Game Report: Iowa vs. Minnesota

BY THE NUMBERS

4 - Consecutive trophy games lost by Iowa

5 - Combined wins by Minnesota in the last 2 seasons

2 - Consecutive wins by Minnesota against Iowa

252 - Yards rushing by Marcus Coker, third-most in Iowa history

13:25 - Minnesota's fourth-quarter time of possession

REPORT CARD

F - At this rate, Floyd is going to develop an accent, eh?

- Marc Morehouse

F - Grotesque.

- Mike Hlas

F - One team's feeling Minnesota; the other is being Minnesota.

- Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Iowa RB Marcus Coker. In a most unusual statistical performance, Coker ran for 252 yards on 32 carries in a losing effort. Coker's total was the third-most in Iowa history, behind only Tavian Banks' 314 yards and Ed Podolak (286). Coker didn't lose yardage on a single play and averaged 7.9 yards a carry.

Coker, a sophomore, took the loss hard afterward.

“Doesn't matter - we lost,” he said. “I came here to win football games, and that's all I care about.”

It was the fourth time in Iowa history a back had rushed for at least 200 yards twice in his career. Along with Coker, Shonn Greene, Sedrick Shaw and Banks each had a pair of 200-yard games. Coker ran for 219 last year in the Insight Bowl.

“That Coker on the other side is a great running back,” Minnesota safety Kim Royston said. “Probably one of the strongest players I've played against.”

PLAY OF THE GAME

Down 21-16 with 8:22 left in the game, Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill called for an onside kick. The Gophers executed the play perfectly and Royston recovered at their 41.

Kill wasn't sure he was going to run the play until he saw the Hawkeyes line up in their usual kick-return alignment.

“If they'd been hugging and expecting the onside, we certainly wouldn't have done it,” Kill said.

The play led to the Gophers' game-winning touchdown run by MarQueis Gray.

STAT OF THE GAME

Minnesota kept the ball for 13:25 in the fourth quarter. The Gophers ran the ball 23 times for 102 yards in the period and ran 28 plays to Iowa's seven.

“Fatigue wasn't a factor; it was execution,” Iowa linebacker Tyler Nielsen said.

SACK DANCE

Minnesota entered the game with only five sacks this season, by the far the Big Ten's worst total this year. But the Gophers got after Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg, sacking him three times in the game. The sacks came off blitzes and traditional pass rushes.

“Minnesota brought a little pressure,” Vandenberg said. “They played tough all day, and we just kind of stalled out in the red zone.”

FLOYD STAYS PUT

The legendary Floyd of Rosedale traveling trophy stays in Minnesota for the second consecutive season. It was the first time since 1998 through 2000 that the Hawkeyes didn't reclaim the pig after losing him the previous season.

It was the 105th meeting between Iowa and Minnesota, tied for the fourth most-played in the Big Ten. Only Minnesota-Wisconsin, Indiana-Purdue and Ohio State-Michigan have been played more often.

“It was again ecstatic,” Minnesota defensive lineman Brandon Kirksey said. “Last year it was a bit more intensified. But this year it was the same thing. We got in some of the similar problems as we did last year, we haven't done too well as far as winning games and all that. To play a big-time team like Iowa and to defeat them and keep Floyd here, that was something great.”

In the battle for Floyd, which began in 1935, Minnesota leads 41-34-2.

TROPHY-LESS

Iowa did not win a trophy game for the first time since 2000. The Hawkeyes do not play Wisconsin this year.

FAMILY REUNION

Brandon Kirksey is three years older, but he's the nephew of Iowa linebacker Christian Kirksey. The two didn't talk on the field, but Brandon watched Christian on defense. The two did talk earlier in the week.

“I actually sent him a picture of the pig,” Brandon Kirksey said. “This was just to inspire him, too, because at the end of the day he's a relative, and I want him to be great. But I told him, if he wants it, he's got to come get it. He's got play for it.”

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