MADISON, WISCONSIN – Iowa (5-0, 1-0) defeated #18/19 Wisconsin (3-2, 0-1), 10-6, Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium.
The Hawkeyes are 5-0 for the first time since 2009, and the second time under Kirk Ferentz.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz has 120 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, passing Barry Alvarez (119) for ninth in conference history.
Iowa has won its last two games in Madison. The visiting team has won five straight in the series. Iowa held Wisconsin to its lowest point total in the series since 2002 (Iowa won, 20-3).
Iowa has won three straight Big Ten openers, all on the road. (24-10 at Purdue in 2014; 23-7 at Minnesota in 2013).
Today was Iowa’s first win over a ranked opponent since a 24-16 win over #13 Michigan in 2011. Iowa’s last road win against a ranked opponent was 38-28 over #24 Michigan in 2010.
The Hawkeyes have won their second trophy game of the season (Cy-Hawk, Heartland). Iowa has two trophy games remaining on its schedule (Minnesota, Floyd of Rosedale; Nebraska, Heroes).
Iowa did not allow touchdown for the first time since defeating Western Michigan, 59-3, in 2013. The last time Iowa held a Big Ten opponent without a touchdown was in 2010, a 24-3 win over #20 Penn State.
Iowa has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season. Navy is the only school in the country yet to allow a rushing score. Navy hosts Air Force at 2:30 p.m.
The Iowa defense held Wisconsin to a season low three points in the first half. Iowa has not allowed a first quarter touchdown this season. Iowa rushed for 99 yards in the first half. Wisconsin had allowed just 93 total rushing yards in its previous three games.
Iowa entered the game ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in red zone defense, and held Wisconsin scoreless in two red zone trips. The Badgers fumbled and turned the ball over on downs inside the red zone on their last two possessions of the game.
The Badgers kicked a field goal on the game’s opening possession. The remaining 13 points scored in the game were points off turnovers.
INDIVIDUAL SUPERLATIVES
DB Desmond King recorded his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season. It was his second multi-interception game of the season (Pitt). King tied for the team lead with three interceptions last season. He entered the game tied for the Big Ten lead with three interceptions. His second quarter interception led to an Iowa touchdown. Three of his five interceptions this season have resulted in Iowa scores (2 TDs, 1 FG).
DB Desmond King is the first Hawkeye with five interceptions in a single-season since Brett Greenwood had five in 2010. He is the first Hawkeye to have two multi-interception games since Tyler Sash in 2009.
DE Drew Ott forced a fumble in the second quarter. It was Ott’s third forced fumble of the season, and third of his career. DE Nate Meier recovered the fumble, Wisconsin’s first lost fumble of the season (resulted in 33-yard field goal). Ott (2.5) and Meier (1.5) combined for four TFL and 1.5 sacks.
TE George Kittle caught a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was the second receiving TD of his career, and the second in as many weeks.
DT Faith Ekakitie recovered a fumble inside the Iowa five-yard line in the fourth quarter. It is his first career fumble recovery.
QB C.J. Beathard is 6-0 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, a record that includes a 3-0 mark on the road and a 3-0 mark at home. Numbers include 101-of-168 (62.6) passing for 1,284 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions, and 192 yards rushing with three rushing touchdowns. The last Iowa quarterback to win his first six career starts was Matt Sherman, who won seven from 1994-95.
RB Jordan Canzeri rush 26 times for 125 yards. It is his third 100-yard rushing game this season, and the fifth of his career.
LB Cole Fisher (14) and LB Ben Niemann (7) recorded career high in tackles. DB Greg Mabin (7) and SS Miles Taylor (7) matched their career highs with seven tackles.
OL Cole Croston and WR Jerminic Smith made their first career starts. Smith is the first Iowa freshman to start at wide receiver since Matt Vandeberg started two games in 2013. Thirteen Hawkeye have made their first career start this season: RB LeShun Daniels, Jr., LT Boone Myers, DT Nathan Bazata, DT Jaleel Johnson, LB Cole Fisher, LB Ben Niemann, SS Miles Taylor, TE Jameer Outsey, DE Parker Hesse WR Riley McCarron, Croston, and Smith.
WR Matt VandeBerg had six catches for 61 yards. It is the fourth time in five games he has had at least six catches.
MISCELLANEOUS
Wisconsin won the toss and elected to receive. It was the first time this season Iowa did not receive the opening kickoff. In 17 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes have started the game on defense in 39-of-205 games (21-18).
The Hawkeyes continue Big Ten Conference action hosting Illinois on Oct. 10 in their annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. (CT).
Singing the Fight Song in the locker room. Priceless. #UNTILthegameiswon #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/dJ4ju8eD2E
— Chris White (@coachwhite_c) October 3, 2015
How 'bout them Hawkeyes! Guys played tough. Camp Randall is a great place to win!#teamwin #heartlandtrophy #IowaEdge pic.twitter.com/MR0Oh35GOk
— Chris Doyle (@coach_Doyle) October 3, 2015
