The Hawkeyes have reached Saturday’s 11 a.m. home finale against Purdue with a 10-0 record that is best start ever recorded by an Iowa football team.
Advertisement
The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) clinched the Big Ten West Division title and secured their first appearance in the league’s title game, December 5 in Indianapolis. Quarterback David Blough completed 26 of 45 passes with 287 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while running back Markell Jones added a score on the ground to go along with 58 rushing yards.
Will Iowa win this one big or does Purdue find a way to give them a scare? But, once the game got going on a relatively clear playing surface, Iowa wasted little time. The next three, not so much, but you have to keep believing that on that fourth drive, you’re going to get it going again, ” Beathard said. Iowa now has six scoring drives of 90 yards or more this season, all of which have resulted in Hawkeye touchdowns. Iowa is 16th nationally with just 18.4 points allowed per game.
With the Boilermakers trailing 20-13 midway through the third quarter and positioned at Iowa’s 34-yard line, Purdue wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey twice dropped big passes over the middle. They would love nothing more than to spoil the Hawkeyes’ season, but as well-coached and disciplined as Iowa has been this season, that doesn’t seem likely.
The Hawkeyes close out the regular season Friday at Nebraska. Beathard produced a couple of scrambles, keeping plays alive and also tossed three TD passes.
Make no mistake, if Iowa finishes the season undefeated with a win in the Big Ten championship game over Ohio State, MI State, or MI they will be included in this year’s playoff.
Advertisement
Senior Jordan Canzeri, in his final carry at Kinnick Stadium, ran for a 42-yard touchdown with 2:12 left that kicked off a celebration in Iowa City, with fans chanting “Let’s Go Hawks!” It was the first time this season an Iowa opponent scored in the final two minutes of the first half. Kittle scored from 35 yards with 3:20 to play in the third quarter, and his cousin, Krieger Coble, rumbled in from 22 yards on the Hawkeyes’ next possession.
