Game Report: Iowa Hawkeyes 15, Wisconsin Badgers 6

MADISON, Wis. — A closer look at the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 15-6 win Saturday over the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium:

Turning point

So many ways you can go here.

Definitely Leshon Williams’ 82-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter that gave Iowa a 7-0 lead was huge.

Drew Stevens with a 48-yard field goal early in the fourth to give Iowa a two-score lead of 10-6 was significant.

Tory Taylor? Yeah, all game.

But how about what immediately happened after that? After a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, Wisconsin began at its own 7.

On third-and-9 at the 8, Wisconsin’s backup quarterback Braedyn Locke was sacked in the end zone by Sebastian Castro and Yahya Black and fumbled. Wisconsin recovered, but that safety gave Iowa a 12-6 lead with 12:15 to go.

The game seemed to be over at that point.

By the numbers

4 — It was the fourth time in the last 20 years that Wisconsin was shut out at home in the first half.

5/6 — Both teams had five three-and-outs in the first half. Both teams punted six times in that half.

6 — Iowa has six interceptions over its last three games.

6 — Times Iowa has been outgained offensively this season. The Hawkeyes are 6-1. You figure it out.

22 — Iowa has allowed under 400 yards in its last 22 games (a nation-best current streak).

50.6 — Taylor’s punt average on 10 kicks.

82 — Williams’ 82-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was Iowa’s longest rush since Tavian Banks went 82 yards in 1997, and tied for ninth-longest in Iowa history.

109 — Number of times Taylor has dropped the opponent inside the 20-yard line in his career.

3,000 — Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen topped 3,000 career rushing yards.

Notebook

* Iowa is 87-2 in games in which it leads by eight points or more under head coach Kirk Ferentz.

* The Cheez-It Citrus, Fiesta and Guaranteed Rate bowls had representatives here. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl is run by the Fiesta Bowl, so their scouts may not know if they’re looking for greatness or something less.

* Iowa State became the only team Iowa has defeated that currently has a winning record thanks to its 30-10 win Saturday at Cincinnati.

Utah State, Western Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue are under .500, Rutgers (5-2) is the only one of the five teams left on the Hawkeyes’ schedule that has a winning mark.

* Wisconsin was held scoreless in the first half, just the fourth time that has happened in the last 20 years.

Injury report

We start with a bad one. Tight end Erick All, the Hawkeyes’ leading receiver with 21 catches for 299 yards and three touchdowns, suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter after a 5-yard catch.

All was on crutches after going to Iowa’s medical tent, and was carted to the locker room. He seems likely to join Iowa tight end Luke Lachey and quarterback Cade McNamara on the college version of injured reserve.

Iowa second-team defensive backs Deshaun Lee and T.J. Hall missed the game.

Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai injured his right, throwing wrist on an incomplete pass late in the first half on a hit by Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins. He did not return, replaced by Locke, a redshirt freshman transfer from Mississippi State.

Next game

Iowa (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) hosts Minnesota at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. The Gophers (3-3, 1-2) had this week off after a 52-10 home loss to Michigan last Saturday.