CHICAGO – A huge field goal late in the game proved to be enough for Iowa to eek out a victory over a pesky Northwestern team Sunday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, where the turf was shredded throughout the contest.
Iowa (7-2, 4-2) defeated Northwestern (4-5, 2-4), 10-7, in the Wildcat Classic on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The Hawkeyes have won three straight and four of the last five over Northwestern. After Saturday’s results, Iowa holds a one-game lead in the West division.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
K Drew Stevens’ 53-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining is the second game-winner of his career. Stevens hit the game-winner at Minnesota in 2022.
Stevens’ FG tied a season-high set against Michigan State on Sept. 30. Stevens has six 50+ yard field goals in his career.
RB Leshon Williams rushed for a team high 79 yards.
Williams eclipsed the 1,000 career rushing yards mark in the third quarter, becoming the 52nd player in program history to reach the milestone. He has 1,032 career rushing yards.
QB Deacon Hill completed 10-of-15 attempts for 65 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to TE Addison Ostrenga in the third quarter. It is Hill’s third career touchdown pass, all coming to tight ends.
TE Addison Ostrenga caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter – the first touchdown of his career.
WR Kaleb Brown’s 23-yard reception was his first catch as a Hawkeye and set up Stevens’ game-winning field goal.
LB Jay Higgins had a team-high 12 tackles – his seventh game with 10 or more tackles this season.
DL Anterio Thompson blocked a Northwestern punt in the third quarter – the second block of the season and his career – setting up
Iowa’s first scoring drive in the third quarter.
Iowa has two punt blocks and three overall blocks this season.
MISCELLANEOUS
Iowa’s defense limited Northwestern to 170 total yards and 12 first downs in the game.
170 yards (season-low) are the fewest allowed by Iowa’s defense since 2022 (Nevada – 151 yards).
Iowa allowed a season-low 81 passing yards, the fewest since 2019 (Rutgers – 41 yard).
The Hawkeyes limited Northwestern to 29 yards and two first downs in the first half.
Northwestern had first-and-goal from the 2 in the fourth quarter. Iowa’s defense got a turnover on downs, stopping the Wildcats three straight runs from the half yard line.
Iowa’s defense has allowed one touchdown or less in seven of the first nine games of 2023 and 16 of the last 22 games.
Iowa has allowed 14 or fewer points in 15 of its last 22 games.
The Hawkeye defense has held its opponent to 400 yards or less in 23 consecutive games, the longest active streak nationally.
Iowa won the toss and elected to receive. The Hawkeyes have played 310 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 227 times (146-81). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 83 times (47-36).
INSTANT REPLAY
1) Cam Johnson reception – ruled complete (overturned)
UP NEXT
Iowa returns home to face Rutgers on Nov. 11 inside Kinnick Stadium. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on BTN.
