After a scoreless 1st qtr, the Hawkeyes were stuffed on a 4th and 1 inside the 15 yard line on the first play of the 2nd quarter. Iowa's defense would get another stop, and Drew Stevens was able to make a 50 yard FG to put them up 3-0 with 50 secs left. Mich State would go 3 and out, and with 2 timeouts and 29 second left, Coach Wildes would go against the corn "grain" and take the leash off of the offense. QB McNamara would 3 consecutive passes of 19, 21, and 23 yards and HB Johnson would run it in from 2 yards out to put the Hawkeyes up 10-0.
Iowa's defense would get an interception on the second play of the half setting up a TD for Johnson to put the Hawkeyes up 17-0. Iowa would get another 3 and out, and at that point it was time to turn the game over to the O-line and Johnson. After a FG the Spartans would catch the Iowa defense sleeping and score a 65 yard TD to make the score 20-7. "Our strategy both times we played them was to keep everything in front, we had a lapse in concentration, and we are fortunate we have #2 running the rock, or it could have cost us."
The Iowa coach was referring to Kaleb Johnson who on the first play of the next drive would run 75 yards for the TD to put the Hawkeyes up 27-7 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
From there it was just a matter of not turning the ball over and making the Spartans earn their TDs. Mich St would out score Iowa 14-7 in the 4th qtr, but the Hawkeyes were able to hold on for 34-21 win.
Heisman finalist Kaleb Johnson put an exclamation on his campaign with 252 yards rushing on 31 carries while scoring twice. He also showed his hands off with 3 receptions for 69 yards.
Iowa will now sit back and wait to see who their first opponent in the playoffs will be, Kinnick will be rocking no matter who it is.
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