Spencer Petras Preparing for Iowa Senior Day

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Quarterback Spencer Petras calls his Iowa soccer profession “an awesome expertise.

I’ve made a number of nice relationships, I had a number of enjoyable and met a number of nice folks.”

On Friday, Petras shall be considered one of 27 seniors who shall be honored earlier than their final recreation at Kinnick Stadium.

“I don’t wish to get too emotional as a result of there’s a lot at stake,” Petras stated. “It’s one thing to replicate on after the season.”

Iowa shall be taking part in for the Massive Ten West Division title, in addition to the Heroes Trophy that yearly goes to the winner of the Iowa-Nebraska recreation.

“There’s a lot to play for,” Petras stated. “It’s not the time to consider senior day and every little thing like that. We’re attempting to get the win, and earn the best to play in Indianapolis.”

It’s additionally an opportunity for the Hawkeyes to win a fifth straight recreation to finish the common season.

And it’s a means for Petras to exit on a excessive be aware in a stadium the place he was booed by some followers as he took the sphere for the primary possession of the Sept. 17 recreation in opposition to Nevada.

If he’s out for redemption on Friday, Spencer retains that to himself. Petras struggled mightily at first of the season, and the offense adopted go well with. The struggles of the offensive line have had Petras working for his life greater than he’d like. Accidents to the receiving corps, most notably Keagan Johnson, Nico Ragaini, Diante Vines and Brody Brecht, haven’t helped.

However because the quarterback, Petras is within the social media bullseye. And as a substitute of working and hiding, he’s confronted the music. He appeared at practically each Tuesday media session this season, going through query after query about his play and a scarcity of offensive manufacturing.

A offered out season with excessive expectations floundered out of the gate, then went south once more after a disappointing loss at Illinois and a one-sided pounding by Ohio State.

However right here they’re, one victory away from considered one of their main objectives – Massive Ten West Champions.

“If we wish to obtain our purpose, we want a win on Friday,” Petras stated. “There’s no time for anything.”

Petras is coming off considered one of his finest video games of the season, finishing 15 of 24 passes for 221 yards in a 13-10 victory at Minnesota Saturday.

“I actually have a superb repertoire with the blokes proper now,” he stated of his receivers. “We’re executing. Quite a lot of it’s some very nice recreation plans which have put me in some good spots to have the ability to throw with confidence. That all the time helps. We nonetheless have so much we will enhance on.”

Pondering again over his 36-game profession, which features a 20-10 document as a starter, Petras factors to a number of highlights. One is final season’s 23-20 comeback victory over Penn State. One other is a post-spring observe get together three years in the past hosted by Tristan Wirfs.

“That was a number of enjoyable,” Petras stated. “I’m certain rattling close to everybody in my class will do not forget that one. We’ve had a number of good occasions.”

Petras stated he’s proud to be a member of this senior class.

“Quite a lot of actually nice guys, and actually good gamers,” he stated. “We’ve been by means of so much collectively, going again to 2020. I actually couldn’t ask for a greater group of men to be with.”

A yr in the past, Iowa didn’t carry future in their very own fingers the ultimate weekend of the common season. The Hawkeyes rallied within the fourth quarter to win at Nebraska, 28-21. A day later, they earned a share of the West Division title when Minnesota beat Wisconsin, 23-13.

“We had been simply cheering onerous for Minnesota,’ Petras stated. “I feel it’s so much simpler while you’re controlling your personal future, simply realizing how your season finally ends up. I’m glad that Minnesota gained. It’s not enjoyable sitting on the sting of your seat the entire recreation pondering, ‘Do I observe Sunday or do I’ve Sunday off?’ It is going to be higher this time round.”

Now it’s one recreation for all of the marbles.

“The secret’s to not make it greater than it’s,” Petras stated. “It’s a soccer recreation. We have to execute and care for enterprise. I don’t need us strolling into Friday with an excessive amount of on our thoughts, aside from getting the job achieved and taking part in our greatest soccer. As a result of if we do this, we’re fairly assured within the outcomes we’ll see. But when we’re fascinated with the flawed stuff and we don’t play our greatest, then we’re leaving it as much as probability. After which who is aware of what’s going to occur, proper? It’s the worst factor that may occur to us.”