||| NO. 4 PENN STATE 21, IOWA 19 LAST- PLAY TD LIFTS LIONS

McSorley scoring pass to Johnson as time runs out tops Hawkeyes

Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was happening like it had so often in the past. A once- sluggish Iowa team had come to life in the fourth quarter under the lights at home, and another top- five opponent was set to go down.

But Trace McSorley, Juwan Johnson and No. 4 Penn State flipped the script, scoring on the last play of the game Saturday to survive a wild Big Ten opener.

Johnson caught a seven- yard touchdown pass as time expired, and the Nittany Lions rallied to stun the Hawkeyes 21- 19 at a raucous Kinnick Stadium.

Saquon Barkley had 211 yards rushing and 94 yards receiving for Penn State ( 4- 0, 1- 0), which outgained Iowa 579- 273 but nearly blew a game that could have been crippling to its postseason hopes.

‘‘ We felt like we had a height advantage with [ Johnson], and we could slip him through the middle of the field,’’ Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said of the winning play.

Akrum Wadley had a 70- yard touchdown reception midway through the fourth quarter and a 35- yard touchdown run with 1: 42 left to put the Hawkeyes ( 3- 1, 0- 1) ahead 19- 15.

But Penn State drove 80 yards on 12 plays to close out the game, with McSorley finding Johnson in a crowded end zone on fourth down. McSorley finished with 284 yards passing.

Wadley had 80 yards rushing and 75 yards receiving, and Nate Stanley threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa.

‘‘ It’s a tough loss for all of us,’’ Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said. ‘‘ You can see firsthand why they were the Big Ten champs last year.’’

Michigan came to Iowa City in a similar spot last season and lost 14- 13, so the Nittany Lions should be happy they avoided a loss that would have erased their margin of error for the College Football Playoff.

Barkley was unstoppable, and Penn State’s defense was brilliant. But the Nittany Lions didn’t do a ton in the passing game until the final drive, when McSorley was right on the money.