Cooper DeJean delivers late heroics as Iowa football survives scare from Michigan State

IOWA CITY — Don’t mistake the boos from the “Cooooop!” chants.

Kinnick Stadium had plenty of both on Saturday night.

The former happened as the Hawkeyes struggled to separate themselves from a Michigan State team that had lost its past two games by a combined 56 points.

The latter happened many times, but with an exclamation point in the fourth quarter as Cooper DeJean sprinted his way to a 70-yard punt return touchdown — a score that elevated Iowa (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) past Michigan State (2-3, 0-2) in a drama-filled 26-16 win at Kinnick Stadium.

The speedy DeJean had plenty of open field to work with on the big return, which is a “credit to the guys up front,” after the punt went essentially right to him.

“When I saw that punt, where it was, my eyes lit up because I knew there was a chance for at least a good 15, 20 yards,” DeJean said.

DeJean’s knack for making big plays is no surprise for his teammates at this point.

“Any time No. 3 gets the ball, I just look for the end zone,” Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins said. “He’s a special guy, and you don’t want to see him in space. So Coop and space equals good for the Hawkeyes.”

After the Hawkeyes trailed for much of the second half, a shanked Michigan State punt set up an Iowa drive that started on the opposing 38-yard line. The offense only took the ball 20 yards, but it was enough to set up a game-tying 36-yard field goal by Drew Stevens.

Then Iowa’s defense forced a three-and-out and prompted the punt that DeJean returned for a touchdown.

“It was a hard-fought win for us,” DeJean said. “It’s a four-quarter game.”

Phil Parker’s defense was not perfect, but it did enough to keep Saturday’s game competitive while Iowa’s offense was unproductive.

Michigan State’s offense reached the red zone three times, but the Spartans’ only touchdown came from Cal Haladay’s defensive fumble return at the beginning of the second half.

The Hawkeyes also forced four turnovers, including DeJean’s first interception of the season that ended what seemed to be a promising Michigan State drive.

“I got a double-move on my side,” DeJean said. “Ball was a little overthrown, and I just had to track it and try to get a foot down. ... That drive right there was us just clawing to keep those guys out of the end zone, and we kept fighting and kept them out.”

MSU quarterback Noah Kim was 25-of-44 for 193 yards and three interceptions. (Iowa defensive backs Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris had the other two picks.)

Running back Nate Carter racked up 108 yards while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. Iowa is not the only team to have issues slowing down Carter this season, though. The UConn transfer has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of five games this season.

Stevens, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last year, hit 40-yard and 53-yard field goals earlier in the game that kept Saturday’s contest close enough until the Hawkeyes finally capitalized on opportunities in the fourth quarter.

Stevens also hit a 34-yard field goal in the final minute to expand the Hawkeyes’ lead to 10 and remove any doubt.

The results were not pretty for Iowa’s offense throughout the evening.

Iowa had six three-and-outs and two turnovers in the first three quarters of Saturday’s contest.

Deacon Hill took over at quarterback after Cade McNamara left the game with a first-quarter injury. Hill went 11-for-27 for 115 yards. The Wisconsin transfer had a touchdowns and an interception.

Iowa’s receiving corps did not do Hill any favors with six drops.

The one touchdown was on a short throw to tight end Erick All, who stayed on his feet despite several Michigan State defenders trying to take him down for a 13-yard touchdown reception.

The Hawkeyes’ ground attack mustered only 2.3 yards per carry. Leshon Williams had 12 carries for 38 yards, which included the fumble recovered by Michigan State for a touchdown.

The Brian Ferentz-led offense started three drives in Michigan State territory, and all three resulted in only field goals.

Much of the sellout crowd of 69,250 expressed frustration about the offense with loud “Fire Brian” chants.

“Three-and-outs aren't any fun for anybody, so I get that,” Kirk Ferentz said. “And we're working hard to improve that, and that's what we're going to do. That's what we do every year, every season.”

It was the second consecutive game in which the Hawkeyes trailed their opponent in the third and fourth quarter. But unlike last week’s 31-0 loss against Penn State, Iowa came back to win this time.

“I just felt like we learned a lot about our team today,” Higgins said. “We did a great job staying together through the ups and downs of the game.”

Iowa will look to win its fourth consecutive home game next Saturday against Purdue (2-3, 1-1). The Boilermakers, led by first-year head coach Ryan Walters, are coming off a dominant 44-19 win over Illinois.

As for the “Cooop!” chants, DeJean thinks “it’s pretty cool.” And anyone who mistook them for boos would not be the first to do so.

“When they started doing it last year, I think some of my family members thought they were booing,” DeJean said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com