Game Report: Iowa 10, Wisconsin 6

OPENING SALVO

Iowa's offensive players became darlings through the non-conference schedule, but it was the Hawkeye defenders that became heroes in a 10-6 win at Wisconsin.

The offense scratched out just five first downs, 45 rushing yards and 22 passing yards as it was battered and bruised in the second half. While the Hawkeyes' offense struggled, the defense held on by its fingernails. Wisconsin ran 31 of its 42 second-half plays inside Iowa territory and held the ball for 17 minutes, 51 seconds, yet the Badgers scored only three points after halftime.

'They played a super game,' Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said of his defense. '(It) wasn't always pretty, and it wasn't always clean, but that's really how the football game was.'

Iowa held Wisconsin to 86 rushing yards, the Badgers' lowest total in a regular-season Big Ten game since Michigan State in 2012. The Hawkeyes have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this year.

'We kind of knew that, with all the Power-O and how physical it would be, it was going to be a full 60-minute game,' Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell said. 'We weren't coming in here thinking we were going to blow them out or they were going to blow us out.'

'We kept saying if they don't score, they don't win,' Iowa defensive end Drew Ott said. 'That was kind of our goal, to keep them out of the end zone and it worked out for us.'

BY THE NUMBERS

0 — Rushing TDs allowed by Iowa this year

5 — Interceptions by Iowa CB Desmond King this season

5 — Consecutive road wins in the Iowa-Wisconsin series

5 — Iowa wins to open the season, the best start since 2009

9 — Consecutive trophy wins by Wisconsin before Saturday

REPORT CARD

A — There was a 'Bullies of the Big Ten' reference. Now, drop the mic.

— Marc Morehouse

A — The team in red was silenced in the red zone.

— Mike Hlas

A — Iowa took the bull by the horns, literally and figuratively.

— Scott Dochterman

GAME BALL

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz moved into ninth place in Big Ten history with his 120th victory as a Big Ten coach. He entered the day tied with former Wisconsin Coach (and Iowa assistant) Barry Alvarez, so the location was coincidental and poetic.

'As far as the win, I'm just really happy for our team right now,' Ferentz said. 'It was a hard-fought game, we knew it was going to be like that and to come out here with the victory is a good thing for our guys.'

In Big Ten wins, Ferentz ranks 10th with 69, trailing former Ohio State Coach John Cooper (70) by one for ninth.

INJURY TIME

Left tackle Boone Myers (neck), wide receiver Tevaun Smith (knee) and running back Derrick Mitchell (undisclosed) did not travel because of injuries. Ferentz called Myers 'hopefully day-to-day' while it's likely Smith will miss several games. Ferentz classified Mitchell's absence as an injury.

Smith, a senior with 17 career starts, recorded his first 100-yard receiving game last week against North Texas and hauled in an 81-yard touchdown strike. As of last week, he ranked third in the Big Ten with 19.6 yards per catch.

'He's got a knee issue so I doubt he'll be back before the bye,' Ferentz said. 'We're optimistic he'll be ready to go when we get back after our bye week.'

PICKING UP THE SLACK

Cole Croston started at left tackle in Myers' stead, and true freshman Jerminic Smith opened for Iowa, replacing Tevaun Smith. Seeing significant action along the offensive line was true freshman James Daniels, who worked out as the second-team right tackle in pregame warmups.

Jerminic Smith was targeted on a couple of passes but didn't have a catch.

'Tevaun's a great player, a great receiver out there,' Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard said. 'I think Jerminic stepped up and did a good job as well. It's not like I look out there and say, 'Oh, it's Jerminic. I'm not going to throw that way,' if I get the look. That's not the way it is. He's a good receiver and does a great job.'

SHOWING UP

Wisconsin linebacker Joe Schobert butchered Iowa's offense for most of the game. He finished with eight tackles, including three sacks. He also forced two fumbles, recovered one and had five quarterback hurries. He has 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks in five games.

'We expected them to be a great physical defense and they were,' said Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri, who rushed for 125 yards. 'They showed up today.'

Schobert stifled Beathard all day. He completed just nine of 21 passes for 77 yards. He had one touchdown and one interception.

'(Defensive coordinator Dave) Aranda does a great job of putting us in the situations on defense where we have match-ups in our favor,' Schobert said.

SONG ABOUT THE HEARTLAND

The Hawkeyes reclaimed the Heartland Trophy for the first time since giving it up in 2010. The Badgers now lead the all-time series 44-43-2.

Wisconsin had won three straight against Iowa, all at Kinnick Stadium. All three were closely contested and left the Hawkeyes bitter but prepared for the Badgers.

'It was like a heavyweight fight out there,' Beathard said. 'Back and forth, it was a sloppy game, both sides. We didn't play as well as we wanted to offensively, but a win's a win and we'll take it.'

'We expect that it's going to be a tough, hard game to fight to win,' Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri said. 'But, that's again, Coach Ferentz does an awesome job in practice of getting us to understand ... that coming into this stadium they're going to give it their all and they're ready.'

RUSTY CAGE

The Heartland wasn't the only trophy up for grabs this weekend. Wisconsin's football managers retained control over the Rusty Toolbox with a 16-13 win against Iowa's managers on Friday night.

The managers began playing for the traveling trophy back in 1991. Wisconsin has won the last five games, dating back to 2009. The teams didn't play for either the Rusty Toolbox or Heartland Trophy in 2011 or 2012.

UP NEXT

Iowa (5-0, 1-0) plays host to Illinois (4-1, 1-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. It's the first game between the border foes in Iowa City since 2007. The Hawkeyes beat the Fighting Illini 30-14 last year in Champaign.

QUOTABLE

'We felt we were the better team and we showed that today.' — Iowa QB C.J. Beathard

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com