Stanzi’s Two TDs, Iowa’s Stingy Defense Leads To 24-14 Win Over Georgia Tech

Plenty more reaction and analysis at SB Nation’s Iowa blog, Black Heart Gold Pants, and our Georgia Tech blog, From The Rumble Seat.

Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Brandon Wegher ran for a game-clinching 32-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, and Ricky Stanzi threw for a pair of scores in his return from ankle surgery, as 10th-ranked Iowa pulled out a 24-14 victory against No. 9 Georgia Tech in the 76th edition of the Orange Bowl.

Stanzi was 17-of-29 for 231 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown, while the freshman Wegher totaled 113 yards on 16 carries for Iowa (11-2), which notched its first major bowl win since beating California in the 1959 Rose Bowl.

The Hawkeyes seemed destined to return to the Rose Bowl after starting the season 9-0, but the injury to Stanzi led to consecutive losses to Northwestern and eventual Big Ten champ Ohio State in November to foil those plans.

Iowa’s stingy defense held Tech to just 156 yards of offense, with junior defensive end Adrian Clayborn leading the way with nine tackles and two sacks.

Georgia Tech’s spread offense couldn’t recreate its success of the regular- season, as dynamic quarterback Josh Nesbitt was held to 48 yards rushing and two completions on nine pass attempts for 13 yards, including a critical fourth-quarter interception.

Anthony Allen’s rushing score represented the lone offensive score, while Jerrard Tarrant had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets (11-3), who captured their first outright ACC title since 1990.

Georgia Tech hasn’t won in the postseason since taking a 51-14 decision from Syracuse in the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl.