Hawks top Gophers, capture Floyd

(Published 10/24/1982)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. -

The pig is back in Iowa's pen, and Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry was prepared to dress appropriately for the celebration.

Sparked by junior tailback Eddie Phillips' career-high 198 yards rushing on 36 carries, Iowa downed Minnesota, 21-16, Saturday night in a Big 10 football clash witnessed by 63,872 fans in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

The victory allowed Iowa to reclaim the bronze statue of a pig named Floyd of Rosedale. Minnesota had owned Floyd since 1978 by winning the past four meetings.

Before his postgame press conference, Fry changed from his white pants and black jacket into blue bib overalls, a red flannel shirt and a white cowboy hat trimmed with a red bandana. It had been reported that Minnesota Coach Joe Salem dressed in similar attire the past two years in practices prior to the Iowa game.

"All you great Minnesota writers and TV people... we're taking Floyd home where he belongs - Soooo-ey!!!" Fry exclaimed. "We gave as much effort in this game as any since I've been at Iowa. This was a great ballgame and one of the hardest hitting games I've ever seen. We really needed a win for our program."

Iowa, 4-3 overall, took a giant stride toward a fourth straight first-division finish in the Big 10. The Hawkeyes moved into a tie for third place with Ohio State in the league at 3-1.

Minnesota continued its tailspin, losing its fourth straight game. The Gophers, who made the national rankings after opening with three victories, slumped to 1-4 in the conference.

"We played as well as we could," said Salem, who lost for the first time in four games against Fry. "The same problems, interceptions and fumbles hurt us again. We can't win until we correct these.

"Iowa whipped us up front, but we had more injuries tonight that really destroyed us. Our offensive line is at rock bottom because of injuries and we're down to the scout team."

Phillips, whose previous career best was 101 yards last year against Indiana, ran for 114 yards in the second half and scored what proved to be the decisive touchdown. He followed crushing blocks by guard Loren Gerleman and receiver Dave Moritz on a slotback reverse, diving into the end zone after 14 yards to give Iowa a 21-9 cushion with 12:22 remaining.

With seven minutes left, the thousands of Iowans began chanting, "We want Floyd, We want Floyd." But the Gophers made things all too interesting in the waning minutes.

Mike Hohensee, who completed 27-of-43 passes for 311 yards, moved Minnesota 89 yards in 12 plays by hitting seven passes for 90 yards. Alan Reid's two-yard run on second down and Jim Gallery's conversion trimmed Iowa's lead to 21-16 with 2:19 remaining.

Gallery, who kicked four field goals in Minnesota's 12-10 triumph in Iowa City last year, attempted an onside kick but the ball rolled out of bounds at the Iowa 42. Phillips gained nine yards in three carries before Reggie Roby, who kicked four times for a 41.0-yard average, punted 38 yards to the Minnesota 11.

But the Iowa defense, which sacked Hohensee four times and allowed the Gophers only two yards rushing weren't about to let Minnesota out of the shadow of its goal.

After an incompletion, Hohensee hit Lonnie Farrow for eight yards to the Gopher 19. But Hohensee slipped for a loss of four and, on fourth down, Mark Bortz and Tony Wancket sacked the Gopher quarterback for a 10-yard loss.

Iowa preferred not to rub in the victory, as Long fell on the ball at the Minnesota eight to end the game.

Minnesota entered as the Big 10 leader in both total offense and total defense, but the Hawkeyes outgained the Gophers in total yards, 324-313. Iowa totaled 263 rushing yards, a marked improvement after last week's 47 against Michigan's tenacious defense.

"We finally figured out their defense after three years and were able to do something about it," said Fry, obviously referring to the Hawkeye rushing attack. "Phillips played a great game. He ran hard, broke a lot of tackles, dropped his shoulder and gave a great effort."

Freshman linebacker Larry Station led Iowa in tackles for the third straight game, totaling seven, but there were host of defensive heroes. The Hawkeyes intercepted four Hohensee passes, including one each by James Erb, Keith Hunter, Nate Creer and Ron Hawley. The Gophers also fumbled seven times, but lost only one.

Minnesota lost two yards on its first possession, but Paul Blanchard unloaded a 66-yard punt that was downed at the Iowa three. Even so, Iowa gained three first downs and moved to the Minnesota 48, as Phillips gained 50 yards in eight carries.

But, surprisingly, Fry elected to try for a first down on fourth-and-three from the Minnesota 48. Karl Mecklenburg and Todd Peterson stopped Phillips two yards short of the marker.

On the next play, Hohensee connected with Dwayne McMullen for a 40-yard gain to the Iowa 13. Valdez Baylor gained five yards on two carries and Hohensee threw incomplete to Farrow, so Gallery kicked the first of his three field goals - a 25-yarder with 4:19 left in the first quarter.

McMullen, third in Big 10 receiving, caught seven passes for 104 yards.

Minnesota threatened again on its next possession, moving from its 33 to the Iowa 38. But Gallery's 55-yard field goal attempt was blocked by linebacker Jonathan Hayes.

Iowa's Chuck Long, who entered as the league leader in passing efficiency, was intercepted by Peterson at the Minnesota 10 after Phillips and Owen Gill had rushed five times for 36 yards. Long finished with 10-of-17 completions for just 61 yards.

The Hawks returned the favor, though, as Erb snatched away Hohensee's pass intended for Baylor at the Minnesota 37 with 9:41 left in the half.

Iowa marched 63 yards in 11 plays, slicing six minutes off the clock, to score on a two-yard keeper by Long at the 3:49 mark. Long's TD, aided by the blocking of John Alt, Mike Hufford and Joel Hilgenberg, put Iowa in front 7-3 after Tom Nichol's conversion.

The Gophers struck back, going 52 yards with the aid of an interference penalty on Iowa. Gallery kicked a 45-yard field goal with 3:14 left in the half, but Iowa took a 7-6 lead into intermission.

The Hawkeyes took the second-half kick off and scored in 10 plays on a play Fry said earlier in the week he has never had in his playbook - a quarterback sneak. Long plunged two yards with 11:44 left in the third period, and Nichol's kick put Iowa on top 14-6.

Phillips contributed 27 yards to the series, but had a 25-yard dash nullified by a holding penalty. But after that infraction, Long hit fullback Norm Granger on a screen pass that went for 21 yards.

It took Minnesota only six plays to cut the gap again, as Gallery booted a 36-yard field goal with 9:28 left in the third. On the play prior to the kick, McMullen dropped a Hohensee pass after he had beaten Creer in the end zone.

Hunter's interception was, perhaps, the most important of the four. Minnesota had second-and-goal at the Iowa 13 with 4:05 left in the third, but Hunter stepped in front of Farrow and picked off Hohensee's pass in the end zone.

Creer, who like Hunter was involved in a shake-up at the Iowa cornerback positions, intercepted Hohensee at the Iowa 28 on the first play of Minnesota's next series.