For the first time since 2014, Penn. State took the field with someone other than James Franklin on the sidelines. It was Terry Smith who had the honor, and his Nittany Lions almost pulled it off.
Playing
at night at Iowa is one of the worst ways to start your career, and that was the case not only for Smith, but for Ethan Grunkemeyer, who takes over for injured Drew Allar at quarterback. He did as well as you could expect from a person on their first start in that hostile environment.
The game played in very Iowa-like fashion. Both defenses, including Penn State’s, actually contained opposing offenses, and special teams were the name of the game. First the first three quarters, Penn State got the upper hand in that special teams battle.
That is, until Grunkeyemer’s inexperience caught up with him, the defense couldn’t contain the quarterback once more, and the offense stalled to give up a 21-10 lead they held onto late into the third. Both of Iowa’s touchdown drives to ultimately take the lead came on broken runs by Mark Grnowski, both deep in Iowa territory. Stop even one of them, and we’re talking about a Penn State victory in Smith’s first game as interim coach.
Yet, as it stands, the inability to stop the quarterback run is and will continue to be one of the biggest reasons Penn State loses, however many more times it does from here on out.
Stats and Storylines
Did you see that? – Late in the second quarter, Ethan Grunkemeyer threw what ended up being an interception caught at the Iowa 4 after the incompletion got overturned. It was on third down, so Penn State would have punted either way. All’s well that ends well, as the Hawkeyes were able to move the ball outside of their own 4-yard line.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes – Iowa had a chance to go into the half up 10-7. Kirk Ferentz got greedy, tried for a 66-yard field goal, only for the attempt to get blocked and lead to a Penn State touchdown.
Still can’t stop the QB – Iowa’s last two touchdowns, the two that sealed the game away, were exclusively made possible by Gronowski’s legs. They’re going to need to figure that out quick.
As it turns out – We may have expected Nicholas Singleton to achieve this honor, but as it turns out, it may be Kaytron Allen who ends up atop the rushing list by season’s end.
Ouch – Pulling a note from USC last season, Penn State has held a lead in the fourth quarter (or OT) in every single game they’ve lost so far.
