Game Report: Iowa Hawkeyes 34, Indiana Hoosiers 6

Here’s a closer look at No. 18 Iowa’s 34-6 win over No. 17 Indiana on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Turning point

Let’s go all the way back to early in the first quarter. Iowa grabbed a 7-0 lead on Tyler Goodson’s 56-yard touchdown run down the right sideline.

Indiana’s first possession began with a 4-yard run by Stephen Carr, then it was an intentional grounding penalty of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

On third-and-6 from the Hoosiers 29, Penix threw a pass to the left side that glanced off the hands of receiver Miles Marshall (who slipped making his cut) and directly to Iowa cornerback Riley Moss. He caught it in stride at the Indiana 30 and returned it to the end zone. That made it Iowa 14, Indiana 0 just 2:15 into the game.

Moss, of course, had another pick-6 later in the first half.

By the numbers

3: Career interceptions returned for touchdown by Iowa cornerback Riley Moss. That, of course, including two, Saturday. His other pick-6 came last season against Michigan State.

8: As in seconds, Iowa’s time of possession advantage in the first half. The Hawkeyes led at the half, 31-3.

23: Number of consecutive games Iowa has held an opponent under 25 points.

34: Highest point total for Iowa in a Big Ten Conference opener since a 42-35 overtime win against Penn State in 2002.

41: Yardage on Caleb Shudak’s first career field goal. He made it to conclude the first half. He followed in the second half with his second career field goal, a 36-yarder.

Notebook

Laverna Tracy had no quandary about her support Saturday.

Iowa wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr., is her son. Indiana defensive back Larry Tracy III is her nephew. So you know how that would go.

“I’ll be rooting for my nephew individually and the Hawkeyes as a group,” LaVerna said outside the stadium before the game. “I’ve got it all planned out.”

Being back at Kinnick and seeing her son play ball is “a blessing, an honor,” she said. “I’m humbled. I can’t even find the words. You don’t take it for granted.

The cousins played together at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis. That just happens to be where the Big Ten championship game will be played in December. Should Iowa reach that game, “that would be awesome,” she said. “That would be another of his goals checked off.”

With partnership with the University of Iowa, Hy-Vee, Inc., hosted a COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinic just outside the stadium Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eight people had taken advantage of it as of 11:50 a.m., half for the flu vaccine and half for COVID.

“We’ll get ‘em,” said one of the people working at the Hy-Vee trailer. “One by one.”

Indiana was well-represented by fans at the game, perhaps more than in previous Hoosiers trips to Kinnick. Many expressed enjoyment about their Iowa experience.

“I like how you’re a football school,” said Indiana student Matt Shabelman of Naperville, Ill. “We’re a recent football school.”

“Everyone’s been friendly,” said 2011 Indiana graduate Aaron Rusnak of Chicago. “It’s not like Michigan or Ohio State where everybody hates you.”

Pick-6 times two.

Moss’ two interceptions for touchdown was the first time that has happened for Iowa since Josh Jackson accomplished the feat against Wisconsin in 2017. B.J. Lowery also had two pick-6s against Western Michigan in 2013.

Iowa’s men’s basketball team was introduced to the Kinnick Stadium crowd during a first-half timeout.

That included 2020-21 Naismith National College Player of the Year Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp, both of whom are in the NBA: Garza with the Detroit Pistons and Wieskamp with the San Antonio Spurs.

Injury report

All-America center Tyler Linderbaum injured a knee on quarterback Spencer Petras’ 9-yard TD run early in the second quarter and went to the medical tent to get it checked. To the immense relief of Iowa fans, Linderbaum turned out OK and played the rest of the game.

Wide receiver/punt returner Charlie Jones appeared to injure his lower leg on a punt return with about six minutes left in the game.

Guard Kyler Schott, of course, missed Saturday’s opener with a foot injury incurred while bailing hay on his family’s farm prior to fall practice beginning. He is expected to miss multiple games overall.

Up next

You may have heard of this thing called the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. It’s Iowa and Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium next week. It’s a 3:30 p.m. kickoff, with the game televised by ABC. Iowa has won five in a row in the series and six of the last seven. The last Iowa State win was 20-17 in 2014 at Iowa City.

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