Iowa vs. South Dakota State Game Report: Turning point, key stats and more

IOWA CITY — A closer look at Iowa’s 7-3 season-opening win over South Dakota State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday.

Turning point

There we were, locked in a 3-3 game with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. The way things looked, you questioned if either offense was likely to do anything to change that score. You were right to do so.

To say the offenses couldn’t fight their way out of wet paper bags is an exaggeration. Right? Right?

Anyway, the 3-3 dam finally broke. Thanks to Iowa’s punter and defense, that is.

Hawkeye punter Tory Taylor was on the extraordinary side this game, but was never more effective than when he punted from the 50 and his punt was downed at the SDSU 1.

On the next play, Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell grabbed South Dakota State running back Isaiah Davis by the jersey and tackled him for a safety and a 5-3 Hawkeyes lead that held up.

For extra security, Iowa scored again with 3:58 left in the game on … another safety, of course. Joe Evans sacked quarterback Mark Gronowski in the end zone to make it 7-3.

So at least it looked like a football score, minuscule though it was. But with Iowa gaining just 166 yards and South Dakota State 120, it looked like football was set back a century or two.

By the numbers

0 — The Hawkeyes got one of their best defensive efforts in the Kirk Ferentz era, and did so without forcing a turnover. Iowa was among the national leaders in turnover margin last season, and was first in interceptions.

5 — Iowa was held without a touchdown in the first half, the fourth time that happened in its last five halves. Then it was held without a touchdown in the second half, the fifth time that happened in its last six halves.

7 — Seven of Taylor’s 10 punts (which went for a 47.9-yard average) were downed inside the SDSU 20.

9 — South Dakota State had nine false-start penalties.

13 — Linebacker Adam Bock of Solon was his typically terrific self for the Jackrabbits. He had a game-high 13 tackles, and stripped the ball and recovered it from Iowa running back Leshon Williams.

18 — It was the first time in 18 years that Iowa won without scoring a touchdown. The Hawkeyes prevailed 6-4 at Penn State in 2004.

56 — The Hawkeyes had 56 first-half yards.

99 — This was Iowa’s 99th win in a season-opener, to go with 33 losses and two ties.

Notebook

* Redshirt freshman Beau Stephens of Blue Springs, Mo., started at right guard for Iowa. Logan Jones made his first career start at center.

* Aaron Blom missed his first career field goal try, from 40 yards. He redeemed himself by making a 46-yarder later in the first quarter.

* Starting wide receiver Arland Bruce IV won the team’s punt-returning job. Starting cornerback Riley Moss won the team’s kickoff-returning job. Neither made big plays in those roles, but neither had any misadventures that hurt their team.

* In the second quarter, Iowa punted on fourth-and-3 at the SDSU 37.

When the Hawkeyes got the ball at their 38 with 15 seconds left in the first half, they took a knee rather than a shot or two downfield.

* South Dakota State had a considerable number of fans at the game, probably more than any visiting team other than Iowa State and Wisconsin will have here this year. The SDSU campus is three times farther from Iowa City than Madison, and almost four times farther than Ames.

Injury report

The season started badly for Iowa from an injury standpoint.

Running back Gavin Williams and wide receiver Keagan Johnson, both first-teamers, missed the game. That was on top of the news earlier in the week that veteran receiver Nico Ragaini was out for at least two games.

Iowa had just two scholarship players available at wide receiver, Bruce and Brody Brecht. Bruce was targeted 10 times and had five catches. Alec Wick was the only other wide receiver targeted, once.

Hawkeye linebacker Jestin Jacobs limped off the field in the second quarter and didn’t return. Senior Logan Klemp replaced him and played well. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Jacobs’ issue involved soft tissue, not a joint.

South Dakota State had several injuries in the game including a game-ender to terrific tight end Tucker Kraft in the first half.

Up next

Iowa State (1-0) plays Iowa at 3 p.m. (BTN) Saturday in Iowa City.