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Iowa 29, Minnesota 27
Iowa scored on its first five possessions and did not record
a turnover for the first time this season en route to a 29-27
triumph at Minnesota. The victory keeps Floyd of Rosedale
in Iowa City a fourth consecutive year.
PK Kyle Schlicher had a career-day to help the Hawkeyes
upend the Gophers. Schlicher posted school records in field
goals made in a game (5) and kicking points in a game (17).
The sophomore connected on field goals of 36, 22, 20, 38 and
a career-long 49 yards. Schlicher was recognized as co-Big
Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
WR Clinton Solomon collected career highs in receptions
(9) and receiving yards (157). QB Drew Tate completed
24-39 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, with no
interceptions.
Iowa jumped out to a 16-3 advantage in the first half on
the leg of three Schlicher field goals and a 41-yard touchdown
pass completion from Tate to Solomon. Minnesota
RB Laurence Maroney scampered 79 yards for a score to
trim the Hawkeyes’ lead to 16-10 before Iowa WR James
Townsend caught a 60-yard touchdown pass to give Iowa a
23-10 halftime advantage. The touchdown passes of 41 and
60 yards are the longest touchdown passing plays this season
for the Hawkeyes.
Minnesota out-scored Iowa 10-3 in the third quarter to
shave the Hawkeyes’ lead to 26-20. Schlicher converted his
record-breaking fifth field goal with 9:11 remaining in the
game to stretch the lead to 29-20. Maroney scored his second
touchdown of the day with 4:40 left to cut the lead to 29-27.
Following an Iowa punt, Minnesota drove 20 yards to the
Iowa 34, before a potential game-winning 51-yard field goal
sailed wide left with 28 seconds left.
Defensively, Iowa forced four turnovers (3 interceptions, 1
fumble), including three in the first half. Minnesota entered
the game with just six turnovers in its first 10 games. DB
Marcus Paschal had a career-high 12 tackles (7 solo) and a
forced fumble. Three Hawkeyes (DB Sean Considine, LB
Chad Greenway, LB Abdul Hodge) each collected eight tackles.
In addition, Considine and Greenway each intercepted a
pass. Here is the yardstick:
Iowa Minnesota
First Downs 18 20
Rushes-Yds. 27-6 54-337
Passing Yds. 333 73
Passes (C-A-I) 24-39-0 9-17-3
Total Offense 339 410
Punts-Avg. 4-41.8 1-62.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 6-44 4-25
Time of Possession 30:56 29:04
FINAL GAME NOTES
• Minnesota won the coin toss and elected to receive. Iowa had
started on offense the previous 16 contests prior to the Purdue
game a week ago.
• Iowa’s 23 points in the first half equaled its season high for a
half. The Hawkeyes also tallied 23 points in the first half vs. Kent
State and 23 in the second half vs. Ohio State.
• Minnesota’s 73 yards passing is a season-low for an Iowa opponent.
The previous low was 96 yards by Penn State.
• The Hawkeyes had three new players in its starting lineup, including
center Ben Cronin and left tackle Ben Gates on offense
and OLB Edmond Miles on defense. Cronin made his first career
start, while Gates made his second career start (right guard at
Michigan) and the second for Miles (Michigan State).
• QB Drew Tate has passed for over 300 yards in three games this
season (at Minnesota and vs. Michigan State and Ohio State).
• DB Jovon Johnson had his second interception of the season
in the second quarter. Johnson has 12 career thefts, moving
into a fourth place tie on Iowa’s career list with Steve Wilson
(1966-68).
• With three interceptions and one fumble, the Iowa defense has
created 16 turnovers the last four games (4.0 avg.).
• WR James Townsend’s 60-yard touchdown reception was his
first career touchdown.
• Three Iowa kickers (Kyle Schlicher, Rob Houghtlin, Dave
Holsclaw) have converted four field goals or more in a game vs.
Minnesota.
• The attendance was 64,719, the fourth largest crowd in Minnesota
history. Four of Minnesota’s top five crowds have been
against Iowa.
• The victory was Iowa’s 199 th away from Iowa City (199-294-
23).
WISCONSIN FALLS AT MICHIGAN STATE
Wisconsin suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 49-
14 decision at Michigan State. RB Anthony Davis scored on
a 45-yard touchdown run on the Badgers’ third offensive play.
Michigan State responded with 14 straight points. Wisconsin tied
the game on a nine-yard run by Matt Bernstein. The Spartans
answered with a 30-yard pass from WR Aaron Alexander to RB
Jason Teague off a reverse. The Badgers then failed to score on
four tries from the one-yard line just before halftime. Michigan
State out-scored Wisconsin 28-0 in the second half. Davis paced
Wisconsin with 128 yards rushing and a touchdown. QB John
Stocco completed 20-38 passes for 178 yards. The Badgers defense
yielded 550 total yards, including 430 yards rushing.
ON THE SAME STAFF
Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Wisconsin’s Barry Alvarez served
on the same Iowa coaching staff from 1981-86. Ferentz was
Iowa’s offensive line coach from 1981-89 and Alvarez coached
the Hawkeye linebackers from 1979-86.