Overtime: A Look Back at the Iowa Hawkeyes 17-10 Win Over Minnesota
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By Jack Brandsgard (jbrandsgard@hawkeyesmic.com) 10/29/17
On a day where ham was the main course in the press box, the Iowa Hawkeyes retained Floyd of Rosedale by beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 17-10.
Quick Start
It took the Iowa offense just five plays and 2:23 of game time to march 80 yards down the field for an opening drive touchdown.
Kirk Ferentz said after the game that most of Iowa’s opening drives are scripted, so it’s a good sign for the Hawkeyes to be able to execute the gameplan.
The Hawkeyes were aggressive on first down for most of the night, and the first drive set the tone. A 22-yard pass to TJ Hockenson followed by a 25-yard throw to Nick Easley made it clear that Iowa was ready to play. In my prediction for this week’s game, I wrote about the importance of getting off to a fast start in this game. Iowa was able to do so, and it was the difference in the game.
Good Things Come to an End
The opening series was the only solid drive Iowa could muster in the first half. The Hawkeyes had seven drives following their touchdown:
Three plays, eight yards, punt.
One play, zero yards, interception
Three plays, four yards, punt.
Three plays, negative one yard, punt
Three plays, six yards, punt
Six plays, 31 yards, punt
Four plays, 30 yards, fumble.
Four three-and-outs, two turnovers, and at least one angry coach.
Brian Ferentz Halftime Explosion
Iowa’s offensive coordinator stormed out of his booth in the press box and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade en route to the locker room. Ferentz was upset with the review of James Butler’s fumble to end Iowa’s last drive of the half. The eruption was volatile enough to prompt security guards to stand outside the Big Ten review booth when Ferentz came back upstairs after the break.
The optics of it aren’t good, to say the least. How can any player take Ferentz seriously the next time he tells them to stay calm during the game? What caused such an outburst?
Surely Ferentz was upset about the Butler fumble, but that couldn’t have been the only thing. The offense wasn’t effective at all after their first drive, and Ferentz’s frustration boiled over. That can’t happen again, and I’m interested to see how this situation is handled.
Defense Anchors Team Again
We’ve seen the defense keep Iowa in games all season. Minnesota QB Demry Croft missed some receivers, but the Hawkeye defense, namely Josh Jackson, played a big part in his 9/29 passing line.
Jackson has developed into an All-Big Ten talent with the potential to be a playmaker on a national level. He leads the nation with 15 passes defended, adding four to his collection against Minnesota. One of those breakups led to a Jake Gervase sliding interception in the endzone to take points off the board for the Gophers.
Iowa’s defense enjoyed the return of Josey Jewell, who tallied 11 tackles and two quarterback hurries, including one soul-crushing hit on Croft. It’s never a bad thing to get the program’s seventh-leading tackler back on the field.
The Return of ButWad
James Butler and his massive elbow brace rushed for 28 yards on 11 carries in Butler’s first action since the North Texas game.
Despite his fumble, Butler said the brace doesn’t affect his ball security and he feels comfortable with it on.
Akrum Wadley had 16 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. His burst and quickness seemed even more prominent than usual. Wadley was his normal self after the game, seemingly pleased with his performance and the team’s.
“We just need to keep moving forward and improving.”
Final Game Stats Below
