No 'Kool-Aid pills,' just a better 2nd-half effort

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., -- Iowa had second-half success for the first time what must've felt like a very long time for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa scored three-second half touchdowns to pull away in its 38-14 victory at Purdue on Saturday. Kirk Ferentz could only tell you what the secret wasn't in the postgame.

"It kind of goes back to what's wrong and then today what's right," Ferentz said. "It's all about where your mind is at and it's all about execution and playing well. So, it's not like we did any second-half drills or took any Kool-Aid pills or anything like that in the locker room.

"It's just a matter of going out and playing better. And after the first half, we had to play better and we did."

After quarterback Jake Rudock hit Kevonte Martin-Manley for a 22-yard TD pass with 1:57 left in the first half, Iowa led 14-7 at halftime. Purdue, a team that hadn't run a play in an opponent's red zone since Sept. 28, was within striking distance.

To set the scene, let's go over some of the second-half woes the Hawkeyes have endured the last four weeks (three of which were against Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin, the Big Ten's top three defenses)"

-- Iowa had 40 rushes for 140 yards.

-- Iowa had 38 completions in 66 attempts, 4 interceptions, 1 touchdown and 371 total passing yards.

-- Iowa's total time of possession: 43:29 (average 10:52).

-- Iowa scored 10 total points (2.5 average).

Cue the "Kool-Aid" pills.

Iowa forged ahead 31-7 on the strength of three long drives -- eight plays for 71 yards, 12 for 70 and six for 67. Two of the three ended in TDs, a 4-yard run by running back Mark Weisman and Rudock to tight end Jake Duzey for 3 yards and a 31-7 lead with 6:29 left in the game.

"We always want to play a full game," said Rudock, who completed 6 of 9 for 81 yards and a TD in the second half. "Unfortunately this year, we haven't always come out and played our best in the third and fourth quarter. Just being able to put points on the board is a good feeling."

Iowa churned out 259 yards total offense in the second half, including 27 rushes for 178 yards. Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard's 5-yard TD run with 2:48 left was a bit of an accident (not the play that was called, but it worked), but the Hawkeyes still had a time of possession of 16:41 in the second half.

The Hawkeyes' 259 yards in the second half is the most they've had since since 287 against Western Michigan on Sept. 21.

"That's all coach Ferentz said, even today it was a point of emphasis," wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley said. "He came [at halftime] and kind of got after us. He said we've got to finish if we're going to be a good team and if we want to get better."

The Hawkeyes responded to the halftime talk with a three-and-out. But the defense halted a promising Purdue drive when linebacker Anthony Hitchens forced a fumble out of Boilermakers running back Raheem Mostert and linebacker Christian Kirksey recovered.

The Kool-Aid pills kicked in on the next drive, an eight-play, 71-yarder that Weisman finished with a 4-yard run.

"We hadn't played a good third quarter this whole year, in my opinion," tackle Brett Van Sloten said. "I think other guys would agree, so that was a good. We didn't have the flashiest first half, and coach mentioned it at halftime. We needed a good third quarter and I think we took a step in the right direction today."