What if? That’s what Hawkeye fans will be asking for quite a while after Oregon nailed a last second 38 yard field goal to escape Iowa City with a 18-16 win.
What if Kaden Wetjen doesn’t fumble inside the 15 yard line? What if have been if the Hawkeyes don’t muff a punt in their own end zone resulting in a safety that eventually determined the outcome of the game. Or what if was the missed two point try after the Hawkeyes scored the go ahead touchdown with less than two minutes to go was successful? Or what if the normally rock solid Iowa defense that held Oregon in check all day, didn’t let them move down the field in less than six plays to put the Ducks in position to win the crucial Big Ten matchup?
For the second time this season the Hawkeyes went toe to toe with a Top Ten opponent and for a second time lost by one score. In this game, there were too many mistakes at key times while Oregon made only one mistake by throwing a pick in the red zone to keep Iowa close in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, while Iowa gave up just 18 points, they came at all of the wrong times. Iowa asked its defense to stand up before halftime and at the end of the game, but saw Oregon get a field goal each time. Those six points proved rather costly.
The Ducks ran for 261 yards at 7.3 yards per carry. The had their way the line of scrimmage while Iowa’s offense led by Gronkowski responded over and over to take a lead with just 1:51 to play.
As he usually is, Drew Stevens was a bright spot as he kicked a 58 yard field goal to pull the Hawkeyes with five at 15-10. This was the next drive for Iowa after teh Wetjen fumble and brought the fans to life and in the pouring rain. If he misses that kick, Kinnick Stadium doesn’t come back to life or see the Hawkeyes get back into this game.
You have to tip your cap to the Oregon Ducks and their head coach, Dan Lanning. What more can you ask for from a College Football Playoff team than what they did today? They came into Iowa, in the pouring rain, against a full Kinnick Stadium, played four quarters of sold football and came out on the other side. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to a team that can handle everything thrown at them, and the Ducks did that.
