If I told you four weeks ago that the Hawkeyes, after losing three straight by combined scores of 90-30, would win four straight and if they beat Nebraska this Friday, would win the Big Ten West.
Would you believe me?
I wouldn’t.
That big, bad, beautiful defense.
How perfect was it that Iowa’s two preseason All Americans, Riley Moss and Jack Campbell would come up with the big play that shut the Gophers down. With the game tied at 10, Minnesota drove down to the Iowa 33 and faced a 3rd and seven with a little over two minutes left in the game. The Minnesota quarterback threw a pass across the middle, the ball was tipped by Riley Moss into Jack Campbells hands and the 6-5, 245 pound linebacker took it back to the house.
Okay, they said he stepped out of bounds at the Gopher 45 but five plays later, Drew Stevens kicked the winning 21 yard field goal with 28 seconds left.
Iowa is in the driver’s seat because Michigan beat Illinois 19-17 with a 35 yard field goal with 9 seconds left.
“At times it wasn’t pretty,” said Jack Campbell. “We kept fighting and that’s what Iowa football is about.”
Iowa Defense
It is the first time since 1929 that the defense has allowed ten or fewer points in eight games.
The 1929 team gave up 28 the entire eight game season.
Iowa finished 4-2-2, lost 9-7 at Ohio State and tied Michigan 0-0.
The 2022 Iowa defense have held ten of their 11 opponents below their season scoring average.
I can’t believe Minnesota’s Mohamad Ibrahim ran for 263 yards with one TD and the Gophers still lost.
In 2011, Marcus Cooker ran for 245 yards scoring twice but the Hawks lost 22-21.
If you looked at some of the stats you might think the Hawkeyes lost.
Minnesota had 17 first downs, Iowa 13.
Minnesota had 312 yards on the ground, Iowa 59.
Minnesota had the ball for 35:13, Iowa 24:47.
As former Celtic basketball player Bill Russell would say, “The only stat that counts is the final score.”
Jack Campbell also forced a fumble and led Iowa with ten tackles.
The forced fumble was early in the 4th quarter when Deonte Craig recovered on the Iowa nine.
Bend don’t break is the Iowa motto.
There was a lot of bending but not much breaking.
Iowa Offense
Iowa stopped Minnesota on their opening drive, the Gophers punted, and the Hawks started on their own 21. The first play from scrimmage Spencer Petras found Super Sam LaPorta open over the middle and the big guy from Illinois took it 58 yards to the Gopher 21. Four plays later Drew Stevens made his first of two field goals to give Iowa a 3-0 lead.
Spencer scored on a QB sneak and Iowa led 10-0 the end of the first quarter.
Were the Hawks ready to roll?
Not so fast my friend.
With Iowa’s running game shut down, Spencer Petras had to step up and he did.
The 6-5 senior from California was 15-24 for 221 yards and no sacks.
Seven receivers caught passes for the Hawks and when Sam LaPorta (who finished with four receptions for 95 yards) went down, Luke Lacey stepped up with five catches for 77 yards.
By the way, Super Sam had 82 yards after catch.
Iowa Special Teams
You have to give a shout out to kicker Drew Stevens.
The freshman from South Carolina is 15-17 for the season including the game winner against Minnesota.
Tory Taylor had five punts for a 42.4 yard average including four inside the 20.
Minnesota’s punt return man caught a Tory Taylor punt on the Gopher three and Cooper DeJean threw him into the end zone. Minnesota started on their own three.
The win gave Kirk Ferentz 115 victories in the Big Ten tying Amos Alonzo Stagg, who coached the University of Chicago from 1896-1932.
There are only two coaches that have more wins…Woody (205) and Bo (143)
Flashback 1995 Iowa 45 Minnesota 3
Matt Sherman threw three touchdown passes and Damani Shakoor came off the bench replacing an injured Sedrick Shaw. Damani ran for 90 yards and scored twice as the Hawks crushed the Gophers at Kinnick stadium.
Minnesota was averaging 27 points per game, were held to 217 yards.
Sherman was 17-21 for 240 yards and had two touchdown passes to Tim Dwight.
The late Ryan Driscoll came in in the 4th quarter and threw a TD pass to Richard Willock for the Hawkeyes’ final score. Plez Atkins had two interceptions to lead the defense.
Iowa finished 8-4 that year including a 38-18 win over Washington in the Sun Bowl.
Iowa Men
The Hawkeyes picked up a nice road win last week beating Seaton Hall 83-67.
Some of the stats that stood out include 84.8% (28-33) from the free throw line, only eight turnovers and forcing Seaton Hall into 16 turnovers which led to an 18-10 advantage on points off turnovers.
The key for me was the Iowa defense and Kris Murray.
The Pirates shot only 35.8% (24-67) from the floor and 36.4% (8-22) from three.
Kris Murray played 36 minutes, scored a career high 29 points shooting 10-20 from the floor and 6-6 from the free throw line. The 6-8 junior also had 11 rebounds.
Four starters were in double figures including Filip Rebraca who had 10 points and 11 boards.
Once again Tony Perkins got the Hawkeyes going with 18 points, five assists and three steals.
Iowa Women
The Hawkeye women played two games last week losing 84-83 at Kansas State and beating
Belmont 72-63 last Sunday at Carver.
The K-State loss was a tough one.
Catlin Clark had 27 points, ten rebounds and seven assists.
Iowa came into the game shooting 35% from three point range.
They were 6-20 (30%) against the Wildcats.
The Cats also had a 22-5 advantage on points off turnovers and a 28-17 advantage on bench points.
Monica Czinano and McKenna Warnock chipped in 18-12 points respectively.
The Belmont game was a grind it out game with the Hawkeyes shooting only 29% from beyond the arc and Catlin Clark scoring 33, the only Hawkeye in double figures.
Catlin did this with an ankle sprain she suffered against K-State.
Wrap Up
Another good week with the wrestlers winning three, men’s basketball one, the women 1-1 and the great win over Minnesota to keep Floyd the pig in Iowa City.
That’s eight straight wins over the Gophers.
Black Friday has Nebraska coming to Kinnick.
The Huskers are the only thing standing in the way of the Hawkeyes winning their second straight West title.