by Matt Marquardt –
IOWA CITY – Forget the throwback uniforms from the 1991-1922 Iowa championship season.
The good luck charms were not enough to propel Iowa past Iowa State Saturday afternoon as the Cyclones’ own good luck charm, linebacker Jake Knott, saved the day in the fourth quarter as his team held on to beat the Hawkeyes on the road and keep the Cy-Hawk Trophy.
Knott tipped a James Vandenberg pass in Iowa State territory as Iowa threatened to tie or take a lead with time winding down, to preserve the 9-6 victory.
Iowa State started hot, opening the game with a 75 yard touch down drive capped by a Steele Jantz touchdown pass to Aaron Horne. The point after try was missed.
The Hawkeyes answered with a long 77 yard drive starting at their own 17 yard line that ended with a Mike Meyer field goal after Vandenberg could not connect on a 3rd and 5 from the 6 yard line.
Iowa dodged a bullet on the Cyclones’ next possession.
Iowa State was forced to punt after a few plays, but a roughing the kicker call gave the ball back to ISU as they continued to move the ball deep into Iowa territory. A 3rd down and four from the Iowa 14 yard line was converted, and Iowa State moved the ball all the way inside the Iowa 5 yard line. A huge fumble on 2nd and goal by running back Shontrelle Johnson, recovered by Iowa’s Dominic Alvis, ended the 73 yard drive.
Iowa State was able to kick one more field goal before the half and lead 9-3.
The second half was a slugfest of defensive stops and timely turnovers, and the game could have went either way.
Iowa’s biggest problem on offense was its lack of a deep vertical threat and an inability to capitalize in the red zone.
Iowa got to the Cyclone 2 yard line late in the 3rd quarter but could not punch the ball in, settling for a field goal right away in the fourth quarter and 9-6 deficit.
The Cyclones had a great chance to put the game away late in the fourth.
ISU faced a 3rd and 8 from the Iowa 47 and quarterback Steele Jantz scrambled all the way to the Iowa 27 yard line.
A few plays later, ISU was inside the Iowa 5 yard line with a 1st and goal. On 3rd and goal from the 7, Jantz threw a huge interception to Iowa linebacker James Morris who returned it all the way to midfield.
As Iowa continued to move the ball, Vandenberg tossed the ball in Knott’s direction, and he sealed the deal with the interception.
Iowa next faces Northern Iowa at home.
Iowa State next faces Western Illinois at home.
