Big Ten Bowl Week: Iowa Comes Up with Too Little, Too Late

Outside of the scoreboard, the first three quarters of Friday night's game could not have went much better for Iowa.  

Oklahoma came into the game as a heavy favorite looking to slam the door shut on a season that started with dreams of a national championship.  Most figured that the game would be well in hand by halftime—especially once Iowa lost starting tailback and the Big Ten's second-leading rusher, Marcus Coker, to suspension in the weeks leading up to the game.  Instead, Iowa's defense showed up for one of its best performances of the year.

Through three quarters, Oklahoma was held to just under 200 yards of total offense with six punts and an interception.  Most of those yards came on two 60-yard touchdown drives in the second and third quarter.  Outside of that, the Sooners were stuck in neutral all game (the third touchdown came on a five-yard drive following an interception).

Despite being down three touchdowns in the middle of the third quarter, Iowa's offense decided it was time to make it a game.  The defense helped out by holding Oklahoma to two straight three-and-outs, and the offense put together two 70-plus yard touchdown drives to pull within one score midway through the fourth.

Until that point, Iowa had five drives that ended in punts after a combined 42 yards, an interception that set up Oklahoma's first touchdown, and a 71-yard drive that ended on a fourth down stop deep in the red zone.

It wouldn't be enough.

Ultimately, the seven-point deficit would get stretched to 10 points after a four-and-a-half minute, 44-yard drive that culminated in a field goal.  Iowa's next possession would begin with a bad omen—ESPN's skycam nearly decapitating receiver Marvin McNutt—and end with a fourth-down scramble by James Vandenberg that came up just short.

While the loss is disheartening, one thing Iowa was able to do right all game was deal with Landry Jones.  

The Sooner quarterback came into the game averaging 358 yards per game, yet he was almost completely neutralized by the Iowa defense; just 161 yards one touchdown and one interception for the game.

It was a fitting send-off to defensive coordinator Norm Parker who plans to retire after the game.  Parker has been at the school for 12 years and has overseen some very good Hawkeye defenses as well as the decidedly mediocre unit that took the field this year.

Unfortunately, the Bell-dozer, backup/Tebow-esque quarterback Blake Bell was able to put three touchdowns on the board (including the final touchdown with under a minute to go) despite the fact that Iowa never had to honor a passing threat from the one dimensional quarterback.

Iowa may not have won—and moral victories don't count for anything—but the Hawkeyes' ability to elevate their game in bowls is still impressive.  Oklahoma came into the game with more talent and a prolific offense but had to fight tooth and nail to escape the fourth-quarter push from Iowa.

Too bad, the late push didn't start a little earlier.  Or last a little longer.