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Penn State aims for 10-0 start vs. Iowa

Nov 8, 2008 - 11:18 AM (2) Penn State (9-0) at Iowa (5-4), 3:30 pm EST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Ticker) -- Penn State is hoping to jump out to a 10-0 start for the second time since it joined the Big Ten Conference.

Standing in the second-ranked Nittany Lions' way this Saturday will be Iowa.

Two weeks after its emotional 13-6 victory over Ohio State, Penn State needs to avoid a letdown in this one.

A fourth-quarter fumble recovery led to a seven-play, 38-yard drive that was capped when backup quarterback Pat Devlin sneaked in from a yard out.

"Mentally, this is what we practiced every day," said Devlin, who entered the game when starter Daryll Clark suffered a mild concussion in the fourth quarter. "Surprisingly, I didn't have butterflies. I was confident in our offensive line. This is what you prepare for, you don't remember the fear."

Trailing 6-3, Penn State (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) recovered a fumble when safety Mark Rubin popped the ball out of Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor's grip and - after a wild scramble - freshman linebacker Navorro Bowman came away with the ball with 10 minutes left.

"I'm happy for the kids. They worked hard tonight against a good football team," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "We changed a couple things at halftime and came out with a lot of confidence.

"They kept their poise and that one turnover was the ballgame because nobody had good field position until that play."

The win put Penn State in position to receive a bid for the national title game. After visiting Iowa, the Nittany Lions host Indiana and Michigan State with a chance to finish the regular season undefeated.

Penn State also has an opportunity to start the season 10-0 for the first time since 1994.

The Hawkeyes failed to win their third straight contest last Saturday when Matt Eller kicked a 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds left to lift Illinois to a 27-24 victory.

Ricky Stanzi threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Andy Brodell as Iowa overcame a 15-point fourth-quarter to forge a 24-24 tie. Shonn Greene added 103 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries for the Hawkeyes (5-4, 2-3).