Game Story: Iowa Makes Most of Latest Opportunity
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Be there, and be ready.
There was no time for Iowa to mess around, not with a two-game funk to start the season, certainly not in this condensed schedule.
And time was precious this week for the Hawkeyes, with an altered schedule because of no practice on Tuesday with Election Day.
It was about making every second count in Saturday’s game against Michigan State at Kinnick Stadium.
The first 3 minutes, 53 seconds set the rest of the story in the 49-7 win over the Spartans.
An efficient 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive created a tone the Hawkeyes were able to maintain to get their first win of the season.
“We talked all week that we need to show up at 11:02 (kickoff time), be ready to play the game,” quarterback Spencer Petras said. “Collectively, we did that.”
Collectively, indeed.
The seven Iowa touchdowns came a variety of ways — two scoring runs by running back Tyler Goodson, two by fellow back Mekhi Sargent, a touchdown pass from Petras to Brandon Smith, a Charlie Jones 54-yard punt return, and a Riley Moss 54-yard interception return.
“We played our butts off,” offensive tackle Alaric Jackson said. “On all levels.”
The Hawkeyes felt they were close — a 24-20 loss at Purdue, a 21-20 home loss to Northwestern, proving you can’t convert close into victories.
“We needed a win. We needed to play well,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Our guys really responded and did a great job on that.”
“A relief? I guess a relief,” defensive end Chauncey Golston said, not sure of how he wanted to describe the feeling of finally getting a win. “Last week we worked hard, and we didn’t get the result we wanted. We knew if we kept working, we would eventually push through.”
“Just being that close, you just have to push harder,” Jackson said. “The difference between 3-0 and 1-2 is a small detail.”
The limits to this season — nine games with no off-weeks instead of a 12-game run — has put pressure on quick turnarounds and a fast education.
Ferentz wasn’t about to call this a must-win, but he knew its importance in a season when the clock ticks louder.
“You know, that’s the approach, but we needed success, and I don’t mean that like success or else mode,” Ferentz said. “I don’t live in that world. I know a lot of people do. We don’t live in that world in football. But we just needed to experience some success.
“But right along with that comes, you have to earn it. You can’t sit around counting on the other team to mess up so you go home happy. That’s not the way it works. We just needed to work hard, have a good week of practice and then show it on the field, and hopefully we took a positive step today.”
The first drive was a scoring chemistry of five runs and three passes, a balance Iowa’s offense craved after last week’s pass-happy second half against Northwestern.
The Hawkeyes would finish the game with 41 running plays and 29 passes, with 226 of their 405 yards of offense coming on runs.
“I think it’s all about having a fresh mentality every week, that we’ll have success in the running game,” said Goodson, who rushed for 113 yards, the second 100-yard game of his career.
“We did our job up front, and became victorious,” Jackson said.
Iowa’s defensive front threw punch after punch at Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi, staggering him with pressure. Lombardi threw three interceptions and was sacked twice.
It was something the Hawkeyes saw in watching how Lombardi was comfortable in the Spartans’ win over Michigan last week.
“To be able to throw the deep ball, you have to have a clean pocket, or at least time to throw the ball,” Golston said. “You can see it (when he gets pressured). He flinches, stuff like that.”
Petras was efficient — 15-of-27 passing for 167 yards — and finally caught some breaks.
Petras, who had two passes tipped for interceptions last week, had one pass glance off the hands of wide receiver Tyrone Tracy, and into the hands of Smith to keep one possession alive. Six plays later, Goodson had his second touchdown of the day, and Iowa led 21-0.
“Sometimes plays go your way, sometimes they don’t,” Petras said, recounting his good fortune.
It’s a short week, again, for Iowa, which plays Friday at Minnesota.
In a season where every second is precious, the Hawkeyes found a rhythm with the ticks of the clock.
“Couldn’t do anything about the past,” Jackson said. “Just trying to be the best ‘us’ that we could be. We did that all week, and it showed today.”
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