Dropped passes, the struggle to move the ball on the ground and problems in slowing the North Dakota State offense replaced the crisp offensive execution and defensive successes Ferentz had enjoyed in two season-opening wins. “It was a little closer than I would have liked but the end result”, said Cam Pedersen, with the game winning 37-yard field goal.
Advertisement
Earlier that evening, the Bison shocked the Wildcats 24-21 with that one not being decided until the final minute.
A herd of Bison is expected at Kinnick Stadium Saturday. “I was hoping I didn’t get tackled by any linemen”. They are winners of the last five FCS championships and are an extremely disciplined team. The Bison’s previous FBS wins during that stretch came against Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State and Iowa State. Iowa played in the Rose Bowl last season. The 23-21 loss to North Dakota State marked the first time in school history the Hawkeyes have lost to a FCS opponent. “… I thought our offense was wearing them down and if we could get a stop, I felt we could dial up enough plays to get us in field goal range”. Bison head coach Chris Klieman, a Waterloo native, chose to go for the 2-point conversion.
The Hawkeyes also expect to be tested by the five-time defending champions and top-ranked team in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
“When we talk about North Dakota State, they take a backseat to no one”, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. They’ve successfully avoided any slip-ups against inferior squads since the start of last season, and pride themselves on the fact they don’t take any teams lightly.
“We don’t want anybody to come in here and beat us”. A piece of paper didn’t influence how this team played, nor did it influence how this game was coached.
The Bison gained 126 yards in the fourth quarter, including 103 rushing.
Nebraska 35, (22) OR 32: In Lincoln, Neb., Tommy Armstrong Jr. scored on a 34-yard quarterback draw with 2:29 left, and Nebraska held on Oregon’s final series. Easton Stick opened the drive with a 29-yard run. He came in with 6:00 left in the third quarter to replace senior starter Bart Houston, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 91 yards.
Iowa players compare the Bison to what they will see later in the season against Wisconsin. “If we played the way we know how, we’d make it a 60-minute game and that’s what we had to do”.
Stick was right. The Pedersen kick, from the right hash marks, floated just inside the right upright as time expired. Head coach Chris Klieman would elect to go for a two-point conversion following the the touchdown, but a failed attempt kept the Hawkeyes ahead 21-20 with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter.
Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard, battered all day by the Bison defense, had the same glare as Kittle at the penalty flag. It should be, along with an October 15 meeting at Purdue, the easiest game the Hawkeyes will play outside of Iowa City. Linebacker MJ Stumpf would pick off Beathard and return it 21 yards for the score. “Injuries are part of football and we’re going to have more of those this year, so it’s just all about how the guys who are in there play”. “That’s what we did”.
Advertisement
They went 80 yards in 15 plays in a drive that took 8:39-nine more seconds than the famed K-State march.
