Penn State Football at Iowa: Hawkeyes lead 7-5 at halftime

Penn State football and Iowa are locked in a weird slugfest. The Hawkeyes lead the Nittany Lions 7-5 at the halftime. Should Penn State be worried?

The Nittany Lions and the Hawkeyes are playing a very oddball game right now. A defensive slugfest that had two plays change everything at the end of the first half.

Penn State took the ball first in this one and drove into Iowa territory. They were going to go for it on 4th down and short but a delay of game forced the Lions to punt. The Hawkeyes went three and out for their first possession.

The Lions went nowhere on their next possession even though it started in plus territory. It was the same story for the Hawkeyes. PSU took their third possession and drove 66 yards to the Iowa goal line, but had to settle for the field goal instead. The first quarter ended with the Lions leading 3-0.

To start the second quarter, Iowa again could not get much done except for their first 1st down of the game. On the Hawkeyes first three drives, the Lions completely bottled up Iowa running back Akrum Wadley and quarterback Nate Stanley. Penn State again drove the ball pretty far into Hawkeye territory. However this time they would come up short as kicker Tyler Davis missed a 41 yard field goal attempt.

Later in the second quarter, Penn State’s punter Blake Gillikin pinned the Hawkeyes deep at their own 1-yard line. For some odd reason, Iowa pitched to Wadley. That play took too long to develop and the Lions were all over it for the safety.

Penn State was trying to mount a late drive, but McSorley was pressured and threw an interception to linebacker Josey Jewell. Iowa took one play and turned it into a touchdown. Somehow, some way and Iowa has the 7-5 lead at the break.

Penn State second half adjustments

Penn State needs to keep doing what they are doing defensively. They are getting after the ball and shutting down everything Iowa is throwing at them. On offense, they are moving the ball but keep stalling in Iowa territory and then disaster struck at the end of the half. Trace McSorley needs to settle down his passing and keep feeding the ball to Saquon Barkley. When he has the ball, good things will happen.

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Iowa 2nd half adjustments

Offensively, the Hawkeyes have to do something outside the gift Penn State gave them at the end of the half. The defense has been pulling their weight for the most part. They have to get Akrum Wadley and the running game going. Penn State loaded the box a lot during the first half, so maybe some different looks to open it up. If they can get the running game going, that will open up the play-action pass for Nate Stanley and his receivers.