Iowa football vs. Troy score updates, highlights analysis (Sept. 14, 2024)

IOWA CITY — Iowa football did not quite give its fans a full palate-cleanser Saturday after last week’s bitter loss to Iowa State.

But the Hawkeyes — 23.5-point favorites at Kinnick Stadium against a winless Sun Belt Conference team — escaped with a semisweet 38-21 win over Troy in a game that was closer than the final score would suggest.

Troy (0-3) led as late as midway through the third quarter — in large part thanks to some big plays on offense and special teams — but the Hawkeyes (2-1) finally reclaimed the lead, 17-14, with a Brendan Sullivan forward pitch to Addison Ostrenga for a 2-yard touchdown.

That lead grew with a Jermari Harris interception, which the sixth-year cornerback returned for a touchdown. It extended Iowa’s streak to 17 consecutive seasons with at least one pick-6.

After Troy cut the lead back down to 24-21, Iowa finally broke away in the fourth quarter with a Kaleb Johnson 33-yard touchdown run. Jaziun Patterson added to the Hawkeyes’ lead with a 39-yard touchdown.

The win, as evident by the surprisingly-close nature of the second and third quarters, was far from flawless for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa’s defense gave up 63 and 62-yard touchdown receptions to Troy wide receiver Devonte Ross, marking the second consecutive game in which the Hawkeyes surrendered a 60-plus-yard touchdown reception.

Ross also had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the first half, which gave the Trojans a 14-10 halftime lead.

Johnson rushed for 173 yards while averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He has surpassed the 100-yard mark in all three games so far in 2024.

— John Steppe