IOWA CITY -- It bends and bends and bends, but rarely does Iowa's defense break.

Under defensive coordinator Norm Parker, the Hawkeyes have never been flashy, sticking to the basics and making the plays that need to be made.

That certainly was the case again Saturday in Iowa's 17-5 win over Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium.

The Cyclones knocked at the Hawkeyes' doorstep time and again, but were unable to find the end zone.

ISU missed three field goals and threw an interception in the end zone, all bullets Iowa was able to dodge.

"That is the thing about football, it's tougher to score touchdowns inside the 20," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "I'd like to see us be a little stingier overall, but we certainly made some plays down there that were outstanding."

Freshman Shaun Prater and Troy Johnson knocked down what looked to be sure touchdown passes as part of eight pass break-ups the Hawkeyes recorded against the Cyclones.

The shutout of ISU was Iowa's third of the season and it's believed to be the first time since the 1923 and 1924 seasons that Iowa started a season not allowing a touchdown in its first three contests in back-to-back years.

"I'm proud to be part of this defense," senior defensive tackle Mitch King said. "We buckled down, pinned our ears back and put our noses to the grindstone today."

Iowa held ISU to 73 rushing yards, and the Cyclones were just 4 of 15 on third-down conversions and 0-for-3 inside the red zone.

"That defense is something else," ISU coach Gene Chizik said. "We tried to take advantage of some things we saw, but it's hard to take advantage of a very good defense like that. They're good in just about every way."

Iowa has held ISU without a touchdown for 10 staight quarters, dating back to the second quarter of Iowa's win in 2006.

ANOTHER 100 FOR GREENE " Shonn Greene rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, his third straight 100-yard performance.

He is the first Iowa back to rush for 100 or more yards in three straight games since Albert Young did it in 2005 (202 vs. Northwestern, 127 vs. Wisconsin, 103 vs. Minnesota).

"It was a lot tougher 100 yards than the last two weeks," Ferentz said. "I think that speaks highly of Shonn. Those were tough yards, and they didn't come uncontested. We're going to be a better football team if we can keep him moving."

HELP, ANYONE? " After being told he was going into the game, Jake Christensen scrambled to get ready on the sidelines.

But with most of his offensive teammates in a huddle with offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe, Christensen had nobody to play catch with until an unlikely source stepped forward " former Hawkeye receiver Ed Hinkel.

"Ed said, 'I'll catch ya,'" Christensen explained.

GOT TICKETS? " Iowa travels to Pittsburgh next Saturday for an 11 a.m. game with the Panthers, and it marks a return home for Ferentz.

Asked what the game at Heinz Field means to him, "basically it means I need a lot more tickets," Ferentz quipped.

Asked how many tickets is a lot, Ferentz laughed and said, "Ask Rita (Ferentz's secretary Rita Foley). They all call her and know not to call me."

Ferentz graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh and was inducted into the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

ODDS AND ENDS " Andy Brodell's 81-yard punt return for a touchdown as the 10th-longest in Iowa history, and the first for the Hawkeyes since Jovan Johnson returned a punt 90 yards against Ball State in 2005. Brodell had a 78-yard punt return (not for a touchdown) against Syracuse last season. … The home team has won the last five games in the Cy-Hawk series.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com