Iowa
Twelve minutes, 99 yards: The drive that won Iowa State the Cy-Hawk trophy
IOWA CITY – Iowa’s protection and particular groups pressured two interceptions, one other pair of punt blocks and a fumble punched out of Jirehl Brock’s arms proper on the airplane of the top zone in Saturday’s Cy-Hawk recreation.
It painted a grim scene for the Cyclones, who deliberate on punting the ball away from their very own 8-yard line till Lukas Van Ness discovered a strategy to get his arms on it once more.
Iowa was beginning deep in Iowa State’s territory, and there might not have been a soul within the stadium who thought Iowa State might pull off a 99-yard, go-ahead landing drive, particularly in opposition to the stout Iowa protection.
At the very least not a soul who wasn’t on the Iowa State sideline.
However the offense did precisely that, and it received this system its first Cy-Hawk recreation since 2014.
“We type of knew there was likelihood we’d be backed as much as our personal 1-yard line this week, simply with how good their punter is,” Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers mentioned of the preparation that went into Saturday’s recreation.
Largely due to the play of the sophomore quarterback in Dekkers, his favourite huge receiver in Xavier Hutchinson and the laborious nosed operating of Jirehl Brock, Iowa State was in a position to hold the Iowa protection on its heels, and on the sphere, for almost 12 minutes.
It almost faltered, plenty of occasions, however the execution was there for this drive – and that’s one thing the Cyclones have wanted in additional of those Cy-Hawk video games than one, particularly at the moment.
A major instance of that execution got here on the defensive sequence earlier than, the place Iowa seemed to punch in a second landing.
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras, took the snap at Iowa State’s 1-yard line and handed the ball to Hawkeye fullback Monte Pottebaum to attempt to push into the top zone. It seemed like he might need got here up simply brief primarily based on the place the referee was operating to identify the ball.
It didn’t even seem like the official was about to get to the dogpile, solely to see a plethora of white-jersey’s signaling that their protection – significantly senior linebacker Kendall Jackson – recovered a unfastened soccer.
Iowa State had pressured a 3rd turnover in a sequence the place it didn’t have a single one within the final 5 matchups.
5 minutes and 16 seconds remained on the scoreboard at Kinnick Stadium. Dekkers took the sphere together with his offense, taking the 21-play, 99-yard drive one snap at a time.
Dekkers saved the ball on what was primarily a quarterback sneak for 2 yards. Iowa was referred to as for offsides on the following play, however Brock solely mustered one yard out of the run.
On the following play, Dekkers handed it off to Brock once more and watched him run to the 15 for six of the 100 yards he had on the bottom Saturday. He bought a primary down.
Eli Sanders started the following set of downs with a five-yard rush, earlier than Dekkers’ subsequent go try, which fell incomplete and located the Cyclones going through a 3rd down on their very own 20.
“To be trustworthy, no – I felt actually assured on this recreation the entire time,” Dekkers mentioned. “I used to be simply making little errors – they didn’t actually come from nerves,” Dekkers mentioned.
Dekkers discovered Hutchinson for one of many 11 receptions his favourite wideout had within the recreation. One other Cyclone first down.
Brock hit one other eight-yard rush, however was stuffed for a lack of a yard on second down. Dekkers accomplished a go to Jaylin Noel.
One other Cyclone first down. It ended the third quarter and gave Iowa State much more momentum going into the break, having ran 5:16 off the clock and going 3-3 on conversions.
That’s when issues accelerated much more. Brock and Noel every tagged off five-yard runs to start out the quarter. One other Cyclone first down.
Dekkers had passes to Aidan Bitter and transformed as soon as once more by the use of Hutchinson receiving the soccer. One other Cyclone first down.
The subsequent snap got here to Dekkers at Iowa’s 21-yard line, and the quarterback was scurrying in the direction of the sidelines for a possible lane. Unsportsmanlike conduct was referred to as after Cooper DeJean hit Dekkers within the shoulder blade. The sticks have been shifting once more.
“It was all the time only one play at a time,” Hutchinson mentioned. “Then you definitely begin to slowly creep your means in there and that’s while you begin to consider it. Our complete mindset was only one play at a time, and when that play comes – simply make the play.”
Iowa State had made three journeys to the Iowa crimson zone already. It resulted in three factors and two turnovers.
After a wildcard look and dump go led to a different third down on the 8-yard line, the aforementioned execution by Iowa State’s offense put a spin on the rivalry sequence that it wanted to win.
Dekkers dropped again whereas Hutchinson dashed for the again nook of the top zone, solely Hutchinson knew that he wasn’t going to go all the way in which to the white line.
“They (ran) cowl zero, like they usually do on an enormous down ultimately zone,” Hutchinson mentioned. “Hunter believed in me yet another time, and I’m simply completely happy I might make that play for him and this group.”
Quantity 8 threw on the breaks, shaking off his defender, and stood within the end-zone awaiting the go from Dekkers. Six factors.
“From a particular groups standpoint, from a defensive standpoint (and) from an offensive standpoint, there are issues that we could be choosy on and can get us beat if we don’t appropriate,” Campbell mentioned. “However that 99-yard drive type of emphasizes what we did, once we wanted it most. We made the performs and that was huge at the moment, and that was nice for our younger group.”
Water bottles and different objects rained down from the stands at Kinnick Stadium.
Eleven minutes and 49 seconds had handed since Iowa State secured the fumble, with 21 performs in between the pair of huge performs.
Hawkeye followers have been dejected. Chaos had ensued in essentially the most Cy-Hawk means conceivable.
And though Iowa was nonetheless within the recreation, Iowa State had delivered the ultimate huge blow in what seemingly turns right into a boxing match between heavyweights any time they meet one another on the sphere.
For the primary time in six bouts, the Cyclones got here away with the belt.
“It’s nice for Cyclone followers, for us, that is one thing that we’ve all the time talked about,” Hutchinson mentioned. “We have been all the time within the recreation – and typically we type of killed our personal selves. To convey it again to Ames feels terrific.
“I hope the Cyclone followers are completely happy,” Hutchinson mentioned. “Hopefully, we begin our personal streak right here.”
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team finished two rounds of play at the Fighting Irish Classic on Sunday. The Hawkeyes currently sit in sixth place out of 15 teams.
Sophomore Noah Kent and junior Gage Messingham are both leading the Hawkeyes, tied for 8th place overall. Kent shot 1-over (71) in the first round and 1-under (69) in the second round, finishing with a total score of 140. Messingham join Kent as the only other Hawkeye to go under-par today in a round.
Sophomore Max Tjoa is tied for 37th place, shooting rounds of 74 and 72, with a total score of 146. Senior Chance Rinkol posted scores of 71 and 77 in the first and second rounds, respectively, and sits tied for 51st place with a score of 148. Senior Josh Lundmark recorded rounds of 79 and 71, finishing tied for 64th place with a total score of 150.
HAWKEYE SCORECARD
| 6/15 | Team | +5 | +3 | 148 |
| T8 | Gage Messingham | -1 | +1 | 140 |
| T8 | Noah Kent | +1 | -1 | 140 |
| T37 | Max Tjoa | +4 | +2 | 146 |
| T51 | Chance Rinkol | +1 | +7 | 148 |
| T64 | Josh Lundmark | +9 | +1 | 150 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“Today was a very strong team performance with Noah and Gage leading the way. We showed a lot of grit all day but especially down the stretch. We’re in a great position heading into the final round.”
UP NEXT
The final round of the Fighting Irish Classic is set to tee off on Monday morning.
Nebraska volleyball entered October a perfect 38-0 against Iowa all-time. That number is now 39-0.
The No. 2 Huskers (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten) swept the Hawkeyes (8-8, 2-2 Big Ten), 25-17, 25-11, 25-13. This is the eighth-straight sweep for Nebraska over Iowa and 11th-straight win since falling at SMU.
Nebraska’s offense hit a blistering .404, led by 10 kills on .400 hitting from Merritt Beason.
The story of the day was the middles, though. With Andi Jackson out again, Leyla Blackwell earned the start alongside Rebekah Allick. The pair notched nine kills each, with Blackwell hitting .692 and Allick hitting .583. They also combined for five blocks.
Bergen Reilly dished out 35 assists.
Iowa managed to hit just .155, but did have the player with a match-high for kills: Michel Urquahart at 11.
Nebraska is back in action Friday, hosting No. 10 Purdue.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Video: Jay Higgins on Iowa’s defensive performance in loss to Ohio State
Jay Higgins discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz made his view of the quarterback position pretty clear after Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Ohio State.
No, the Hawkeyes are not headed for a change at quarterback, Ferentz said.
“We’re not ready, I think, to have a controversy at that position,” the longtime head coach said.
The loss to Ohio State again illustrated the gap between Iowa and national powerhouses. The Hawkeyes haven’t beaten one of the three giants of the Big Ten — Penn State, Michigan or Ohio State — since a 2021 win over the Nittany Lions. Against ranked opponents last season, Iowa was beaten a combined 92-0.
Perhaps you could point to the fact that Iowa at least scored on Saturday as progress. But in reality, Saturday’s margin was similar to those three games last season.
More: Leistikow: Rating concern levels for Iowa football at quarterback, offensive line, defense
The quarterback position wasn’t good enough on Saturday. Cade McNamara finished the game 14-of-20 passing for 98 yards and three turnovers — two fumbles and one interception. Just like the game itself, the quarterback play fit an old, tired narrative.
When, if ever, will Iowa’s quarterback woes finally be solved?
To be clear, quarterback production was not the only deficient area on Saturday. The Hawkeyes were beaten in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — and outgained 203-116 on the ground. Iowa’s defense also gave up four touchdowns through the air.
After Iowa trailed just 7-0 at the break, it got ugly in the second half. Ohio State is a legitimate national championship threat, and the Hawkeyes didn’t do much in the third and fourth quarters to show they could compete at that level.
“The bottom line is, you’ve got to play clean football against a team like this,” Ferentz said. “We weren’t able to do that. They get some credit on that, too.”
Kirk Ferentz on Cade McNamara after loss to Ohio State: ‘Cade will be fine’
Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
Since the 2019 departure of Nate Stanley, Iowa’s quarterback struggles have been no secret. Whether it be Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla or Deacon Hill, Iowa hasn’t gotten necessary production from that position. There was optimism that McNamara, once a prized transfer from Michigan, would be the solution.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career, McNamara has fallen short of that.
The lowest bar for McNamara to clear as Iowa’s quarterback — taking care of the ball — is something he was unable to do on Saturday.
McNamara’s turnovers came on three consecutive possessions to open the second half, all but erasing any first-half hope that Iowa had managed to build.
Because Iowa lives in such thin margins, avoiding turnovers is paramount, even more so against a team like Ohio State. The lack of ball security was a reason the quarterback position was such a disaster at Iowa last season. Hill finished the season with a ratio of eight interceptions to five passing touchdowns.
McNamara’s touchdown pass-to-interception ratio this season is now 3-to-3. He was without a turnover against Illinois State, Troy and Minnesota, but coughing up the ball proved costly against Iowa State and Ohio State. An early second-half turnover against Iowa State this season gave the Cyclones life. Three against Ohio State on Saturday shut the door on a possible upset.
“We evaluate every position week to week,” Ferentz said about quarterback. “But we’re comfortable. I think Cade’s improving. I really do. It sounds funny with the turnovers today, I think he seems more comfortable. His timing seems better. And he was getting the ball out really well in the first half. We have to improve as a collective offense.”
It might go against popular opinion but to Ferentz’s point, McNamara started Saturday’s contest well, completing 10 of his first 12 passes. There is, however, a gaping hole in that argument.
Completion efficiency is not McNamara’s biggest issue. In fact, in the last two games — against Minnesota and Ohio State — he was a combined 25-of-39, marking major improvement from a putrid 13-of-29 outing against Iowa State.
But that extremely efficient stretch against Ohio State matters less if it amounts to zero points and also means turning the ball over three times later on.
In his Iowa career, McNamara has not yet thrown a touchdown against a power conference opponent (granted, a redzone package with backup Brendan Sullivan was implemented earlier this season, making it more difficult for McNamara to do so). But more troubling than the lack of touchdowns are the fact that all three of his interceptions this season have come against power conference opponents (one was a last ditch heave against Iowa State). You can also add the two fumbles against Ohio State to that turnover tally.
Iowa didn’t get McNamara just to beat up on lower level programs. When the competition level rises, he needs to do so with it.
“We just can’t turn the ball over,” McNamara said Saturday. “We had three drives in a row with turnovers. That just can’t happen. They just came out in the second half and they played well. They’re are a good defense and they’re a good team.”
You can argue ad nauseam against Ferentz’s assertion that McNamara is improving. But bottom line is, the fact that this is even a discussion is a problem. It was reasonable to think that McNamara would’ve been better than this through five games.
Iowa doesn’t need its quarterback to be prolific. Running back Kaleb Johnson solves a lot for the offense with the way he’s been playing. Iowa just needs McNamara to take care of the ball and make defenses pay on occasion when the chance presents itself.
In critical moments, that hasn’t been the case.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson reacts to 35-7 loss at Ohio State
The Hawkeyes junior wound up rushing 15 times for 86 yards, but most of those came after the game was decided.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career — split between 2023 and 2024 due to injury — McNamara hasn’t done much to validate the excitement that once surrounded him. Ferentz has preached patience for someone who has been out for an extended period — on multiple occasions. That faith in him could still bear results.
But time is becoming of the essence for McNamara to change the narrative.
Said Ferentz: “Cade will be fine.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
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