Game Report: UNI at Iowa

IOWA CITY - Iowa's players were divided on their thoughts about Northern Iowa moments after the Hawkeyes' 17-16 win Saturday.

Quarterback Ricky Stanzi said the Hawkeyes found out “like at halftime, the first couple of series” the game wasn't going to be a glorified scrimmage against a typical FCS school.

“They were obviously ready to play,” Stanzi said. “They're a good football team. We just didn't have the right attitude or the right physical performance in the first half.”

“Considering the circumstances, we never thought going into the game that we would find ourselves in that situation in the end,” Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos said “As the game went on we realized these guys came to play, and so we looked at it as if we played anybody in the country, USC, UNI, whoever. That's a big-time victory considering the way the game was played out for four quarters.”

Iowa linebackers A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer were impressed with UNI before the game after watching video.

“We knew we had a dogfight on our hands,” Edds said. “It's not the best, but it's one of the better offenses we'll see, as far as what they do athletically and as far as getting guys into position to make plays,” Edds said. “Everybody assumes just because they're a I-AA whatever the term is that they're just going to be a walkover, just roll-over-and-die kind of team, but we knew that wasn't the case at all.”

“To hold them to 16 points - obviously we made some mistakes - but a lot of it was due to the fact they were so good,” Angerer said. “I'm not necessarily satisfied, but I'm not terrified with how we played.”

DJK not MIA

Johnson-Koulianos entered the game in the second half after losing his starting position in the off-season. He was disappointed but said he was committed to earning back his spot.

“I know what I'm capable of,” he said. “I'm at certainly going to give my best effort.

“I love playing this sport. I love where I'm at, but at the same time I don't consider myself a reserve or somebody who should be on the sidelines. I think I should be playing full-time.”

Johnson-Koulianos caught 44 passes for 639 yards last year. He hauled in 181 receiving yards against Minnesota in the season finale, eighth-best all-time for Iowa receivers. Johnson-Koulianos caught one pass for 22 yards against UNI.

“It's a coaches' decision, not mine. So when I do get in there, I'm going to give the best effort I can,” he said.

Passed out

Facing fourth-and-11 from the UNI 48 and 10 seconds remaining, Iowa chose to pass instead of punt. Stanzi uncorked a pass toward wide-open receiver Trey Stross down the right sideline but the ball was overthrown.

Stanzi took the blame for the play and the throw.

“That was my decision, that wasn't the coaches,” he said. “I think they were trying to get the punt team out there. I kind of rushed it, I saw something I could have hit. I wish I could have. I just threw a bad pass.”

Red-shirt rip-off

Three Iowa freshmen played Saturday - wide receiver Keenan Davis, running back Brandon Wegher and cornerback Micah Hyde.

Wegher and Hyde earned a tackle on special teams, and Davis nearly caught an overthrown pass.