By Pat Harty

This column started out being about Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan because he certainly came out firing against Missouri in the Music City Bowl on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee.

But as the game progressed, the one-two punch that was provided by Iowa running backs Kamari Moulton and Jaziun Patterson became the focus because those wondering how the two Florida natives would respond to the daunting task of replacing All-America running back Kaleb Johnson got their answer as they combined for 170 rushing yards and one touchdown.

But then came the disastrous fourth quarter causing the focus of this column to change again as Iowa failed to score while Missouri kicker Blake Craig made two field goals from beyond 50 yards, including a 56 yarder with 4 minutes, 36 second left to play, to lift his 19th-ranked team to a 27-24 come-from-behind victory.

It marked the second time this season that Iowa lost on a late field goal from beyond 50 yards as Iowa State prevailed 20-19 on a 54-yard field goal in the closing seconds of game two in Iowa City.

So, maybe this season just wasn’t meant to be for this Iowa team.

Iowa had multiple chances to take the lead late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s game, or to at least tie the score, but failed to do so for a number of reasons, including penalties of all things.

“It wasn’t a matter of us not playing hard today. It was just a matter of us not playing well enough,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said on the Learfield post-game radio show. “You play a team that’s ranked. A team with nine wins, now ten wins, that’s not going to be good enough.

“So, we just left too much out there unfortunately. Some of that to the credit of our opponent. But the bottom line is we just didn’t play well enough.”

And as impressive as Brendan Sullivan was in the first half, his performance in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, left much to be desired.

After Missouri had shanked a punt, Iowa took over on offense at its own 45 yard line with 1:44 left to play.

Iowa kicker Drew Stevens probably needed about 20 yards to have a chance to attempt a game-tying field goal.

But the possession unraveled from the start as Sullivan was sacked for a 13-yard loss on first down.

He was then stopped for no gain on 4th-and-1, and that was basically game over, and the end to a frustrating and some would say disappointing season as Iowa finished 8-5 overall.

Missouri scored the final 13 points to erase a 24-14 deficit late in the third quarter.

Iowa lost despite outgaining Missouri 166 to 89 on the ground.

And while Sullivan completed 14 of 18 passes for 131 yards, he only passed for 43 yards in the second half, while Missouri quarterback Brady Cook passed for 140 yards in the first half and 147 yards in the second half.

This bowl game was there for the taking, but Iowa just couldn’t close the deal, which sort of describes this up-and-down season.

Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester and Iowa running backs coach Ladell Betts both did a masterful job of utilizing their three running backs, which also included sophomore Terrell Washington Jr., but it just wasn’t enough due mostly to the offense having self-destructed in critical moments of the fourth quarter.

Iowa led 21-14 at halftime as Sullivan completed 8-of-9 passes for 88 yards. He also rushed five times for 31 yards in the first half.

The way the first half played out was highly unusual in that it was the offense that carried the defense with help from special teams, which contributed Kaden Wetjen’s 100-yard kick return for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Perhaps the biggest positive to take from Monday’s loss is that Iowa should be just fine at running back next season, assuming all the pieces stay put, which is always a concern in this age of the transfer portal and NIL.

Moulton and Patterson both showed they are more than capable of carrying the load as they rushed for 96 and 74 yards, respectively.

Iowa receivers Jacob Gill and Jarriett Buie also had their moments, as did Sullivan.

But with the game on the line, Sullivan and the offense didn’t rise to the occasion.

Sullivan had a chance to solidify his spot on top of the depth chart, and was in the process of doing so until the fourth quarter when he threw an interception and took the costly 13-yard sack.

Iowa has been aggressive in the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, and it’s reasonable to think that Lester will keep searching for another quarterback because it could be argued that the jury still is out on whether Sullivan is the solution for next season.

The biggest risk with Sullivan as the starting quarterback is the constant threat of injury from how he plays.

He always seems willing to break from the pocket, and sometimes he is too willing.

Sullivan made a play late in the second quarter near the Missouri goal line in which he reversed field and then eluded multiple defenders before absorbing a brutal hit from a Missouri defender at the 1-yard line.

The play was fun to watch, especially for an Iowa fan base that has been pleading for some excitement and explosiveness on offense.

But there was also a downside to the play in that Sullivan took a vicious hit.

Iowa would go on to score its third touchdown in the first half on the next play, but not without Sullivan having been rocked.

If Iowa had prevailed on Monday, Sullivan’s run near the Missouri goal line would have been the play that so many would be talking about.

But instead the lasting memory from this game will be that Iowa unraveled down the stretch.

This marked just the second time that Iowa and Missouri have played in over a century, and the first time since Iowa defeated Missouri in the 2010 Insight Bowl by the same score of 27-24.

The game also marked the end to some spectacular Hawkeye careers, including the dynamic linebacker tandem of Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson.

The Music City Bowl wasn’t where this season was supposed to end for this Iowa team, given its favorable schedule and the experience on defense.

But as coaches often say; teams ultimately get what they deserve, and Iowa is an example of that.

There was a lot to like about Iowa’s performance this season.

But as shown in Monday’s loss, the gap between being pretty good and real good is wider than what was expected heading into the season.

Iowa 14 7 3 0 – 24

Missouri 7 7 7 6 – 27

I – Terrell Washington 6 pass from Brendan Sullivan (Drew Stevens kick)

M – Theo Wease 8 pass from Brady Cook (Blake Craig kick)

I – Kaden Wetjen 100 kick return (Stevens kick)

M – M. Johnson 7 pass from Brady Cook (Craig kick)

I – Kamari Moulton 1 run (Stevens kick)

I – Stevens 38 FG

M – J. Manning 4 run (Craig kick)

M – Craig 51 FG

M – Craig 56 FG