It’s not a fairytale, but it’s the sendoff Drew Stevens wanted for his final home game for Iowa football

IOWA CITY — “It’s kind of a storybook ending.”

Kicker Drew Stevens can still remember watching his high school senior night game-winning field goal miss the uprights. He had the chance to win it then, ending his time at North Augusta High School with the euphoria of a walk-off win.

It didn’t happen then in 2021. Five years later, Stevens knocked down a 44-yard game-winning field goal to leave Kinnick Stadium with a 20-17 win over Michigan State on his Senior Night.

“That’s what you dream of,” he said, still emotional from the experience on the field. “It’s just special.”

Stevens was nearly dog-piled after the referee signaled it was a good kick, but the fans still in Kinnick Stadium were already exhaling in relief. Special teams coordinator LeVar Woods was tearing up as he embraced offensive coordinator Tim Lester, and Stevens made sure to embrace his parents on his way to the Hawkeye locker room.

Stevens was the last Hawkeye to leave Duke Slater Field Saturday night.

“I'm proud of that kid, as proud of any guy I've ever coached because of how he battles and how he competes,” Woods said of Stevens during Iowa’s bye week on Oct. 28. “I believe in him wholeheartedly. I know his teammates do, too. I know Coach Ferentz does.”

Stevens has kicked four game-winning field goals in his career. His most recent was against Nebraska last year, securing the Heroes Trophy during Iowa’s home finale, too. Every year since 2022 he’s secured at least one game-winner.

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Stevens broke the program’s all-time career field goals earlier this season against Penn State, surpassing Nate Kaeding (2000-03). He’s now made 73 field goals in his career — sixth best in Big Ten history.

But if you were to rank all of Stevens’ favorite field goals, ending his final home game in a Hawkeye jersey sits close to the top.

“It's got to be close,” Stevens said. “I mean, for this, that to be my last kick in Kinnick Stadium, that's really tough.”

Iowa fans bid farewell to 27 seniors ahead of the battle against the Spartans, and nearly every major play the Hawkeyes had was by a member of the senior class. Receiver Jacob Gill caught a 13-yard touchdown from quarterback Mark Gronowski, returner Kaden Wetjen broke Iowa’s career return-for-a-score record with his third punt return of the season, linebacker Karson Sharar recorded 10 tackles and three tackles-for-loss.

Everyone on the Iowa sideline believed Stevens could make that kick, even though he missed the one he sent after Michigan State tried to ice him.

“I knew he was gonna make it,” defensive back Koen Entringer said. “He's the one who told me, a master doesn't do it till they get it right, they do it till they can't get it wrong. And I think Drew is just a perfect example of someone who's just mastering his craft.”

In the midst of the euphoria and being swarmed by his teammates, Stevens thought back to his high school self and how he missed that game-winning field goal in Augusta, S.C.

“I feel like it almost goes back to just how I was raised,” he said. “My parents would not let me quit. It was not on the table, was not an option. If you messed up, you had to go make it right.”

It wasn’t meant to be then. It was meant to be now.

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