Iowa football: Top three performances against Penn State

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 27: Sam Brincks #90 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after catching a 10 yard touchdown pass in the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 27, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Iowa’s defensive line

I typically try to highlight specific individuals with this weekly post, but it’s hard to when the entire defensive line played outstanding. As we mentioned in an article yesterday, the defense held Penn State to its lowest rushing yard total of the season and held dynamic back Miles Sanders to his second lowest total of the season. For all intensive purposes, they shut down the most dangerous part of Penn State’s game, the rushing offense.

When the Nittany Lions tried airing the ball out, the defensive line came through still constantly putting pressure on Penn State throughout the game.

The defensive line finished with 4.5 sacks on the game. Matt Nelson contributed half of a sack, Anthony Nelson contributed 1.5 sacks, Parker Hesse contributed a sack, AJ Epenesa contributed a sack, and Chauncy Gholston contributed half a sack.

The only starter who didn’t register a sack was senior defensive tackle Sam Brinks who just so happened to catch the fake field goal touchdown pass to put the Hawks up in the first quarter by twelve points.

Again, the defensive line proves they are the strength of the team, and that group of players is a big reason the Iowa football team has six wins at this point.

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