Former Central Lyon High stars step up in Iowa football’s 41-3 win over Minnesota

IOWA CITY — It’s a duo that’s spent most of their football careers together. Playing high school together, committing to Iowa together, and scoring touchdowns in the same game for the first time as collegiate athletes together.

Defensive back Zach Lutmer and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee have been teammates for years. They’ve been each other’s built-in friend (and teammate) since dawning a Hawkeyes jersey and have watched each other step into the bright lights at Kinnick Stadium.

In a massive, 41-3, win over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon, Vander Zee and Lutmer both scored a touchdown. Lutmer recorded his first career pick six — Iowa defense’s first pick six of the season, too — while Vander Zee connected with quarterback Mark Gronowski for the QB’s first passing touchdown in Big Ten play.

Both scores were in the first half. Both scores stunned the rival Golden Gophers.

“It was crazy,” Lutmer said. “I got goosebumps, actually, when he got that touchdown. So seeing him get that touchdown and coming back off an injury is super special.”

Playing together at Central Lyon High School, the duo were three-star athletes who won the Class 2A championship together as seniors before ending up in the same school.

Vander Zee’s first touchdown of the season coming in Week 9 was delayed after being sidelined with a foot injury days before the regular season began. The sophomore receiver admitted he leaned on Lutmer a lot. He appreciated having a familiar face to support him, and he got to watch his best friend succeed in the early part of the year.

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““It was rough at the beginning,” Vander Zee told The Gazette ahead of his return. “I definitely was disappointed, just right before the first game to have an injury like that was tough, but there was a reason for it. There's a plan for it.”

Vander Zee joked he “blacked out” on his touchdown pass, but could recall seeing Lutmer secured the pick six perfectly.

Lutmer recorded six tackles against Minnesota, including half a tackle-for-loss he split with Koen Entringer to go along with his pick six. Lutmer caught onto the Golden Gophers’ offensive plan just before securing the interception.

It was a play the coaching staff showed the defensive back in the team hotel on Friday, and Lutmer made the immediate adjustment once he realized what was happening.

“They ran like a wheel route by a tight end on the film a few weeks ago, and then we watched that play last night,” Lutmer said. “So the coaches gave me a gift there.”

The duo were anticipated to play meaningful snaps for Iowa this season. Now, they’re making those impactful plays in Big Ten action and helped secure a 3-0 stretch for Iowa heading into its final bye week off the regular season.

Making a few folks from Rock Rapids proud along the way, too.

“That's so cool, shout out Rock Rapids, for sure,” Vander Zee said. “To have two guys, come from come from there, it's so special. And it's such a blessing to be from there. I hope everyone back home is having a good time.”

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