For the second straight year the Iowa Hawkeyes have taken the wind out of the No. 5/4 Penn State Nittany Lions football season, this time going into Beaver Stadium Saturday night and coming out with a 21-10 win. Iowa continued their recent dominance of Penn State, now winning seven of the last eight meetings since 2000.

On a rainy night ball possession was going to be key and for Daryll Clark and Evan Royster it was the downfall.

The game could not have started any better for the Nittany Lions. After forcing an opening three-and-out, Penn State struck for a 79-yard touchdown on a deep ball from Clark to Chaz Powell off a play-action fake on their very first play from scrimmage.

Iowa responded by moving the ball into Penn State (3-1) territory but then Ricky Stanzi was picked off by Nick Sukay. That set up a 20 play 68-yard drive that took up 10:17 on the first quarter clock. The Nittany Lions settled for a 27-yard Colin Wagner field goal to make it 10-0.

When the quarter turned from the first to the second so did the game. After Iowa (4-0) was forced to punt once again on their third possession, Penn State was pinned down near their goal-line and their play calling switched from what was working on the previous drive.

On third down Clark was hit in the end zone when he held the ball to long and fumbled. Luckily for Penn State they recovered but it counted as a safety for Iowa.

In the second quarter the Iowa defense stepped up and the Nittany Lions got away from what they did in the first quarter. That led to Penn State only gaining 16 yards on four possessions and no first downs.

Daniel Murray kicked a field goal from 41-yards out to cut the lead to 10-5 with 4:41 remaining before half and then missed a 42-yarder with 11 seconds left which would have cut the lead to two.

Penn State’s first possession of the second half ended in a Clark interception on a throw that he surely would want back because he had Graham Zug wide open. The Nittany Lions defense, which played well all night held though and forced a punt.

Wagner then missed a 48-yard field goal after Penn State seemed to start moving the ball again. The defense again stepped up and picked off Stanzi for the second time. This time it was A.J. Wallace off a deflected ball.

The score stayed 10-5 into the fourth quarter when the game change for good. Penn State was forced to bring Jeremy Boone on for a punt and Adrian Clayborn blocked it, scooped it on a bounce and ran it 53 yards for a touchdown. Iowa went for two but Stanzi was sacked, leaving the score at 11-10.

It looked like Penn State might dig down and make a drive but that ended when Clark’s pass went off the hands of Royster and was intercepted. Iowa finally took it to the Penn State defense and scored their first offensive touchdown on a 13-yard run from Adam Robinson to make it 18-10.

Again the Nittany Lions were not out of it. Down eight they had the ball and a lot of time. They also had good field position after a Powell kick return and late hit on Iowa. Royster would then break off a first-down run but fumbled the ball and Iowa recovered.

The air was out of the crowd but the defense again got the offense the ball back only down eight with 4:06 remaining. Clark was picked off after his pass was deflected at the line and Iowa sealed the win with a Murray field goal with eight seconds left to yield the final of 21-10.

Penn State’s six second half possessions ended in an interception, missed field goal, blocked punt for a touchdown, interception, fumble and interception.

Clark was 12-32 for 198 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions. He surely has to be disappointed that he didn’t atone for last year in Iowa City.

His counterpart Stanzi was only 12-26 for 135 yards and two interceptions.

Robinson had a solid game, running for 88 yards on 19 carries for the Hawkeyes. Roytser rushed 17 times for 69 yards for Penn State.

Powell caught three balls for 96 yards to lead the Nittany Lions and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who was questionable to play for Iowa caught three for 50 yards.

Defense was the story for both teams however.

Pat Angerer had 14 tackles and the interception off Royster’s hands that set up the Robinson TD run. Jeremiha Hunter added 12 tackles and 1.5 for loss.

Sean Lee, who injured his knee against Temple, last week did not play in the game, but Navarro Bowman did return to action after missing the last two for the Nittany Lions. He had a good game with 13 tackles, three of which were for loss.

Josh Hull also made 13 stops, two for loss and a sack. Sukay had a great game from the safety spot, with nine tackles, one interception and four pass break ups.

One thing is for sure, the Penn State defense cannot be blamed for this loss. The loss has to go squarely on the offense and the turnovers they gave up.

Penn State travels to Illinois next weekend for their first road contest of the season. Iowa returns home to take on out-of-conference foe Arkansas State next Saturday.