IOWA CITY − For the second straight 12 months within the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry, the latter levels of the fourth quarter introduced with it a 10-10 impasse.
But this time, the shoe was on the opposite Iowa foot.
Drew Stevens, a 12 months after being benched at halftime of Iowa’s recreation at Nebraska, delivered a 53-yard walk-off subject objective for the Hawkeyes’ solely lead of the sport and a dramatic 13-10 win earlier than an unhinged, freezing-cold crowd at Kinnick Stadium.
A 12 months in the past, Ethan Hurkett’s unbelievable interception within the last minute arrange Marshall Meeder’s fluttering 39-yard subject objective gave the Hawkeyes a 13-10 walk-off win in Lincoln, securing the Heroes Trophy.
This time, Max Llewellyn was the defensive hero for the Hawkeyes, who completed their common season with an 8-4 report whereas sending Nebraska to a devastating loss and a 6-6 end.
If not for the heroics of Kaleb Johnson, the Hawkeyes may’ve gotten run out of their very own constructing.
Johnson made a super-human play on the primary play of the fourth quarter with Iowa behind, 10-3, and its offense nearing the end of a totally futile efficiency. But on a display screen cross on second-and-13, Johnson bounced off one tackler on the line of scrimmage, seemed to be stacked up once more for a brief acquire however stored his legs driving and in some way broke away up the suitable sideline. From there, Johnson made a pointy cutback close to midfield to separate two Nebraska defenders who collided after which outraced each Cornhusker to the tip zone for a 72-yard landing reception. Credit Dayton Howard for persevering with to stay with the play and supply some assist with downfield blocking.
On this night time, it felt like a Johnson long-gainer or defensive landing can be the one two methods for Iowa to get into the tip zone, and that’s precisely what occurred to even the rating at 10-10 and switch this right into a frantic end for the 69,250 followers who braved the frigid chilly at Kinnick Stadium.
An uncommon third quarter gave the Hawkeyes an opportunity
With the exception of the Ohio State recreation, the third quarter has been Iowa’s quarter this season. The Hawkeyes owned a 115-55 edge within the third coming into this recreation and in weird style ended up profitable the third quarter, 3-0.
Nebraska missed a brief subject objective vast left with 9:26 left within the third to punctuate a powerful opening drive out of halftime. Iowa picked up a subject objective of its personal with 4:30 left within the interval, however that was a serious disappointment after the sport’s first turnover set the offense up for extra. John Nestor recovered a botched punt-return try on the Cornhuskers’ 4-yard line. But two unsuccessful Johnson runs and a 2-yard cross to Luke Lachey left Iowa with fourth-and-goal on the 2, and Kirk Ferentz opted to take the three factors on a Stevens 20-yard kick.
Iowa entered the fourth quarter with 65 complete yards however nonetheless had an opportunity, down 10-3.
Iowa’s first-down performs within the first half? Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
One was a Jackson Stratton scramble for two yards, however the level stays the identical. Eight performs, no passes. The Hawkeyes had been so timid to depend on the cross that Nebraska fearlessly stacked the field to completely management the primary half.
The Hawkeyes gained 20 first-half yards on six-plus possessions. Twenty snaps, 20 yards, one first down. Johnson, the Big Ten speeding chief, popped one first-down run for 11 yards, however his different six first-down carries went for minus-1, minus-1, 4, minus-1, 4 and 0.
When individuals complain that defenses “stack the field” typically that may be exaggerated. But Nebraska legitimately had all 11 defenders inside seven yards of the road of scrimmage at instances, daring offensive coordinator Tim Lester to dial up a cross. Stratton was 2-for-6 passing within the first half for 8 yards and was sacked as soon as for minus-6 speeding.
Lester has been good at second-half changes all 12 months. He was most likely sluggish to the punch on this one. But on the three-play drive that ended with Johnson’s 72-yard landing catch, it began with a 17-yard cross from Stratton to Jacob Gill. Given Nebraska’s recreation plan defensively, it made sense to lastly open issues up.
Poor punting circumstances alter Iowa’s standard recreation plan
In addition to the poor first-half offense, Iowa’s punt recreation was about as unhealthy because it’s been all 12 months within the opening half-hour. Freshman Rhys Dakin’s first cold-weather recreation obtained off to a tough begin, with uncharacteristically ugly-looking kicks in comparison with his standard excessive spirals.
It’s not just like the kicks had been horrible, however having 4 years of Tory Taylor most likely makes the workforce really feel spoiled. For instance, Ferentz opted to punt on fourth-and-inches from Nebraska’s 49-yard line within the first quarter. Dakin’s wobbly kick of 32 yards to Nebraska’s 17 wasn’t the coffin-corner precision wanted to reward such a choice.
After Dakin’s first punt of the day went for 45 yards, his subsequent 5 had been 34, 32, 36, 34 and 33 for a 35.7 common. Considering Dakin entered with a 44.9-yard common that ranked 18th within the nation, this was a substantial damaging in a back-and-forth first half the place the rating was 3-0 after 11 possessions. Think about 5 first downs’ value of yardage that Iowa usually counts on as gone.
To be truthful, Nebraska punter Brian Buschini averaged solely 33.8 yards per kick within the decisive first half. Cold-weather punting isn’t a fairly sight.
Dakin’s second-half punting was significantly better. His excessive third-quarter punt undoubtedly contributed to the Nebraska muff. And he hit one for 49 yards to begin the fourth quarter, then 54 when Iowa wanted it to push Nebraska again to its personal 20 with 1:42 left.
No bowl for Wisconsin; what’s subsequent for Iowa?
Black Friday started with a considerably surprising growth, contemplating the place Wisconsin soccer felt it was when hiring Luke Fickell two years in the past. With a 24-7 dwelling loss to Minnesota, the Badgers went from a 5-2 begin to a 5-7 end … and, thus, had their 22-year streak of bowl video games come to an finish.
That lack of December bowl prep is an enormous deal for a developmental program, and that’s why Iowa is all the time thrilled to get any bowl-game bid. Ferentz’s groups have been invited to bowl video games for 12 straight years and 16 of the final 17. The Hawkeyes use the additional December practices to ramp up reps for youthful gamers who’ve been both special-teamers or scout-teamers earlier than biking again to the “regulars” within the final week or two earlier than the sport.
With the win, essentially the most possible bowl vacation spot for Iowa is the Dec. 31 Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa. That’s the previous Outback Bowl, a recreation the Hawkeyes have performed in six instances beneath Ferentz however not because the 2018 season. Assuming 4 Big Ten groups make the playoff (Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana), that may possible put Illinois within the Citrus (which desires a recent workforce after having Iowa two of the previous three years) and Iowa in Tampa towards an SEC opponent to be decided.
Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow has served for 30 years with The Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Sports Network. Chad is the 2023 INA Iowa Sports Columnist of the Year and NSMA Co-Sportswriter of the Year in Iowa. Join Chad’s text-message group (free for subscribers) at HawkCentral.com/HawkeyesTexts. Follow @ChadLeistikow on X.
