya: Omari Evans dropped a fourth-quarter pass.

Hold it, won’t ya: Kaden Saunders muffed a punt that he hustled to recover.

Best block(s): Out of a scrum formation, the Lions used tight end Tyler Warren to mush Allar for a couple first downs.

Best tackle: Adisa Isaac’s 9-yard sack of McNamara forced another Iowa punt late in the first half with the score still close.

Best hit: Iowa’s defense is hard-hitting and safety Xavier Nwankpa came up to stone Kaytron Allen in the third quarter.

Best kick(s): Iowa punter Tory Taylor uncorked a 62-yarder and averaged 52.3 on seven punts.

Worst kick: Alex Felkins missed from 43 with 6:11 left.

Best call: Mike Yurcich released Warren on third-and-goal for a 7-yard throwback reception TD and a 17-0 lead.

Worst call: Even with its feeble offense, Iowa elected to fair catch kickoffs.

Worst penalty: Lambert-Smith, for the second straight week, was nailed with a personal foul, this time a face mask that wiped out first-down yardage.

Best effort: Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins made 18 tackles.

Unsung hero: Jacobs recovered two fumbles for PSU, the first Lion to achieve that since Mark D’Onofrio vs. Temple in 1991.

Best moment: Multiple renditions of Credence Clearwater’s “Have You Ever Seen The Rain?” were timely.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox