Iowa moves into sole possession of first place in Big Ten West with 10-7 win over Northwestern
By Pat Harty
The team that has a lame duck offensive coordinator, one of the worst offenses in the country statistically speaking and multiple injuries to key players on offense now also has sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West Division.
The Iowa football team earned that distinction by defeating Northwestern 10-7 on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Sophomore Drew Stevens made a 52-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to play as Iowa improved to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the West Division.
Sophomore receiver Kaleb Brown, who transferred from Ohio State, and who has played sparingly this season, also had a 23-yard reception that helped to set up the game-winning field goal by Stevens.
It was Brown’s first catch as a Hawkeye.
Iowa gained sole possession of first place in the West Division thanks to Illinois’ 27-26 victory at Minnesota on Saturday.
The Fighting Illini are coached by former Iowa defensive lineman Bret Bielema.
Minnesota (5-4, 3-3) still holds the tiebreaker, however, after having defeated Iowa 12-10 on Oct. 21 at Kinnick Stadium.
Nebraska and Wisconsin also lost to Michigan State and Indiana, respectively, on Saturday as they both fell to 3-3 in conference play.
Iowa’s performance on offense was the latest example of why Iowa Interim Athletic Director Beth Goetz announced this past Monday that offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz would be relieved of his duties after the season.
Brian Ferentz is the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Iowa only had 65 passing yards and converted on just 4-of-12 third-down plays, and yet, still did enough good things on defense and special teams to prevail.
The game was scoreless until Iowa sophomore quarterback Deacon Hill completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Addison Ostrenga with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
The touchdown was set a by a blocked punt by Iowa reserve defensive lineman Anterio Thompson on Northwestern’s opening drive of the third quarter. It was Thompson’s second blocked punt of the season.
Iowa took over on the Northwestern 25-yard line and then scored on the sixth play of the possession.
Northwestern had previously marched to the Iowa 2-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, but then had four rushing attempts that gained just one yard, turning the ball over on downs.
The drive lasted more than nine minutes, but the Wildcats had nothing to show for it in a game in which points were so hard to come by.
The Wildcats (4-5, 2-4) scored their only touchdown on a five-yard pass from Brendan Sullivan to Cam Johnson with 1:50 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown was set up by a 23-yard punt return by Michigan transfer A.J. Henning.
Henning caught Tory Taylor’s punt, which traveled just 37 yards, near midfield and returned it to the Iowa 22-yard line.
This Iowa team certainly has its flaws on offense, but it is also very resilient as it showed Saturday.
The Iowa defense was rock solid from start to finish, holding Northwestern to just 170 yards, including 29 in the first half.
“I think you saw tonight how our guys are and how they operate,” Kirk Ferentz said. “You talk in August about bumps in the road, that’s one of the factors in any season. It kind of falls in line with our best guys have to play their best. We need stories.
Saturday’s victory capped an emotional week for Kirk Ferentz as he saw his son get fired, and apparently couldn’t do anything to prevent it from happening.
“I think it’s true for anyone, whether it’s football or life,” Kirk Ferentz said in his post-game press conference. “How are you going to respond to things you’re not wild about, things you didn’t anticipate and things you can’t prepare for? How are going to respond to that? And that’s just life.”
Hawkeye fans finally had the chance to see star cornerback Cooper DeJean on offense as he had Iowa’s second longest run in the first half of eight yards.
The bye week apparently gave Brian Ferentz additional time to design plays for DeJean, and at this point, the offense needs all the help it can get for the stretch drive.
But it was Iowa’s other player, who until this game had worn jersey No. 3, along with DeJean, that made one of the biggest plays on offense, and did so with the game on the line and while wearing jersey No. 81.
Iowa will face Rutgers (6-3) next Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
The Scarlet Knights led Ohio State 9-7 at halftime on Saturday before falling 35-16 at home.
Iowa 0 0 7 3 – 10
Northwestern 0 0 0 7 – 7
I – Addison Ostrenga 2 pass from Deacon Hill (Drew Stevens kick)
N – Cam Johnson 5 pass from Brendan Sullivan (Jack Olsen kick)
I – Stevens 52 FG