This year the game wasn’t close and Iowa didn’t need a last second field to beat Nebraska. After a first quarter where the defense gave up a 70 yard TD to Emmett Johnson, they clamped down and kept Nebraska at bay while the offense scored on four straight possessions to take a commanding lead into the half.
As so many other games the action started after the Nebraska touchdown as Kaden Wetjen returned the kick off 51 yards and Iowa added another 15 on a facemask penalty. Drew Stevens connected on a 41 yard field goal. After forcing a Husker punt, the Hawkeyes used three plays to score on a Mark Gronkoski 35 yard pass to DJ Vonnahme. After a Nebraska field goal, Gronkowski drove the Hawkeyes down the field on a ten play 75 yard drive capped by a Kamari Moulton touchdown run.
Nebraska made it a one-point game with 2:53 left in the first half on a 35-yard field goal ending a 10-play, 56-yard drive. To cap an offensive half that only saw one punt, the Hawkeyes punched it in on a 1-yard QB sneak from Gronowski to end a nine-play, 75-yard drive.
The second half was more of the same as the Hawkeye defense scored a safety after a fumble on a punt return by the Huskers forced by Karson Sharar, the ball rolled into the end zone where it was recovered by the Huskers for an Iowa safety. Later in the half, Gronowski found the end zone again on a 6-yard rush up the middle with 4:47 left in the third quarter. And early in the 4th quarter, the Hawkeyes continued to pull away with a nine-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown rush from Moulton.
Iowa has won three straight and 10 of the last 11 games over Nebraska and seven straight in Lincoln dating back to the 2015 season. Coverage of Hawkeye football is brought to you by Ed Morse Chevy, Buick and GMC, Meineke Muffler, Muscatine Power and Water and Community Health Care Dental Clinic.
