Iowa Hawkeyes Reach a Perfect Seven/Eleven on the Year

Iowa defeated the Wisconsin Badgers on the road Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, 20-10.  Prior to kickoff, Iowa fans were edgy and nervous.  Sure, Iowa was 6-0, actually 10-0 since November of 2008. 

But the Iowa faithful felt uncomfortable because all the betting lines were going with the Wisconsin Badgers, and money guys always seem to know what they are talking about.  Of course, when you are offering free predictions to people foolish enough to bet money based on your advice, you can afford to be wrong. 

Additionally, all the big-name commentators and football analysts kept bringing up the Hawkeyes’ close wins against Northern Iowa and Arkansas State.  Have any of them taken a peek at Northern Iowa now ranked nationally at No. 2 in the FCS Top 25 Football Poll?

The faithful feel that the Northern Iowa Panthers could beat up on more than half of teams in the Big Ten.  Iowa was lucky to get out of Dodge alive.  The Hawkeyes simply refused to die on that first Saturday and the Panthers blinked twice real fast.  Good teams know how to win when the fates close in.

Unlike fans of perennial winners like USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma, or Texas, to name a few, Iowa fans never expect anything, nor do they take anything for granted—just like the Iowa team itself and its talented coaches.  We may not be first or have the best, but we work the hardest in Iowa and we are damn smart.

The Game

When the Badgers kicked off at 11 a.m. in the Midwest—it was time to settle in for the long haul.  Brandon Wegher ran the kick off back 39 yards to the Iowa 42.  So far so good.

Iowa started the contest with two successful passing attempts.   Eventually, however, the Iowa drive stalled and the punting unit took the field.  Early on, the Badger defense was suffocating and running the ball was difficult to near impossible.

The Badgers, behind the running of John Clay, were marching down the field as the first quarter ended.  Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, they contained the march at the Iowa 18 and Wisconsin settled for a field goal off the toe of Phillip Welch.  Wisconsin led 3-0 with just a couple of ticks off the clock in the second quarter.

After Iowa endured a three and out drive lasting a little over one minute, Wisconsin moved the ball in earnest on their next possession.  Montee Ball rushed the final 10 yards for a Wisconsin touchdown.

After Phillip Welch added the point after, Wisconsin led 10-0.  There were approximately eight minutes left in the half and Wisconsin would not score another point in the game as the Hawkeye defense began to stir to life. 

At the same time, the offensive line stretched its impressive girth to offer up some protection and Ricky Stanzi, Iowa’s quarterback took those extra seconds to pinpoint targets down the field. 

He zeroed in on Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for 34 yards, Wegher for three yards and Trey Stross for seven yards.  In the end, the offense had to settle for a field goal in lieu of a touchdown that Daniel Murray provided booting the ball 37 yards. 

The score remained 10-3 at halftime.

During Wisconsin’s first drive as the second half got underway, Amari Spievey intercepted a pass thrown by Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien.  The turnover gave the Iowa team the impetus to move the ball down the field. 

Adam Robinson ground out 17 yards carrying the ball.  Ultimately, it was a Stanzi pass to Tony Moeaki for 24 yards for a touchdown that brought the score to 10-10 after Daniel Murray’s extra point was good.

Wisconsin was forced to punt on their next drive.  During Iowa’s subsequent possession Ricky Stanzi fumbled.  Wisconsin took over the ball on the Iowa 25 yard line.  After failing to move the ball, Wisconsin tried a field goal but Phillip Welch’s kick failed and the score remained deadlocked at 10-10 as the third quarter ended.

Iowa scored quickly at the start of the 4th quarter with Adam Robinson running it in from the 10 yard line.  With Murray’s kick, Iowa went up 17-10 with a little over 13 minutes left on the clock.

After three and out for Wisconsin, Iowa had to settle for a field goal by Daniel Murray from 48 yards out on their next drive.  Iowa went up 20-10.  There was a little over five minutes left on the clock. 

The Badgers were moving the ball at a clip when A.J. Edds intercepted a Tolzien pass on the Iowa 31 yard line.  Iowa moved the ball down to the Wisconsin 15 yard line and turned it over on downs when Stanzi was sacked on a fourth down attempt.

Wisconsin took over the ball on their 20 yard line with 2:24 left on the game clock.  On Wisconsin’s third play, Amari Spievey again intercepted a Tolzien pass on their 41 yard line. 

At that point, Iowa was able to run out the clock.

The Results

On total yards, Iowa accumulated 283 to Wisconsin’s 230. But on passing yards, Iowa delivered 218 compared to Wisconsin’s 143. Wisconsin had three turnovers, Iowa just one.

For passing, Stanzi for Iowa was 17 for 23 and one TD. Wisconsin’s Tolzien was 15 for 25 with three interceptions.

Iowa’s Robinson rushed for 91 yards while Clay for Wisconsin produced 75.  In passing yardage Johnson-Koulianos had 113 yards on 8 catches and Moeaki added 55 yards on  three catches including one touchdown.

Once Iowa’s defense tightened up and shut down the running game, Wisconsin was done for the day.  This happened as Stanzi warmed up to the environment and found his timing and his receivers.

It was not a perfect game—we don’t see many of those.  It was enough to take Iowa to 7-0 on the season with an 11-game winning streak.  Surely it is enough to secure a top 10 placement in the BCS rankings coming out on Sunday for the first time this season.

After the game according to Tony Moleaki, after learning of the upset of Ohio State by Purdue, “You really can’t look ahead...that could be us in any week.”

Iowa sits all alone undefeated atop the Big 10 Conference and finally someone should pay attention to the high-flying Hawkeyes.  But, Iowa fans will still be nervous and edgy next weekend when we must go to East Lansing to play the ever-improving Michigan State Spartans on the road.

Johnson-Koulianos remarked after the game, “Once we figure out how to get it going in the first half, we’re going to be really dominant.”

When you are from Iowa you never expect anything and you never take anything for granted...especially when it comes to Iowa football...

Quotes from Andrew Logue at DesMoinesRegister.com