Hlas column: Hawkeyes run and Hyde their way to gutsy win

TEMPE, Ariz. - Micah Hyde goes from being the least-touted member of Iowa's starting secondary to Hawkeye lore.

Hyde understood you don't quit. You not only don't quit when an opposing quarterback is picking you to shreds and making you spend tanks full of oxygen. You stay awake, alert. You pick off that rare mistake by a wonderful quarterback if the opportunity is there.

Hyde understood you don't just settle for an interception in a big moment. You don't go down until someone tackles you.

He kept on his feet, kept running around until an opening presented itself. And when he found that opening, Hyde ran himself into Hawkeye fans' hearts for keeps.

Seventy-two yards, six points, and one somewhat-unlikely 27-24 Insight Bowl victory over a terrific Missouri team Tuesday night in Sun Devil Stadium.

For much of the first three quarters, that was the Iowa football team of the first half of this season, its first trip to Arizona excluded.

For much of the first three quarters, that was the Iowa football team of the bowl games of the previous two seasons.

Then Mizzou quarterback Blaine Gabbert finished off drives while wearing Iowa defenders to nubs. He passed for, oh, a zillion yards or so. He had 18 completions for double-digit yardage before Mizzou's last drive of the night.

But this wasn't a confused, gassed Iowa club unable to finish off foes or come from behind down the stretch. This was a team that summoned a pretty fair amount of guts to pull out a result that didn't seem too pull-able through much of the fourth period.

Bend, but don't break? For Iowa, this was more like getting folded, spindled and mutilated, but not broken.

Iowa's defense was a piñata in the desert for Gabbert, something that Gabbert kept swatting at and knocking out candy. But Gabbert went home with a sackful of yardage and an empty feeling in his stomach.

Somehow, someway, the Hawkeyes helped Gabbert make some serious NFL money and get defeated in the same night.

It did bend, yes. It seemed to be in permanent-bend mode on several Tiger drives led by the terrific Gabbert. But Iowa got the pay dirt and scraped away at least a little of the stain of this disappointing season.

Fourth-quarter failures? Off-season legal misadventures by some of its (previously) renowned offensive players? Ancient history and somebody else's problems in the remaining Hawkeyes' minds.

Iowa seemed to miss running back Adam Robinson and wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos about as much as the New England Patriots have missed Randy Moss.

Freshman running back Marcus Coker was a head full of steam in a 230-pound body. He powered over the 100-yard rushing mark early in the second quarter, and kept going to 219.

Yet, it didn't look like it would be enough. Then Hyde made the play of his career. Then Iowa's defense went back on the field and suddenly seemed saltier than it had in quite a while.

On fourth-and-6 at the Iowa 43, Gabbert threw a low pass to T.J. Moe that was ruled a complete pass for 13 yards. But after a long replay review, it was determined Moe never quite corralled the ball.

Iowa then gave the ball back to Coker. And a semi-improbable victory belonged to the Hawkeyes.

After a season of all the games that got away in the last few minutes, this was one Iowa snatched from the jaws of defeat.

It ended with Ricky Stanzi taking a knee instead of his teammates brought to their knees. It wasn't an Orange Bowl. But on this night, it probably felt just as sweet.