Iowa Hawkeye Halloween: The Indiana Hoosiers' Worst Nightmare

In honor of Halloween, the Iowa Hawkeyes disguised themselves in their Jekyll and Hyde costumes. 

They played like the destructive Hyde, too, until the fourth quarter, when the rational and sane Dr. Jekyll was able to restore order and reappear as quarterback Ricky Stanzi in his opportunistic stance behind the center, reading the defense and completing passes. 

Then, too, someone cast a spell on the football in the fourth quarter when it managed to bounce Iowa’s way garnering every bit of luck, including the wind at their backs.  

For the Iowa faithful, it was an agonizing afternoon of waiting for the good guys to materialize, which they finally did in the fourth quarter, scoring 28 points to come from behind once again to secure another victory.

Stanzi threw a career-high five interceptions in one game, yet still maintained enough poise and confidence to come back in the fourth quarter and win the game.  

First Quarter: Are We Playing Yet?

During the first drive of the afternoon, Indiana marched down the field in 11 plays, gaining 69 yards behind the leadership of quarterback Ben Chappell.  Darius Willis rushed it in the final 4 yards for Indiana’s first score of the day.

On Iowa’s first drive, although the Hawkeyes moved the ball, they couldn’t punch it in.  Instead, they tried for a field goal, a 44-yarder by Daniel Murray that was unsuccessful. 

The first quarter ended as Collin Taylor of Indiana intercepted a Stanzi pass on the Indiana 41-yard line. Indiana held the lead 7-0.

Second Quarter: Shooting Yourself in the Foot

After four punts to start the second quarter, Indiana took over on the Iowa 35-yard line capitalizing on a botched Ryan Donahue 8-yard punt.  Indiana found the end zone in five plays on a Chappell pass to Mitchell Evans for 16 yards.  The point after moved Indiana in front 14-0.

Iowa returned the favor by taking the ball on its own 15-yard line, marching down the field 85 yards in five plays as Brandon Wegher ran it in 4 yards for a touchdown.  With Daniel Murray’s extra point, Iowa trailed Indiana 14-7.

That made the uneasy fans feel a little better.

With 2:39 left in the half, Iowa kicked off.  The Hawkeyes stopped the ensuing Indiana drive, forcing the Hoosiers to punt.  Amari Spievey, trying to return the kick, fumbled on the Iowa 12-yard line.  

Indiana scored again when Chappell passed to Damario Belcher for 9 yards.  With the point after by Nick Freeland good, Indiana went into the locker room at half-time with a 21-7 lead.

Iowa fans were not happy. The team seemed flat, uninspired.  How could this be possible with so much riding on the outcome of this game?  Indiana was definitely in the driver’s seat so far.

Third Quarter: Nightmare on Elm Street

The third quarter did nothing the appease the restless fans sitting on the sidelines watching this game unfold.

Indiana kicked off to Iowa with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos returning it to the Iowa 22-yard line.  After three completed passes up field, Stanzi’s fourth pass was intercepted by Austin Thomas at the Indiana 5-yard line.  

After forcing another Indiana punt, Stanzi, starting at the Iowa 10-yard line, was once again intercepted by Donnell Jones at the Iowa 26.  He returned it all the way to the Iowa 4.

Willis rushed the ball two yards.  Then Chappell threw incomplete into the end zone.  On third and goal,  the Halloween demons spiked a little trick or treat into the game plan.

Chappell’s pass was deflected and after bouncing off three players, wound up in Iowa Hawkeye Tyler Sash’s hands.  He ran it back 86 yards for an Iowa touchdown.  With Murray’s point after, Iowa closed the gap to 21-14.

That fateful event probably saved the game for the Iowa Hawkeyes because if Indiana had scored again, going up 28-7, it may have sealed the victory for them.

"There's no quit in this team. We're going to play four quarters each week," said Sash, who said the interception first bounced off his helmet and was tipped by linebacker A.J. Edds before the safety grabbed it and "ran for my life."

On their next drive, Indiana’s field goal attempt failed.  However, directly following this missed kick, Stanzi once again was intercepted by Matt Mayberry at the Iowa 24 yard line.

When Indiana failed to move the ball the required 10 yards, they settled for another field goal attempt, this once successful by Nick Freeland.  Indiana now led 24-14.  

To finish up the nightmare third quarter, Stanzi followed with another interception by Collin Taylor at the Indiana 7-yard line.  He carried it all the way to the Indiana 46 for a 39-yard gain.

Fourth Quarter: Exorcising Demons

Indiana was forced to punt at the start of the fourth quarter.  

On Iowa’s first possession in the fourth, Stanzi stepped into the pocket and fired a rocket to Marvin McNutt, who caught the ball and sprinted into the end zone on a 92-yard pass play.  Murray put through the extra point and Iowa closed to 24-21.

After another three and out for Indiana, Stanzi again threw another touchdown pass, this time to Johnson-Koulianos for 66 yards.  With Murray’s successful point after, Iowa took the lead for the first time of the day 28-24.  

When Shaun Prater intercepted Chappell at the Indiana 39-yard line, Iowa found another scoring opportunity in the offing. 

This time a series of rushing plays culminated with Wegher running it in to the end zone from 6 yards out.  Murray’s extra point was good.  Iowa led 35-24.

There was approximately 7:30 left in the game.  On the next drive, Indiana was forced to punt.

Iowa took over and began running the ball to eat up the clock.  At 3rd-and-2 on the Indiana 27-yard line, Wegher rushed for a touchdown and the final score of the game.  With the point after good, Iowa led 42-24.

After Edds intercepted Ben Chappell’s last pass, Iowa ran out the clock, winning the game going away, so it seemed according to the score.

The Wrap-up: Lucky 13

According to coach Kirk Ferentz, "We definitely have been a second-half team and today a fourth-quarter team.

"They know this game goes 60 minutes. They refuse to quit. They understand football is a crazy game and that all you can do as a football player is keep playing."

Stanzi passed the ball for 337 yards, throwing over 300 yards for the first time in his career while at the same time throwing five interceptions.  It was a game of bizarre extremes.  

Iowa had 480 total yards, 337 passing and 143 rushing while Indiana had 306 total yards, 227 passing, and 79 rushing.  Indiana was held to three points by the vaunted Iowa defense in the second half.  

Iowa rolled up 21 first downs to Indiana’s 13; they converted 5-of-18 third downs compared to Indiana’s 7-of-13.  Iowa had six turnovers to Indiana’s three.  The time of possession was almost equal.

Iowa’s true freshman running back, Wegher, filling in for starter Adam Robinson who is out for the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain, rushed for a season high 118 yards, including three touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter.  

Iowa is off to its best start ever, going to 9-0 on the season and 13-0 totally.  Next week they face Northwestern in Iowa City before heading to Columbus to play Ohio State in two weekends. 

That one could have very interesting consequences depending on Ohio State’s trip to Happy Valley next Saturday.  

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[Quotes from Iowa Official Athletic Site: A Halloween Scare Turns to Iowa High Fives]