IOWA CITY – It’s a Hawkeye state for the fourth year in a row as Iowa (2‐0) defeated Iowa State (0‐1) on Saturday, 13‐3, at Kinnick Stadium.
Iowa allowed 19 yards rushing, tied for the fifth fewest allowed in the Ferentz era (Wisconsin, 10/12/05).
Iowa State totaled 66 yards on its opening drive, and combined for 122 yards on its next 10 possessions (eight punts, one turnover‐on‐downs, one turnover).
Saturday’s game marked the 66th meeting in the series. Iowa holds a 44‐22 advantage. The Hawkeyes are 25‐14 all‐time in games played in Iowa City.
Iowa has won four straight in the series for the first time since winning 15 in a row from 1983‐97.
Iowa has won four straight Iowa Corn Cy‐Hawk Series trophy games, and 11 out of its last 13 trophy games (games vs. Iowa State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin).
Iowa State has managed just six points in its last two trips to Kinnick Stadium (one field goal in 2016, one field goal in 2018). It has been three years and 360 days since Iowa State scored a touchdown in Kinnick Stadium (9/13/14).
RB Mekhi Sargent scored his first career touchdown (2‐yard run).
WR Ihmir Smith Marsette’s 45‐yard reception on Iowa’s touchdown drive was the longest of his career, and the longest play from scrimmage by the Hawkeyes this season.
Redshirt freshman LB Djimon Colbert and senior LB Jack Hockaday made their first career starts. Both players finished with career highs in tackles. Hockaday had eight tackles. Colbert had five.
Five Hawkeyes recorded career bests in tackles. DB Matt Hankins (8) and LB Jack Hockaday (8) led the team with eight apiece. The others include Nick Niemann (7), Djimon Colbert (5), and A.J. Epenesa (5).
LB Nick Niemann recorded his first career sack (9 yards)
DE A.J. Epenesa had a career‐high two sacks (15 yards). He added one pass breakup and forced one fumble. TE T.J. Hockenson had a career‐high six receptions (33 yards).
Iowa’s fourth‐quarter touchdown drive extended its lead to 13‐3 (13 plays, 83 yards, 6:30).
The Hawkeyes converted three third‐downs on the drive, after having previously converted just three third‐
downs in the game.
Iowa’s third‐down conversion on the drive was a 30‐yard reception by WR Brandon Smith. It was the longest reception of Smith’s career.
On the next play, Mekhi Sargent rushed for a two‐yard touchdown, his first career touchdown.
The drive was Iowa’s longest of the season in terms of TOP and yards.
In in its last three regular season games, Iowa has outscored its opponents 82‐7 in the second half (42‐0 at Nebraska, 30‐ 7 vs. Northern Illinois, 10‐0 vs. Iowa State).
K Miguel Recinos’s 48‐yard field goal in the third quarter matched a career‐long (at Northwestern, 10/21/17). It also gave Iowa a 6‐3 lead.
Iowa State won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes have played 242 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 184 times (112‐72). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 58 times (33‐25).
Instant replay was used four times today:
1) Iowa (Stanley) fumble (overruled, incomplete pass)
2) Iowa State reception short of line to gain (confirmed)
3) Iowa reception (Hockenson) short of line to gain (overruled, first down)
4) Iowa State fumble, caused by Epenesa, recovered by Golston (confirmed)
The Hawkeyes host Northern Iowa on Sept. 15 at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. The game is televised on BTN.
