Iowa football’s newcomers fuel early offensive outburst in 24-14 win over Utah State

IOWA CITY — More than an hour before kickoff, Utah State Coach Blake Anderson went out of his way to talk to some Iowa students in the Kinnick Stadium front row.

“Watch those mouths,” Anderson told the student section at one point. “No potty mouths.”

But the student section did not need to say much, as the plays made by some of Iowa’s newcomers early on did all the talking necessary with a 24-14 win Saturday.

The Hawkeyes quickly jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and both touchdowns were courtesy of Iowa’s transfer portal additions.

Ex-Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara connected with ex-Charleston Southern wide receiver Seth Anderson on a 36-yard touchdown pass.

The touchdown was McNamara’s first pass attempt as a Hawkeye.

Then McNamara connected with ex-Michigan tight end Erick All Jr. for a 3-yard touchdown later in the first quarter.

It was the first time Iowa scored 14-plus points in the first quarter since last year’s 27-0 win over Nevada.

“When this offense is hitting on all cylinders, that’s the product,” McNamara said.

The offense stagnated after that, however. Five of the following six drives did not result in any points.

The exception was a drive at the end of the first half that went all the way to the Utah State 2-yard line before the Hawkeyes settled for a field goal. Iowa benefited from 23 yards of Utah State penalties on that drive, however.

“Overall, I think we left a lot out there,” McNamara said. “There’s a lot of guys on this team that feel that we left something out there.”

McNamara attributed much of the stagnation to “just a lack of execution.”

“We were put in really good positions,” McNamara said. “It’s still our first game, and this is our first time being out there as a group. Of course there’s going to be little mistakes.”

A lack of consistent run blocking from the offensive line also proved problematic.

Iowa’s rushing attack averaged 2.6 yards per carry — a number that would have been lower, had it not been for Kaleb Johnson’s 21-yard carry and Kaden Wetjen’s 14-yard carry.

“We’re going to have to go back and watch the film and see the things that we need to improve on,” center Logan Jones said. “We weren’t perfect in any aspect of the game today.”

Iowa’s only other touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a Johnson 3-yard run in the fourth quarter. It was one drive after a “really good speech” from left tackle Mason Richman to the rest of the offense.

“It really sparked a lot of guys,” tight end Luke Lachey said. “It fired me up.”

Iowa’s defensive success — it allowed 4.6 yards per play, and only 4 before the Aggies’ final two drives — gave the Hawkeyes some buffer despite the offense’s stagnation.

Xavier Nwankpa had his second career interception in his second career start as the Hawkeyes’ strong safety. He later left the game, though, because of “some cramping.”

“Nothing long-term,” Ferentz said.

Linebacker Jay Higgins, in his first start at the spot long occupied by Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell, had a career-high 16 tackles and almost had an interception.

“I’m going to lose sleep on it,” Higgins said of the play that almost became an interception.

Utah State found the end zone late when Terrell Vaughn hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Legas with 1:36 left. Legas found Rahsul Faison for the 2-point conversion.

The defense was missing starting cornerback Jermari Harris. Kirk Ferentz did not disclose why he was out, but said he will be out again next week before then returning.

It also had to keep up with the Aggies’ up-tempo offense amid temperatures in the 80s (which can feel even warmer on artificial turf).

“We did a good job of handling the tempo,” Higgins said. “These dudes are getting to the line of scrimmage snapping the ball. Usually, they get to the line of scrimmage to see what you’re in."

Utah State had 10 penalties that gave the Hawkeyes 75 yards and a wider margin for error.

Iowa will have a more challenging opponent — and less margin for error — next week as it visits in-state rival Iowa State.

“Work will begin today, but right now we're going to enjoy the fact that we came out of it 1-0, and I think fairly healthy,” Ferentz said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com