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• Box Score: Iowa 37, Eastern Illinois 7
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IOWA CITY — These Panthers were no match for Iowa.
Weary of hearing how Northern Iowa's Panthers nearly upset Iowa in last year's season opener, the Hawkeyes put the hammer to Eastern Illinois early, leading 21-0 after one quarter and outclassing EIU 37-7 before a sellout crowd of 70,585 at Kinnick Stadium.
A year ago, Iowa needed to block two field goals in the final seven seconds to outlast Northern Iowa, 17-16. A Football Championship Subdivision school like UNI, the Panthers of Eastern Illinois had none of the components necessary to threaten the seasoned Hawkeyes, who are ranked ninth in the Associated Press poll and 10th in the coaches' poll.
“I was having dark thoughts all week, and the credit goes to UNI there,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “So it was good to see us come out looking a little bit better prepared.''
Iowa senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi completed his first nine passes and finished 18 of 23 for 229 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Sophomore tailback Adam Robinson complemented him nicely with 24 carries for 109 yards and three scores.
“This is not territory that we are used to,'' said Ferentz of the blowout, following a 2009 season in which the Hawkeyes won four games by three points or fewer, and beat just one opponent by more than 18. “I would not mind trying to get used to it. ... But it was good to have a chance to play our younger players. That's always a positive.''
Eastern Illinois, rated 16th in the FCS, didn't force an Iowa punt until the fourth quarter, when it trailed 30-7. Iowa finished with advantages of 435-157 in total yards and 24-6 in first downs.
Now Iowa (1-0) can turn its attention to Saturday's 2:36 p.m. game back here against Iowa State (1-0).
“The degree of difficulty is going to start moving up, that's for sure,'' Ferentz said. “And it will be right up there, way up there, next week.''
Saturday's game essentially was over after about 14 minutes. Iowa drove 65 yards in six plays to open the game, taking a 7-0 lead on Robinson's 2-yard TD run.
EIU's first drive consisted of two penalties for 15 yards and three plays for a net of 2 yards. The Hawks needed eight plays to cover 56 yards and lead 14-0, with Robinson's 4-yard run capping the drive.
Paki O'Meara then broke through and blocked the Panthers' second punt attempt. He picked it up and completed the 42-yard return to make it 21-0 with :53 left in the first quarter.
Iowa led 28-7 at the intermission, and the second half lacked any real drama.
The only moment that made Iowa fans squirm came with 11:11 left in the second quarter. Stanzi rolled right, slipped and landed awkwardly. He limped off the field and trainers tended to his left knee.
“I was a little worried that maybe it was something serious,'' Stanzi said. “So I wanted to get off and get it checked.''
James Vandenberg entered for one series, but then Stanzi returned and worked the next six series without limping.
“I didn't want to make a big ordeal about it,'' Stanzi said. “I didn't think it was anything too traumatizing, but I wasn't so sure. So once I got the OK from the doctors, I felt more comfortable with going back in.''
With expected contributor Jewel Hampton sitting out a one-game suspension for a team rules violation and Brandon Wegher not currently with the squad, Robinson picked up the slack at running back. The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder out of Des Moines Lincoln again showed a great knack for piling up yards after contact.
“As a running back, I just think you have to have that type of mentality, that nobody's going to stop you,'' Robinson said. “I guess I had that mentality today.''
Contact the writer:
444-1055, kevin.white@owh.com
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