Iowa loses QB Ricky Stanzi in loss to Northwestern
Northwestern 17, No. 8 Iowa 10

By Luke Meredith, Associated Press Comments 0
Published: November 8, 2009

IOWA CITY, Iowa — With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic.

Northwestern’s Sidney Stewart, top, celebrates with fans and teammate Marshall Thomas, bottom, left, after a 17-10 victory over No. 8 Iowa on Saturday. AP Photo

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Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass, Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for a TD, and Northwestern damaged Iowa’s national title hopes with a 17-10 victory Saturday.

Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on the play in which Thomas scored the Wildcats’ first touchdown.

"Anytime you lose your quarterback, that’s not good,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been living dangerously all season, making a habit of comebacks and close games. Still, they were good enough to be fourth in the latest BCS standings, hoping that with a slip or two by Florida, Alabama and Texas they could end up in the BCS national championship game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7.

Now that their 13-game winning streak — second-longest in the nation — has been snapped, the Hawkeyes can focus on the other big game in Pasadena. Iowa can still win the Big Ten and land in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1990 season.

The Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) beat a top-10 opponent for the first time since knocking off No. 6 Ohio State 33-27 in overtime in 2004.

Ferentz said Stanzi had a "severe” ankle injury. Freshman James Vandenberg was just 9-of-27 for 82 yards and couldn’t lead the Hawkeyes to any points.

Ferentz said that while preliminary X-rays on Stanzi’s ankle were negative, he’ll likely be out the next couple of weeks. The Hawkeyes visit Ohio State next week then finish up at home against Minnesota.

"Right now we just have to take the approach that he won’t go, and if he does that’s a bonus,” Ferentz said.

Northwestern scored twice off turnovers in the second quarter.

Thomas’ fumble recovery made it 10-7. Drake Dunsmore caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Persa after another Iowa miscue.

Brandon Wegher had 63 yards rushing for Iowa. Stanzi was 4-of-9 for 134 yards with a touchdown, an interception and that costly fumble. Iowa committed four turnovers.

"It’s hard to win football games against good, competitive teams, and that’s basically everybody in our conference, if you’re going to turn the ball over,” Ferentz said. "If you do that week in, week out, you’re not going to win many football games.”