PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The University of Iowa football team defeated Rutgers, 38-24, to open Big Ten play at Shi Stadium. The game started with a bang as Kaden Wetjen took the opening kick off back 104 yards for a touchdown. It was the second game in a row that Wetjen returned a kick for a touchdown.
Mark Gronowski continued to progress in the passing game on 12-for-18 attempts for 186 yards. But it was in the rushing game that he dominated by finding the end zone three times on the ground adding 55 yards with his legs. Kamari Moulton returned to the Hawkeye rushing attack and led the way with 68 yards and a score on 14 attempts.
After first half that saw Rutgers score the first three times they had the ball behind the precision passing attack of Athan Kaliakmanis. Most of his 330 yards came in the first half as Phil Parker’s defense shut down the Scarlet Knights out of the gate in the third quarter setting the tone for the Hawkeye defense in the second half.
Defensively, the Hawkeyes were led by Karson Sharar with nine tackles and Jaden Harrell with nine tackles. Max Llewellyn and Ethan Hurkett each recorded a sack and Hurkett added a block on a field goal attempt. Jaxon Rexroth pulled in the Hawkeyes first interception of the season as he picked off Kaliakmanis after Llewellyn pressured the Scarlet Knights QB into a hurried throw over the middle.
