IOWA CITY, Iowa — — Spencer Petras threw for a landing and ran for an additional, and Drew Stevens kicked 4 subject objectives as Iowa defeated Northwestern, 33-13, on Saturday.

The Hawkeyes (4-4, 2/3 Massive Ten) snapped a three-game shedding streak with their highest level whole of the season.

“No query this was our greatest offensive efficiency,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz stated.

“I used to be working off the sector a whole lot of instances at present with a smile on my face,” tight finish Sam LaPorta stated.

Petras was 21-for-30 passing for 220 yards. He had a 1-yard landing run within the first quarter and threw a 6-yard landing go to Luke Lachey late within the second quarter.

“For essentially the most half, I assumed it was a fairly good efficiency,” Petras stated.

Petras, in his third season as Iowa’s starter, was changed by Alex Padilla within the second half of final Saturday’s 54-10 loss at Ohio State. The 2 have been listed as co-No. 1s on this week’s depth chart, however Petras bought the beginning. He then led the Hawkeyes to factors on all 4 of their first-half possessions for a 20-0 halftime lead.

“It is identical to life,” Petras stated. “You do not reset all the things, and abandon all the things, that bought you to the purpose the place you are at. You simply return to work. So yeah, it felt good to be again on the market.”

“I’m actually joyful for him,” Ferentz stated. “Once we’re not successful, that’s tough for everyone. He’s been slightly little bit of a magnet for criticism. That’s a part of taking part in the place, that’s a part of the sport. I believe all of us believed in him.”

Petras stated he and Padilla had taken an equal variety of snaps throughout practices on Monday and Tuesday.

“By Wednesday, I had a fairly good concept (about beginning),” Petras stated. “By Friday I knew.”

Petras accomplished passes to eight receivers, and was sacked as soon as.

“The offensive line stored me fairly clear the entire day,” Petras stated.

“Spence was doing his job at present, getting the ball to the fellows who have been open,” stated LaPorta, who led the Hawkeyes with 5 catches for 53 yards.

Stevens had subject objectives of 29 and 24 yards within the first half, then added a 54-yarder within the third quarter. His 25-yarder within the fourth quarter made it 26-7.

Iowa’s Arland Bruce IV added a 23-yard landing run with 5:13 left for the Hawkeyes’ remaining factors.

“Clearly they performed considered one of their cleanest video games of the season,” Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald stated. “Quarterback-wise, that was in all probability his finest sport of the yr.”

“You possibly can’t get down for too lengthy,” Petras stated. “You have to push via, and at present we pushed via.”

Northwestern (1-7, 1-4), which has misplaced seven straight, was held to 177 whole yards, with solely 18 dashing yards on 37 makes an attempt. The Wildcats bought a 1-yard landing go from Brendan Sullivan to Duke Olges within the third quarter, and a 7-yard landing go from Sullivan to Raymond Niro III on the ultimate play of the sport.

Sullivan, a sophomore, threw for 159 yards and was sacked seven instances in his second profession begin.

“He’ll study from this, develop and get higher,” Fitzgerald stated.

THE TAKEAWAY

Northwestern continued to stumble, making that 31-28 win over Nebraska to open the season appear to be a very long time in the past. The Wildcats’ offense was largely ineffective in opposition to the Hawkeyes, who got here into the sport ranked sixth nationally in whole protection. “We have to maintain growing guys,” Fitzgerald stated. “We have a whole lot of guys on the market. … On the finish of the day, we’ve to discover a approach to win a a sport.”

The Hawkeyes, who broke a three-game dwelling shedding streak to the Wildcats, had 393 yards to shake off a few of the offensive woes which have plagued all of them season. It was the most effective sport of the season for Petras, who appeared on the verge of shedding his beginning job after turning the ball over 3 times within the first half final week. “We have set the usual now to how we’re able to taking part in,” Petras stated. “So there isn’t any excuse for something lower than that going ahead.”

UP NEXT

Northwestern: Hosts Ohio State subsequent Saturday.

Iowa: At Purdue subsequent Saturday.

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