Game Report: Iowa vs. Missouri (with videos)

By the Numbers

3 - Consecutive bowl victories for Iowa, a first in school history. The Hawkeyes beat Missouri 27-24 in Tuesday's Insight Bowl. Iowa topped Georgia Tech in last season's Orange Bowl and routed South Carolina at the 2009 Outback Bowl.

7 - Consecutive games Iowa had lost west of the Rocky Mountains before Tuesday's win dating to the 1987 Holiday Bowl.

53,453 - Attendance at the Insight Bowl, a record for the 22-year-old bowl

113 - Years since Iowa last beat Missouri

25  - Seniors ending their eligibility at Iowa 

12 - Career interceptions by safety Brett Greenwood after picking off Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the end zone. Greenwood finished his career tied for sixth in interceptions

Report Card

A - I hope Norm Parker comes back, but I really hope he gets healthy and strong. Great guy.

- Marc Morehouse

A-minus   - Two words Iowa fans should hold in high esteem from now on: Replay reviews.

 - Mike Hlas

A  - Iowa beat a good opponent without its top receiver and rusher. Hard to downgrade the Hawkeyes for that.

 - Scott Dochterman

Game Ball

RB Marcus Coker. Coker, a true freshman, was named the game's offensive player of the game after rushing 33 times for 219 yards, both Iowa bowl records. Coker's 219 yards eclipsed Bob Jeter's 194 yards set in the 1959 Rose Bowl. Shonn Greene previously set the attempts record (29) at the 2009 Outback Bowl.

"It doesn't mean nearly as much as getting a win for this team," Coker said of the record.

In the second quarter, Coker burst through a wide hole on Iowa's right side for a 62-yard touchdown run. It was his second touchdown of the game.

"All I saw was a huge hole," Coker said. "Wide receivers blocking downfield all around me."

Nowhere to Hyde

Iowa sophomore cornerback Micah Hyde churned out the game's decisive play on an electrifying 72-yard interception return with 5 minutes, 32 seconds left in the game. Hyde weaved past multiple would-be tacklers, across the field and into the end zone to put away ahead to stay 27-24.

"I just stepped in front of it, and our defense turned into an offensive play, you know," Hyde said. "I couldn't have done it without the defense.  I just - all I did was run, honestly.  And they were picking up blocks the whole time."

Reis-ing up

On third-and-3 at the Missouri 40 and 53 seconds left in the game, Iowa called a bootleg pass. It was a riskyplay, especially if the ball fell incomplete. But when Missouri's defense converged on Coker, Iowa QB Rick Stanzi faked the handout, rolled right and hit a wide-open tight end Allen Reisner for 39 yards. That play sealed the victory.

"They came flowing over to hit me and then Allen caught it and took it downfield," Coker said.

Reisner, a Marion native, thought he scored on the play but will settle for the victory.

"I was just making sure to sell the run fake and once I did that I took a glance to the flat to see if there was anyone there and there was no one there," Reisner said. "So I caught the ball, mad sure first and foremost, I catch it then ran up field and stayed in bounds."

Reisner, a senior, finished with three catches for 50 yards.

Under further review

Iowa gained possession of the ball with 2:15 left in the game when Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert's 10-yard completion to T.J. Moe was overturned via replay.

Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel didn't want to discuss that play following the game.

"It doesn't matter," Pinkel said. "So I won't talk about it."

Addition by subtraction?

Iowa played without its leading receiver and leading rusher because of disciplinary reasons. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa's all-time leader in receptions and receiving  yards, was arrested for drug possession in early December and was booted from the squad. Running back Adam Robinson was suspended from the bowl trip for violating team rules. Robinson was arrested on Monday in Des Moines for marijuana possession.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz declined to comment about Robinson's status and twice directed reporters to a previous statement released by Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta.

Junior wide receiver Marvin McNutt said he remains in contact with Johnson-Koulianos and Robinson "a little but not too much."

"I told them I was praying for them and whatever happens, happens," McNutt said, "but to make sure that they always put God first."

Injury time

Iowa safety Brett Greenwood was held out for the fourth quarter after suffering a neck injury. He said afterward it was a combination of a stinger and a jammed neck.

"It's tough but you've got to look long term and do the smart thing," Greenwood said. 

Linebacker Jeff Tarpinian returned to the lineup after missing several weeks with a stinger. He wore a red jersey during bowl preparation and was not hit in practice. 

"I felt great," he said.

Linebacker Jeremiha Hunter did not start for an undisclosed reason but played most of the second half for the Hawkeyes.

Strange Fact

Iowa has played in the Big Ten's last two bowl games (Jan. 5 vs. Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Tuesday vs. Missouri in the Insight Bowl).

Up next

Iowa plays host to Tennessee Tech on Sept. 3 at Kinnick Stadium. Here's a random guess: the game will start at 11 a.m. and appear on the Big Ten Network.