Blue White Illustrated

midway through the third quarter, picking up 29 yards in the process, was also one of the night's ac- robatic catches. WORST DROPVandeBerg put his Hawkeyes in a hole early when he dropped a well-placed swing pass from Stanley. On a critical fourth-down play for the Nittany Lions in the second quarter, receiver Brandon Polk couldn't haul in a pass from McSorley to secure the first down. BEST SACKIowa avoided what could have been a game-changing turnover when an interception by Grant Haley was overturned on review, but Penn State's defensive line snuffed out the second chance they'd been given. With the Hawkeyes facing a crucial third down, defensive tackle Curtis Cothran brought down Stanley in the backfield to force a punt. BEST HITPenn State's first kickoff of the evening put a spotlight on its out- standing coverage unit when Brandon Smith walloped Ivory Kelly-Martin at the Iowa 18-yard line. Later, a wild handoff fake to Barkley got the Nittany Lion running back completely demol- ished in the backfield midway through the second quarter. Barkley landed on his hands but was truly upended on the play. BEST EFFORTBarkley used the third quarter of Saturday night's game to show the world what makes him so spe- cial. He started with a breathtaking 44- yard play, then finished the drive with a touchdown run on which he extended his right arm – with the ball – over the pylon for a touchdown. Honorable mention: Shareef Miller tracked down Iowa running back Akrum Wadley in the end zone for a safety and a 5-0 Nit- tany Lion lead. BEST KICKPenn State punter Blake Gillikin continued to prove his incredi- ble value to the Nittany Lions. In the first half, Gillikin booted a 39-yard punt perfectly toward the Hawkeyes' end zone, and it was downed by Irvin Charles at the 1-yard line to pin the hosts deep. WORST KICKThe early struggles of Tyler Davis and the field goal unit con- tinued Saturday night as his second at- tempt, this one from 41 yards early in the second quarter, sailed wide left. BEST DECISIONPenn State head coach James Franklin opted to have Iowa punt again after an illegal formation penalty against the Hawkeyes early in the sec- ond quarter. The decision paid off, as another attempt fell short, and the Lions were aided by a kick catch inter- ference penalty that brought them even farther into Hawkeye territory. The field position swing amounted to 37 yards. MOST TELLING MOMENTMiller prompted a double-take before the game even started, as the sophomore defensive end emerged from the locker room wearing Torrence Brown's No. 19 instead of his own No. 48 jersey. After Brown left last weekend's game early due to injury, the gesture was telling. Penn State confirmed during the game that Brown will miss the remainder of the season. S E P T E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M 5 Miller, wearing No. 19 to honor injured team- mate Torrence Brown, traps Akrum Wadley in the end zone for a safety. Miller's tackle gave Penn State a 5-0 lead. Photo by Steve Manuel

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