Wilkes football outlasts Albright to set up first-place showdown with Delaware Valley

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Beyond the Byline: Oh deer, not again!

<p>IOWA CITY, Iowa &#8212; Noah Cain ran for a five-yard touchdown with 5:17 left and 10th-ranked Penn State held off No. 17 Iowa 17-12 on Saturday night, its first win over a ranked opponent this season and the first of James Franklin&#8217;s career leading the Lions.</p><p>Cain finished with 102 yards for the Nittany Lions (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), who extended their winning streak over the Hawkeyes (4-2, 1-2) to six games.</p><p>A matchup between two of the nation&#8217;s top defenses turned when Iowa&#8217;s Nate Stanley threw an interception near midfield with 9:22 remaining. Penn State drove 35 yards on a gassed Iowa defense, and the last of three straight runs by Cain made it 17-6.</p><p>Iowa pulled within 17-12 when Stanley found Brandon Smith for a 33-yard TD pass with 2:31 to go. The Hawkeyes&#8217; two-point try failed though, and Cain converted a crucial third down that ensured that Iowa never saw the ball again.</p><p>It was the first time Franklin&#8217;s Penn State team won away from home against a ranked opponent in seven tries.</p><p>Up 7-6 late in the third quarter, Penn State recovered a fumble at Iowa&#8217;s 16 and Sean Clifford connected on an apparent touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth that was overturned on review. Iowa then held the Nittany Lions at the 1-foot line, and two straight holding calls forced them to settle for a 33-yard field goal.</p><p>KJ Hamler caught seven passes, including a 22-yarder for a TD, for Penn State.</p><p>Stanley threw for 286 yards, but the Hawkeyes ran for just 70 yards on 30 attempts.</p><p>The Nittany Lions survived their toughest road challenge outside of a trip to Ohio State on Nov. 23. Penn State was on the road against a talented team with a jacked-up crowd, and yet the Nittany Lions were the ones making the plays that made the difference.</p><p>The Hawkeyes nearly went back-to-back games without a touchdown. Granted, Michigan and Penn State are really good on defense. But Iowa can&#8217;t continue to lean on its own defense to keep it in games. At 1-2 in the league and with Wisconsin looking like one of the best teams in America, the Big Ten West doesn&#8217;t look so winnable anymore.</p><p>Penn State might move up a few spots in the polls. Iowa might struggle to hang onto its spot in the Top 25 after back-to-back losses.</p><p>Penn State hosts Michigan next Saturday in a marquee Big Ten matchup, while Iowa will host Purdue next Saturday.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption"><strong></strong>Penn State cornerback John Reid, right, breaks up a pass intended for Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette during the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_AP19286048468352.jpg</photo0><caption0><strong></strong>Penn State cornerback John Reid, right, breaks up a pass intended for Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette during the first half of an NCAA football game Saturday in Iowa City, Iowa.  </caption0><photoCredit0>Matthew Putney | AP Photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_AP19286066321553.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Penn State defensive tackle Robert Windsor, center, sacks Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley during the second half of a college football game Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_AP19286066321553.jpg</photo1><caption1>Penn State defensive tackle Robert Windsor, center, sacks Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley during the second half of a college football game Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Matthew Putney | AP Photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Luke Meredith</p><p>AP Sports Writer</p></bylineMeta></div>

Lions hold off Iowa, pass major road test