Iowa overcomes sluggish offensive performance to defeat Purdue 26-20 on homecoming
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – There is no such thing as a bad victory, even if it includes frustrated fans booing at halftime and multiple drives on offense that end with field goals instead of touchdowns.
That was the circumstance on Saturday as the Iowa football team overcame a sluggish performance on offense to defeat Purdue 26-20 before a sellout crowd of 69,250 on homecoming at rain-soaked Kinnick Stadium.
The victory was Iowa’s first over Purdue in three games and it also ended a two-game losing streak for the Hawkeyes.
But it didn’t come as easy as some might have expected, considering Purdue’s injury situation, and that didn’t sit well with some fans, who unleashed a chorus of boos as the Iowa players left the field at halftime while clinging to a 9-7 lead.
Fans were frustrated with the sputtering Iowa offense, and also it appeared with the decision by the Iowa coaches to not call a timeout in the final 38 seconds of the second quarter after Purdue had scored a touchdown.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette called for a fair catch on the kick despite having what appeared to be some room to run. Iowa then ran one running play that gained one yard before leaving the field for halftime.
"I was a little ticked, we must have had a lack of communication on the kick return, I thought it was a returnable ball and we fair caught it," Kirk Ferentz said. "But that's one more thing we better get cleaned up. I was not in a good mood at that point, quite frankly. If we had squirted out then we probably would have gone with it, but I was a little upset at that point."
Junior kicker Keith Duncan matched his career-high with four field goals, while the Iowa defense held Purdue to just 33 rushing yards.
Iowa improved 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, while Purdue fell to 2-5 and 1-3 in the conference.
Iowa junior receiver Brandon Smith finished with a career nine catches for 106 yards, but he was also helped off the field with what appeared to be a right leg injury with 4 minutes, 21 seconds left to play. Smith did not return to the game and left the field on crutches.
Kirk Ferentz addressed Smith's injury after the game and was somewhat optimistic.
"As far as the injury goes, so far it's positive," Ferentz said. "Sounds like maybe a bone bruise or kick or that type of thing, so we'll keep our fingers crossed on that."
Purdue kicker J.D. Dellinger made a 36-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 19-13 with 2:59 left to play.
Purdue then tried an onside kick that was recovered by Iowa receiver Nico Ragaini at midfield.
However, the Boilermakers were called for a personal foul for hitting Ragaini on the ground, giving Iowa first down at the Purdue 35-yard line.
It only took Iowa two plays to score its second touchdown of the game as Mekhi Sargent broke through a gap in the Purdue defense and scored on a 14-yard run with 2:16 left to play. Sargent also had gained 21 yards on the first play of the drive.
Senior guard Landan Paulsen had a key block on Sargent's touchdown run, and Sargent made it a point to thanks him afterwards.
"That was exciting," said Iowa junior right tackle Tristan Wirfs. "I remember that play. Mekhi came off (the field) and was talking to Landan Paulsen because he had a big block on that. So it's nice hearing the feedback from our running backs after a big play like that."
The booing that had echoed throughout the stadium at halftime had been replaced by cheers after Sargent’s touchdown as Iowa fans finally felt secure with the Hawkeyes leading 26-13.
Purdue refused to go away, though, as it marched down the field and scored a touchdown that cut the deficit to 26-20 with 24 seconds left to play.
The Boilermakers tried an onside kick, but it was recovered by Iowa tight end Nate Wieting to finally secure the victory.
Iowa quarterback Nate Stanley completed 23-of-33 passes for 260 yards while improving his record to 11-11 against Big Ten opponents.
Purdue freshman quarterback Jack Plummer passed for 327 yards and two touchdowns, while true freshman receiver David Bell had 13 catches for 197 yards and one touchdown.
Bell had Iowa among his top schools during the recruiting process before picking his home-state Boilermakers.
Purdue was driving in Iowa territory in the third quarter when sophomore cornerback Riley Moss intercepted a pass and returned it to the Iowa 28. Moss had just been inserted in the game for starting cornerback Matt Hankins.
The turnover seemed to ignite the sputtering Iowa offense as Stanley and his cohorts then drove 72 yards on nine plays for a touchdown that came on a 1-yard dive by true freshman Tyler Goodson with 7:26 left in the third quarter.
It was Goodson’s first touchdown as a Hawkeye and it gave Iowa a 16-7 lead.
Iowa then forced Purdue into a three-and-out and took over on offense at the Purdue 47 with 6:47 left in the third quarter.
The momentum had clearly shifted to Iowa’s side at that point.
Stanley connected with Smith on a 25-yard pass play that gave Iowa a first down at the Purdue 24.
Iowa then faced a 4th-and-1 at the Purdue 15 and Stanley gained three yards on a quarterback sneak, giving out a first down at the Purdue 12.
However, the drive stalled at the Purdue 13 and Iowa had to settle for 30-yard field goal by Duncan.
Purdue drove to near midfield on its first possession of the game, but had to punt after failing to complete three passes in a row.
Iowa took over on offense at its own 18 and immediately started marching down field.
Smith-Marsette caught a 32-yard pass from Stanley on the third play of the drive, which gave Iowa a first down at the Purdue 31.
But this drive stalled at the Purdue 26 and Iowa had to settle for another Duncan field goal, this one from 44 yards with 2:42 left in the first quarter.
Purdue was threatening to score the game’s first touchdown early in the second quarter when Iowa defensive back Geno Stone forced Purdue receiver Amad Anderson to fumble.
Iowa cornerback Matt Hankins recovered the fumble at the Iowa 9.
As for Duncan, he has made all but one of his 11 field-goal attempts from beyond 40 yards this season, and he also ranks first nationally in made field goals.
Duncan and Dellinger combined to score 22 points in Saturday's game, which was sort of a reunion for the two North Carolina natives.
"We talk on a regular basis," Duncan said. "He went to school about ten minutes from me. We played every year in high school, too. I hit a game winner against him in high school, so I always jab at that with him."
Duncan now has another jab to throw at Dellinger with Saturday's victory.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Dillon Doyle made his first career start for the injured Kristian Welch and had one solo tackle.
True freshman Jack Campbell also rotated with Doyle at linebacker, while true freshman defensvie back Dane Belton played extensively as Iowa often used five defensive backs against the pass-happy Boilermakers.
Redshirt freshman defensive end John Waggoner also recorded his first sack as a Hawkeye and then talked about it with the media after the game.
"It was real surreal to kind of get out there and make that play," Waggoner said. "But I've got to give it up to my teammates for holding him up and keeping good coverage on the back end."
Purdue 0 7 0 13 – 20
Iowa 6 3 7 10 – 26
I – Keith Duncan 30 FG
I – Duncan 44 FG
I – Duncan 42 FG
P – David Bell 7 pass from Jack Plummer (J.D. Dellinger kick)
I – Tyler Goodson 1 run (Duncan kick)
I – Duncan 38 FG
P – Dellinger 27 FG
P – Dellinger 36 FG
I – Mekhi Sargent 14 run (Duncan kick)
P – Payne Durham 1 pass from Jack Plummer (Dellinger kick)
Attendance: 69,250