Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/876707
O T H E R M A T C H U P S THE LOWDOWNThe Lions' special teams have been very effective in nearly every phase of the game, especially punt returns, where DeAndre Thompkins is averaging a Big Ten-best 20.2 yards per attempt. The one area where they've uncharacteristically struggled is place-kicking. Senior Tyler Davis went into the season as one of the most accurate kickers in school history but has missed 2 of 4 attempts, with both misses coming from inside 40 yards. Iowa's kicking game is solid. WR Matt VandeBerg averages an impressive 12.4 yards per punt return, while PK Miguel Recinos had made all three of his field goal attempts. Still, PSU get the edge here. // EDGE Penn State SPECIAL TEAMS THE LOWDOWN This will be Penn State's first road game since a trip to Rutgers last November, unless you count the Rose Bowl, which was essentially a home game for USC. Iowa is a tough place to play, especially at night. The Hawkeyes have won their past four night games at Kinnick Stadium, and on Saturday they will be going for the 400th home victory in the history of the program, which was launched in 1889. // EDGEIowa THIS 'N' THAT THE LOWDOWN Now in his 19th season with the Hawkeyes, Kirk Ferentz is the longest-tenured active coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. His contract runs through 2025, so it doesn't appear as if he'll be going anywhere for a while. James Franklin looks like he's going to be in it for the long haul at Penn State, based on the results he's been getting on the field (16-3 since the beginning of last season) and on signing day. // EDGE Penn State COACHING STAFF S E P T E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 Wadley has been a big-play specialist in the passing game, with six catches for 152 yards (25.3 ypc) and a touch- down. Stanley also likes to throw to his tight ends. Fant has seven catches for 89 yards and three TDs, while T.J. Hockenson has five for 70 yards and one TD. Penn State is ranked third in the Big Ten in pass defense, and its sec- ondary has six interceptions, matching its season totals from each of the previous two seasons. CB Grant Haley leads the team with two interceptions. Penn State leads the Big Ten in interceptions and turnover margin (+2.33 per game). // KEY MATCHUP Fant will take on SS Troy Apke, while Farmer and Bowen will have to keep an eye on Wadley. Iowa loves to throw to Fant on third down, and Wadley is a threat to come out of the backfield at any time. Control those two and you control Iowa's pass offense. // EDGE Penn State