Box Score

HTML BOX  |  PDF BOX  |  Game Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

EIU Panthers and Fans in Iowa City Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Iowa picked up right where it left off from the 2009 season as the No. 9 Hawkeyes scored on two early drives as they cruised to a 37-7 victory over Eastern Illinois which is ranked No. 16 in the FCS polls.

Iowa won the opening toss and Ricky Stanzi drove the Hawkeyes 65 yards on six plays with Adam Robinson capping the drive with the first of three touchdowns. Robinson scored from 2-yards out with 12:20 remaining in the first quarter. Robinson would finish the afternoon with 109 yards rushing on 24 carries.

He would put Iowa up 14-0 with 4:56 left in the first quarter on a 4-yard score following an 8-play, 56 yard drive. Robinson's final score came with 8:39 to go in the first half from 6-yards out.

Special teams played a factor in the next two scores as Iowa blocked a punt and Paki O'Meara picked up the loose ball and rushed in from 42-yards out to put the Hawkeyes up 21-0.

"It wasn't a 70-7 game," EIU head coach Bob Spoo joked following the game. "I think we played hard. You take away the blocked punt for a touchdown and the safety and it's a 28-7 contest."

On the next drive EIU was faced with a punting situation from its own 20-yard line. The Panthers ran a fake punt with a direct snap to Cody Bruns who raced 36 yards to put the ball in Iowa territory. Brandon Large would hit Chris Wright for a 37-yard strike to put the ball inside the Iowa ten yard line. Two plays later Large found Von Wise in the end zone for the lone EIU score.



Large would finish the day 13-of-20 for 92 yards and one score in his first collegiate start. He was sacked only two times as the Panthers offensive line was a question mark entering the game due to some injuries. Kenny Whittaker was the favorite target with four receptions but only for 18 yards.

"I was really pleased with Brandon's (Large) effort today," said Spoo. "I think he showed a lot of poise."

Iowa's led 28-7 at the half and added nine more points in the second half. The Hawkeyes scored on a safety in the third quarter when a pass intended for Jimmy Potempa sailed over his head out-of-bounds in the end zone. The final score was in the fourth quarter on a Brett Morse 1-yard pass from Stanzi. Stanzi finished the day 18-of-23 for 229 yards.

EIU was able to force two turnovers recovering a Stanzi fumble at the EIU 3-yard line and a fumble at midfield on a pass reception by Colin Sandeman.

Nick Martinez who forced the Sandeman fumble and Nick Nasti led EIU with 9 tackles each. CJ James had one of the two EIU sacks finishing with seven tackles. Karl Klug and Tyler Nielsen led Iowa with six tackles each.

EIU plays its home opener next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. hosting Central Arkansas at O'Brien Field. The Panthers will retire former EIU quarterback and current New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton's No. 18 at halftime of the game.