WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. – Iowa (5-4, 3-3) defeated Purdue, (5-4, 3-3), 24-3, on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Iowa’s win snapped a two-game losing streak to the Boilermakers and was the team’s first in West Lafayette since 2016.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
RB Kaleb Johnson had his first career 200-yard game (second career 100-yard game), finishing with 200 yards on 22 attempts with one touchdown – his fourth of the season. The yardage and attempts were both career highs.
The 200 rushing yards are the 18th-most in a single game in program history and the second-most by a Hawkeye freshman all-time (Marcus Coker, 219 vs. Missouri, Insight Bowl).
Johnson is the first Hawkeye freshman since Coker in 2010 to have two 100-yard rushing games (129 vs. Indiana; 219 vs. Missouri).
Johnson had a career-long 75-yard touchdown run on the second play of the second half. It is Iowa’s longest rush since Tyler Goodson’s 80-yard touchdown run against Wisconsin in 2020.
Johnson also had a career-best two receptions for 17 yards.
QB Spencer Petras completed 13-of-23 passes for 192 yards and a season-high two touchdowns. It was his sixth career game with two or more touchdown passes.
TE Sam LaPorta had a 16-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter – his first TD reception of the season and fifth of his career – to give the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead. LaPorta had 71 yards receiving (on three receptions) during Iowa’s nine-play, 91-yard scoring drive.
WR Nico Ragaini had a 29-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to give Iowa a 14-0 lead. It was his first touchdown of the season and fifth receiving touchdown of his career. He finished with three receptions for 56 yards.
DB Kaevon Merriweather had his third interception of the season (and second in as many games) in the second quarter. It was Merriweather’s fourth career pick. He also had four tackles in the game.
LB Seth Benson had his first interception of the season (second of his career) in the second quarter.
K Drew Stevens was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts with a make from 26 yards. He is 12-of-14 this season with the 12 makes being the most by a Hawkeye freshman since Mike Meyer in 2010 (14).
P Tory Taylor had a career-long 70-yard punt in the fourth quarter. Taylor had eight punts for 414 yards (51.8 avg.) in the game. Three punts were downed inside the 20 and five went 50+ yards.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa’s 91-yard (nine-play) scoring drive spanning the first and second quarters was a season long.
Iowa had a season-high 184 rushing yards – the most since the regular season finale at Nebraska in 2021.
The Hawkeyes had their ninth and 10th interceptions of the season in the second quarter. Iowa turned the turnovers into 10 points, giving them a 41-27 advantage in points off turnovers this season.
It is Iowa’s third game this season with two interceptions in 2022.
Iowa’s defense held Purdue to season lows in points (3) and total yards (255), 189.6 below its season average (444.6).
The Boilermakers finished 2-of-16 on third down.
The Hawkeyes held Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell to a season-low 168 yards passing (20-of-43). He completed 46.5 percent of his attempts – a season low and it was the first time he didn’t hit the 50 percent mark this season.
The Hawkeyes have held seven of their nine opponents to 13 or fewer points, five at 10 or fewer points and three at three or fewer points.
The Hawkeyes did not commit a turnover for the fifth game this season. Iowa is 4-1 when it doesn’t commit a turnover.
Iowa won the toss and elected to defer; Purdue chose to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 297 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 218 times (139-79). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 79 times (44-35).
INSTANT REPLAY
Catch on Seth Benson interception (confirmed)
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Nov. 12, hosting Wisconsin inside Kinnick Stadium. The game time has yet to be announced.
