Hawkeyes add zest to the plot of their 2014 story

A script-flipper.

That's how you could describe Iowa's 48-7 win over Northwestern Saturday. But you could say that repeatedly with lots of college football teams, starting with the Hawkeyes.

The story of a team's season often has more rewrites than a screenplay by an author with multiple personality disorder. Or your average knee-jerk sportswriter.

But tell me the perception of the 2014 Hawkeyes didn't change with the walloping of the Wildcats. The most-popular complaints about this year's Iowa team weren't just quieted for one day, they were duct taped.

The offense is too vertical, not enough horizontal? Iowa had completions of 23, 42 and 43 yards in the first quarter alone, and all were thrown downfield to wide receivers. While WRs were MIA at Maryland the game before, they had 15 of the Hawkeyes' 17 receptions Saturday.

The offensive line hasn't been all it could be? It looked like all it could be with a little oomph to spare against the ‘Cats. Run-blocking? Aces. Pass-protection? Likewise.

Maryland's defense of little repute sacked Jake Rudock four times. Northwestern, which totaled seven sacks in consecutive wins over Penn State and Wisconsin a few weeks ago? It never laid a hand on Rudock.

The team isn't running the ball with any authority? If you had were in a pool to pick Iowa's first 100-yard rusher this season and chose freshman Akrum Wadley, it's because you didn't get one of the first five selections. Wadley had 106 yards, and Mark Weisman had 94.

The run/pass ratio is out of whack with way too many throws? Iowa rushed 46 times against Northwestern and threw just 25. Winning big had a lot to do with that, obviously.

To close a week in which promising freshman receiver Derrick Willies left the team, frosh Wadley and Jonathan Parker had instrumental roles in the blowout.

Parker touched the ball just once, but what a touch it was. His 54-yard kickoff return to start the game (with a 15-yard Northwestern penalty tacked on at the end) gave his team a flying start.

Whatever Iowa's coaches did in the two weeks between Maryland and Saturday was winning work. After the game, one Hawkeye player after another made it sound like the team spent its two weeks between games starved for better performances.

'This team has had the potential to do things like this,” Weisman said. 'It's executing.”

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz had, for him, an abnormal tone in his postgame press conference at Maryland. He didn't hide disgust in the coaching and playing alike. But the Hawkeyes still would have won that game had they simply not indulged in giveaways.

Saturday in Kinnick, it was take, take, take. Five sacks. A blocked punt for a touchdown. Holding Northwestern to a ridiculously low 3.1 yards per pass attempt. Getting 10.5 yards per pass themselves. It was good stuff up and down the box score.

It was also only one game. Whether it was an exorcism or just a fleeting feel-good moment, we'll see. But if you aren't more optimistic about Iowa's chances for late-season success today than you were on Friday, you're a hardhearted Hannah.