Game Report: Iowa Hawkeyes 24, Colorado State Rams 14

IOWA CITY — It wasn’t always pretty, but a productive second half helped No. 5 Iowa avoid an upset to Colorado State in its nonconference finale, winning 24-14.

Turning point

Iowa was coming off an underwhelming first half where fans booed the team off the field and then two drives ending in punts. The No. 5 Hawkeyes were still trailing 14-7 to a team that was 1-3 last year.

A Colorado State holding penalty and quarterback run for a loss of 4 forced the Rams into a second-and-23 situation on their own 6-yard-line.

Iowa defensive tackle Yahya Black forced the ball loose from Colorado State running back A’Jon Vivens.

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Linebacker Jack Campbell, who also led the team in tackles, recovered it and gave his offense the ball at the 6-yard-line.

One play later, wide receiver Tyrone Tracy ran the ball for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.

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After the Campbell fumble recovery, Iowa outscored Colorado State 17-0.

By the numbers

6: Consecutive completions from Spencer Petras before his untimely interception in the second quarter.

7: Iowa receivers with at least one catch.

9: Third-down conversions by Colorado State in the first half on 13 attempts. Iowa, meanwhile, was 2 of 5 on third down in the first half.

10: Saturday’s win over Colorado State was Petras’ 10th as the Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback.

10: Consecutive wins for the Hawkeyes.

15: Consecutive nonconference wins for the Hawkeyes. With Minnesota’s loss to Bowling Green, Iowa’s streak is the longest in the FBS. It hasn’t lost a nonconference game since the 2017 Outback Bowl.

15: Tackles for Campbell in the first three quarters alone.

92: Receiving yards from true freshman Keagan Johnson, a career high.

167: Consecutive passes by Petras without an interception. His interception late in the second quarter was his first of 2021. His last interception was Nov. 27, 2020, against Nebraska.

2015: The last year Iowa had a 10-game winning streak.

Notebook

Cedar Rapids Kennedy grad Connor Colby makes first career start

True freshman Connor Colby made his first career start at right guard following an injury to Justin Britt.

He became the fifth true freshman offensive lineman to start for the Hawkeyes, joining Mike Jones, Bryan Bulaga, James Daniels and Tristan Wirfs. All four of the others have played in the NFL.

“He’s done a lot of good things since we got started, even in the spring,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Every snap is going to be important for him.”

Fellow true freshman Johnson had a big day in his first career start, catching a 43-yard touchdown pass and another 49-yard pass in the second quarter. He finished with 92 yards on two receptions.

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Iowa’s Charlie Jones vs. Colorado State’s Ryan Stonehouse

Colorado State’s Ryan Stonehouse showed why he’s considered one of the best punters in the country. He averaged 51.1 yards on seven punts.

But Iowa’s Charlie Jones showed why he’s one of the better punt returners in the Big Ten, too.

“Charlie Jones ... today was huge,” Ferentz said.

He averaged 17 yards on six punt returns, including a 38-yard return in the third quarter that set up a three-play, 41-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.

Quiet day for Ivory Kelly-Martin

Iowa saw a lot less of running back Ivory Kelly-Martin against Colorado State after he had two fumbles a week earlier against Kent State.

He only had one run in the first half, which went for no gain. He had one more carry in the second half, which also went for no gain.

Tyler Goodson had the bulk of the carries, running for 57 yards on 18 attempts. It comes a week after Goodson had a season-best 153 rushing yards against Kent State.

Injury report

Right guard Justin Britt was "banged up,“ according to Iowa play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin, and did not start.

Ferentz said the injury happened on Wednesday, and he is hoping Britt will be ready in “a little bit of time.”

“We thought he was going to be able to go (against Colorado State), and just couldn’t,” Ferentz said. “I don’t think it’s anything too serious, at least. I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think it is.”

Defensive end Ethan Hurkett remained out with a high ankle sprain.

Defensive tackle Logan Jones, who suffered an injury in the spring, warmed up with the team but did not play Saturday.

Up next

The Hawkeyes (4-0, 1-0) will resume conference play Friday at Maryland for their first Big Ten road game of the 2021 slate. The Terrapins (4-0, 1-0) will be coming off a 37-16 win over Kent State — the same team Iowa beat 30-7 the week before.

“It’s gonna be a tough game,” Ferentz said. “I don’t know a lot about them. I’ve seen a little bit of them. ... They must be doing a lot of things right because they’re 3-0 (now 4-0).”

Iowa is 2-1 all-time against Maryland since the two schools’ first matchup in 2014.

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