The Day After: It Was Also A Hawkeye Defensive Show
Minnesota had 431 yards of total offense against Iowa on Saturday.
And the Hawkeyes won, 23-19.
It was Minnesota's lowest point total of the season — the Gophers had scored 28 points or more in every game this season, 31 or more points in eight of their first nine games.
The Gophers were held to six first-half points, also a season low, and didn't score a touchdown until the second half.
Minnesota is just the latest team to be silenced by Iowa's defense. The Hawkeyes have allowed just 12.4 points per game, fifth-best in the nation in scoring defense.
The Hawkeyes sacked Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan six times — the last one, from defensive end A.J. Epenesa, knocked him from the game on the Gophers' final drive.
Iowa has 14 sacks over the last four games after 10 in the first six.
Epenesa is becoming more influential in the pass rush after struggling with double-teams earlier in the season. But the entire group up front has been playing well — Chauncey Golston was especially disruptive early in Saturday's game. That domination showed in that final offensive series for the Gophers, when Morgan was sacked on first-down and second-down plays.
It also helped getting linebacker Kristian Welch back. Welch had missed Iowa's last three games with a stinger, and it wasn't confirmed until game day that he was going to play.
All Welch did was get a team-high 11 tackles.
"Kristian is a veteran guy who has been playing his best football," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "That's what you hope with a guy that's a senior, to get him back. Just really happy about that."
The Hawkeyes struggled on the back end of the defense — Morgan finished with 368 passing yards.
Some of that, though, is the product of what Iowa was doing to Minnesota's running game. The Gophers had just 63 yards on 30 carries, so they were forced into more passing situations.
Much was made about Iowa's offense on Saturday — the Hawkeyes were relaxed and more open-minded in the first half, steady in the second half.
The Gophers did get up and down the field on Iowa, but didn't get the points. And that's really what mattered.
Other takeaways from Saturday:
Nate Stanley was good
Stanley, Iowa's quarterback, missed on two deep balls to Ihmir Smith-Marsette on the first five plays of the game.
Two plays later, he threw an 11-yard pass to Nate Wieting on fourth-and-1 from the Minnesota 32-yard line. Stanley then threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Nico Ragaini on the next play.
Stanley finished with 173 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked twice, and didn't throw an interception.
The misses to Smith-Marsette were fuel for his critics. His play the rest of the day showed the reality of a steady quarterback who helped lead the Hawkeyes to their biggest win of the season.
It's Goodson's time
There are the inevitable growing pains that come with being a freshman.
But Tyler Goodson showed on Saturday that he may be ready to become Iowa's lead running back.
Goodson had 13 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown, showing the speed the Hawkeyes need out of the backfield.
Mekhi Sargent is a tough runner who has a burst. Toren Young is the power back.
Goodson has the speed. If he continues to develop as a blocker, his playing time is going to increase.
Tracy's emergence
It was another big game for wide receiver Tyrone Tracy, who had a career-high six catches for 77 yards.
Brandon Smith is close to returning from his ankle injury — he was in for one play in Saturday's game. But that shouldn't limit Tracy's time.
9-3
Saturday's win paves the way for a 9-3 season for the Hawkeyes.
They'll be favored in next Saturday's game against Illinois, and certainly favored in the season finale at Nebraska.
A nine-win season certainly opens more bowl possibilities. And considering where the Hawkeyes were in mid-October after losses to Michigan and Penn State, it's a good way to end the season.
