Iowa football’s aggressive final drive sets up special moment for Max White

IOWA CITY — With a 24-point lead in the final few minutes, one would not need to look far for examples of Iowa football conservatively running out the clock during the Kirk Ferentz era.

But Iowa did not play it safe at the end of Saturday’s win against Western Michigan. Three of the first five plays of the drive were passes as the Hawkeyes worked their way closer to the end zone.

A byproduct of Iowa’s aggressiveness was what Ferentz described as a “good moment.” It was one that made preseason All-American Cooper DeJean “really proud.”

Iowa running back Max White, a third-year walk-on from Cedar Rapids Kennedy, scored his first career touchdown.

It happened on a fourth-and-goal play as Iowa was 2 yards away from the end zone with less than a minute remaining.

“If you saw the sideline, I think a lot of guys were going crazy,” DeJean said. “Especially for a guy like him. … Everybody respects him in the locker room.”

Offensive lineman Mason Richman echoed DeJean’s sentiment.

“He’s not exactly one or two on the depth chart, but for him to get in the end zone just means a lot for this team,” Richman said. “He’s been working for this his whole life, and just to see that pay off and get that moment for him was awesome.”

Richman described White as a “workhorse.”

“His six-pack is about as sharp as it can be,” Richman said. “He’s straight military. Shaves his head.”

DeJean has seen White’s work ethic up close as his roommate.

“He is a guy who comes in every single day and works his tail off,” DeJean said. “He is a guy on scout team and give us a great look week in and week out.”

White “had a chance to go other places and receive aid,” Ferentz said after Saturday’s win.

White did not see any game action in his first two years on campus. He made his collegiate debut on special teams in Iowa’s 24-14 win over Utah State earlier this year.

White is “doing a good job right now” on special teams, Ferentz said.

  Buy Photo

Ferentz, when asked about the offense being aggressive in the final drive leading up to White’s touchdown, reminded reporters reserves were exclusively in the game.

Those added points have an added benefit for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz — Kirk’s son who must average at least 25 points per game to retain his job. Iowa’s season scoring average increased from 22 to 28.3 Saturday.

But Iowa’s coaches, Kirk Ferentz said, “just want to let our guys play.”

The 25th-year head coach specifically mentioned quarterback Deacon Hill, who subbed in for starter Cade McNamara.

“Deacon’s worked hard,” Ferentz said. “We’re curious to see how he’s going to operate a little bit, too.”

Hill almost had the special moment instead of White.

Two plays before White’s touchdown, tight end Addison Ostrenga came up 2 yards short of a touchdown on his 9-yard reception. Then on third-and-goal, Hill missed a throw to tight end Steven Stilianos.

White then got the handoff on fourth-and-goal.

“It's easy when you're out there playing,” Ferentz said. “But the guys that do all the work, to see them get rewarded is a pretty cool thing.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

  Buy Photo