The Hawkeyes traveled over to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames to take on the #16 ranked Iowa State Cyclones. What could have been a big ranked win and record-breaking win number 206 for Kirk Ferentz ended in heartbreak. It was a close matchup that came down to the wire, but in the end, the Cyclones pulled away, handing Iowa their first loss of the season.
Offensively, the Hawkeyes had trouble getting going early, only picking up one first down in the entire first quarter. The opening drives consisted of dropped passes, blown up runs, and even a dropped snap by Mark Gronowski. The Cyclones would benefit off the lackluster attack by jumping to a 6-0 lead.
Iowa’s first points would arrive early in the 2nd, thanks to a muffed punt by Iowa State, setting up the Hawkeyes for a Drew Stevens 31-yard field goal. But the offense continued to struggle constructing drives of their own. Their weakest point came midway in the 2nd quarter where Mark Gronowski threw an interception to Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper. Iowa State would capitalize off this takeaway by scoring the game’s first touchdown to go up 13-3.
After this mistake, Iowa’s offense looked better the remainder of the game. While Gronowski showed struggles in the first half, he looked more confident and composed in this game than his debut last week vs. UAlbany. Gronkowski completed 13 of his 24 passes, totaling 83 yards. He wasn’t barred by cramps this week, as he added up 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jaziun Patterson, filling in for the injured Kamari Moulton, complemented Gronowski in Iowa’s rushing attack. Patterson was the team’s leading rusher, his statline displaying 60 yards on 11 carries. Gronowski’s rushing score would come in response to the Cyclones first touchdown of the game thanks to critical Cyclones penalties, and the Hawkeyes would cut their lead to 13-10 by halftime.
After what had to have been a fiery halftime talk, Iowa’s defense came out hot. They forced Iowa State into a quick three and out, and were ready to see Kaden Wetjen let it fly on his return. But Wetjen failed to receive the punt in the air, letting it bounce over his head and getting tackled at Iowa’s own five yard line. To everyone’s surprise, the Hawkeyes marched 77 long yards in almost 9 and a half minutes, finishing with a 36-yard field goal from the trusty leg of Drew Stevens, tying the contest 13-13.
The Iowa State offense continued to struggle against the gritty Hawkeye defense. Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht played a clean game, but was only able to throw for 134 yards on 27 attempts, averaging 5 yards per throw. But one of Becht’s best drives would come at a critical moment. Starting from his own 9-yard line, he would command the Cyclones down the field. In an insane tip drill, a likely interception for Iowa somehow ended up in the hands of ISU receiver Gabe Burkle for a first down that sparked new life into the drive. The Cyclones ended using up about six and a half minutes of the clock, putting them in field goal range. Iowa State kicker Kyle Konrardy would nail a 54-yard field goal to push Iowa State out in front 16-13.
Final drive heroics would not be seen on the Hawkeyes end, with Mark Gronowski eating back to back sacks on 2nd and 3rd downs, resulting in a desperate 4th & 16 deep pass falling incomplete. The Cyclones would defeat the Hawkeyes for the second straight year in another narrow finish. It’s their first time winning at home vs. Iowa since 2011, snapping a 6 game winning streak in Jack Trice Stadium for Iowa.
Iowa will look to bounce back next week at home vs. UMass. While this result stings and the Hawks fell short, Iowa looked very competitive against not just a rival, but a nationally ranked team. And with the offense still figuring out its identity, it’s hard to tell where the ceiling really is.
