Takeaways: Iowa Defense Suffocates Badgers

The 15 points will be mocked.

How Iowa got those 15 points will be mocked.

The entire final score will be mocked.

Laugh. It’s OK.

Iowa is now in control of the Big Ten West Division race with Saturday’s 15-6 win at Wisconsin.

The Hawkeyes got an 82-yard touchdown run from Leshon Williams, two field goals by Drew Stevens, and a safety to move to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, moving to the top of the West standings.

Iowa had just 237 yards of offense — 200 of those were rushing yards — while Wisconsin (4-2, 2-1) had 324.

But it was what the Hawkeyes did that was impressive. They kept the Badgers from getting into any offensive flow, and once they had control of the game they played mistake-free football.

“Tested numerous times during the course of the game, the guys didn’t flinch, stayed poised and hung together, which is what you have to do in those situations,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Happy about that, lot of grit there. In the locker room it was great to see a bunch of guys feeling really good about themselves. That’s what happens when you have to fight for something, and they certainly did that.”

The Hawkeyes keep the Heartland Trophy, and head back to Iowa City in control of their own destiny.

No matter how it looks.

Other takeaways from the day:

THREE FIGURES FOR WILLIAMS: Williams led the Hawkeyes with a career-high 174 yards on 25 carries.

The 82-yard touchdown run was Iowa’s longest rush since 1997. It is the Hawkeyes’ longest rush all-time against Wisconsin and was the Hawkeyes’ longest play of the season.

It’s the second consecutive week Iowa has had a 100-yard rusher — Kaleb Johnson did it last week against Purdue. It’s crucial for the Hawkeyes to have a running game because…

ALL OUT: In a season when the Hawkeyes’ offense has dealt with crushing injuries, another cropped up in this game when tight end Erick All was injured.

All, Iowa’s leading receiver last season, was taken from the field on a cart and did not return to play.

Ferentz called All’s status, “not good,” adding, “We’ll know early next week, but it’s tough. Wish I had good news. I don’t have bad news yet, but we’ll know that Monday or Tuesday.”

In a season when quarterback Cade McNamara and tight end Luke Lachey have already been knocked out for the rest of the year, losing All won’t help a passing game that is already struggling.

HILL STRUGGLES: Quarterback Deacon Hill made his second start, completing just 6-of-14 passes for 37 yards.

But beating the Badgers, his former team, was all Hill wanted.

“There were a lot of dark days in the (transfer) portal here,” said Hill, who transferred from Wisconsin in the offseason. “So obviously it feels good to be part of a team here. I love my team right now, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Hill admitted to strong emotions after the game.

“Yeah, there were tears of joy there,” Hill said. “I couldn’t hide it — there were probably a thousand cameras around me.”

ROCK FIGHT: Iowa and Wisconsin always seem to combine for an ugly game, and this one will be right there on the list of them.

“That's where I think ultimately you can look at it, they got a great culture of what it is they do,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said. “They lost their top player on offense in Erick All early on. Didn't change exactly what they were going to do. They stuck with it. They knew they were playing well defensively. They didn't have to put themselves in a lot of situations to take some chances.”