No. 8 Iowa upset by Northwestern
No. 8 Iowa upset by Northwestern
CHARLIE NEIBERGALL / Associated Press
Northwestern's Marshall Thomas celebrates with David Arnold and Jack DiNardo (90) after returning a fumble for a TD.
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass and Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for another score as Northwestern dealt a crushing blow to No. 8 Iowa's national championship hopes with a 17-10 victory yesterday.
Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on the play in which Thomas scored the Wildcats' first touchdown.
The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been making a habit of comebacks and close games all season. Still, they were good enough to be fourth in the latest BCS standings, hoping that - with a slip or two by Florida, Alabama, and Texas - they could end up in the BCS national championship game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7.
Now that their 13-game winning streak - second longest in the nation - has been snapped, the Hawkeyes' focus can shift to the other big game in Pasadena. Iowa can still win the Big Ten and land in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1990 season.
It was the first win over a top-10 opponent for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) since knocking off No. 6 Ohio State, 33-27, in overtime in 2004.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Stanzi had a "severe" ankle injury. Freshman James Vandenberg was just 9 of 27 for 82 yards and couldn't lead the Hawkeyes to any points after Stanzi left the game.
Ferentz said that while X-rays on Stanzi's ankle were negative, he'll likely be out for the next couple of weeks.
Northwestern scored twice off turnovers in the second quarter. Thomas' fumble recovery made it 10-7. Drake Dunsmore caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Persa after another Iowa miscue.
Brandon Wegher had 63 yards rushing for Iowa. Stanzi was 4 of 9 for 134 yards with a touchdown, an interception, and that costly fumble. Iowa committed four turnovers.
Northwestern's Stefan Demos hit a 47-yard field goal with 13 minutes, 29 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 17-10 lead. The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game after taking over with 2:04 left on their own 17, but an incomplete pass on fourth down sent the Wildcats' bench erupting in celebration.
