Iowa gets big plays from defense, special teams to avoid upset at Nebraska

LINCOLN, NEB. — Special teams and turnovers keep on winning games for the Hawkeyes.

With No. 16 Iowa in danger of a loss to three-win Nebraska, a blocked punt, forced fumble and safety fueled a 28-21 comeback victory and saved the Hawkeyes from a potentially-embarrassing upset Friday at Memorial Stadium.

All three of those plays happened in a five-minute span in the fourth quarter. Before that, Iowa trailed, 21-9. The Hawkeyes then proceeded to outscored the Cornhuskers 19-0.

“Maybe we didn’t play our best as a unit,” Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell said. “But we always found a way to get off the field at the right time, and it just started with belief.”

After the defense forced a three-and-out in the first minute of the quarter, Henry Marchese blocked a punt to set up Kyler Fisher for an easy touchdown return.

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Almost exactly two minutes later, defensive end Zach VanValkenburg forced a fumble.

“We changed up how we were attacking the mesh,” VanValkenburg said. “It worked out pretty well.”

Iowa’s offense couldn’t take advantage, but a punt from Tory Taylor pinned the Huskers back and set up the third game-changing play in a five-minute span.

Defensive lineman Luke Van Ness chased Nebraska quarterback Logan Smothers in the end zone and forced an intentional grounding, which resulted in a safety.

Iowa tied the score on the drive following the safety on Caleb Shudak’s fourth field goal of the day.

A 55-yard run by Iowa’s Tyler Goodson on Iowa’s next drive then gave his team a prime opportunity to take the lead.

“I stayed patient, hit the backside and broke free,” Goodson said. “I wish I could have finished the run (in the end zone), but it is what it is. We still got a win.”

It was part of Goodson’s 156-yard performance, one of his best of 2021.

Quarterback Spencer Petras, who replaced Alex Padilla to start the second half amid an underwhelming performance, scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard quarterback sneak.

Nebraska had one last chance to tie in the final minutes, but an interception by Jermari Harris with 43 seconds left removed any doubt in Friday’s result.

Iowa’s win came despite much of the team battling the flu during the week.

“We had quite a few guys get knocked out from it,” Goodson said. “A couple guys in my house that I’m living with got knocked out for it, so I stayed away from them. I stayed at my girlfriend’s apartment.”

Smothers, who previously had just three pass attempts in Big Ten play, was highly effective against Iowa’s defense for most of the game.

The redshirt freshman completed 16-of-22 passes for 199 passing yards. He also had 64 rushing yards, all of which came in the first half. Smothers’ first incomplete pass didn’t come until the second half.

The Hawkeyes had a double-digit deficit for the second consecutive week and fifth time in 2021. As Nebraska’s offense effectively moved the ball, Iowa had mixed results on offense.

Padilla struggled mightily, completing just 6 of 14 passes for 76 yards. He had a couple passes that were dangerously close to being interceptions.

Petras then came in and had a better performance. He was 7 for 13 and picked up 102 passing yards.

Ferentz said the decision to switch quarterbacks came down to “probably more gut than thought.”

“It just felt like maybe that would give us a little boost,” Ferentz said.

Iowa had some promising opportunities that went for naught earlier in the game.

After Nebraska drove almost entirely on the ground en route to a 12-play, 75-yard opening touchdown drive, Iowa put together a strong counterstrike.

The Hawkeyes accumulated 74 yards on 10 plays to set up fourth-and-goal on the Nebraska 1-yard-line. Padilla appeared to find Sam LaPorta in the end zone for a touchdown. But instead of tying it up at 7, Nebraska maintained its 7-0 lead after the officials reversed the call after a replay.

Iowa took the ball into the red zone in the third quarter on a nine-play, 69-yard drive, but a rare Goodson fumble ended the drive.

The win gave Iowa its first 10-win regular season since 2015.

“It is a special year any time you win 10 games playing in this conference,” Ferentz said.

The Hawkeyes’ win also ensured Iowa will win at least a share of the Big Ten West title. Players wore Big Ten West champion t-shirts after the game.

“That probably wouldn’t have been very smart to print them up four weeks ago,” Ferentz said.

They need Minnesota to beat Wisconsin on Saturday to win the tiebreaker and earn a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game, though.

"I guess I would be the biggest Gopher fan in the world tomorrow,“ VanValkenburg said.

Don’t expect Ferentz to be donning maroon and gold on Saturday, though.

“I’ll be hoping for the right outcome,” Ferentz said. “There’s only one team in the Big Ten I really cheer for.”

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