The making of the Philly special in Iowa football’s playbook in the 26-21 loss to No. 17 USC

LOS ANGELES — Mark Gronowski took the snap, handed it off to Kaden Wetjen. Two seconds later, Gronowski had the ball in his hands in the end zone.

Despite No. 21 Iowa football falling to No. 17 USC, 26-21, the offense debuted a trick play that flashed some creativity by offensive coordiantor Tim Lester. It’s a play that’ll go down in the Hawkeye history books, despite the inevitable final result.

Made famous by the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles, the Hawkeyes set up for the iconic Philly special play in the second quarter against the Trojans.

“We've been working on that play for a while,” Gronowski said. “It was cool.”

While Iowa’s offense isn’t known for trick plays, Lester isn’t afraid to open that side of the playbook. Earlier this season, the Hawkeyes used a low mesh play twice against Iowa State. Throughout the year, Lester and Gronowski have relied on quarterback sneaks to get the senior signal caller 13 rushing touchdowns.

Against Penn State, Gronowski had a game-winning rush only him and the Hawkeye OC truly knew about, too.

The use of the Philly special came in the second quarter as a response to USC’s first touchdown of the game. The Hawkeyes used receiver Reece Vander Zee to make the 5-yard touchdown pass to Gronowski work. Vander Zee had some experience at quarterback in high school, and the pitch by Wetjen gave the sophomore receiver enough time for the ball to get to Gronowski.

It was the first time an Iowa quarterback caught a touchdown pass since 1994, when Matt Sherman caught a pass from Tim Dwight in a 49-42 win over Minnesota at the Metrodome.

“I thought Tim called it a perfect time, too,” Head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “It's just really well executed, and that's first thing to get to the field. It's got to be done in practice pretty well.”

Ferentz said it was a play Lester started implementing at the beginning of the season. Gronowski also added it was a play that’s worked well in practice, fooling the defensive Hawkeyes.

The Philly special appearance was the last points Iowa put on the board. In the second half, Iowa had just five first downs and never reached the end zone.

“Games have ebbs and flows. That's just nature of sports,” Ferentz said. “It takes, takes a lot of parties involved. They're a good team, but things just didn't quite go our way there, and had a chance at the end all that being said, and couldn't quite get it done.”

It was a play that puts Gronowski in the history books, the first Iowa quarterback since at least 1994 to record a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

Even though Gronowski’s receiving touchdown against the Trojans won’t be remembered with a win, the Philly special’s unique experience demonstrates Iowa’s offensive creativity when the Hawkeyes are firing on all cylinders.

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