Game Report: No. 9 Iowa 35, Indiana 27

OPENING SALVO

Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard's statistics appear somewhat ordinary with 19 completions for 233 yards and one touchdown pass in today's stat-heavy world. But game numbers tell only half of his story in Saturday's 35-27 win against Indiana. His toughness, leadership and execution comprise the other half.

Hobbled with a groin injury, Beathard made several impressive plays with his arm and his legs. Twice in the fourth quarter he came up with bootlegs that produced results. On second and 9 from the Indiana 10, Beathard booted to the left and found tight end George Kittle for a completion. Kittle leapt over the goal line for a touchdown to put Iowa up 35-20.

On the Hawkeyes' final series, Beathard rolled left on second and 9 and beat the Hoosiers defenders to the first-down marker. Beathard ran for 11 yards to secure the victory.

'I'm not 100 percent but when your adrenaline's going, it felt pretty good,” Beathard said. 'That last run there at the end, it was Coach (Greg) Davis and Coach Brian Ferentz, they were iffy. ‘You think you can get out there, you think you can get out there?' I was like, ‘Yeah, I can get the first down.' They made the call, and it was a good call.”

The toughness with which Beathard displays has made a believer out of Coach Kirk Ferentz.

'It was unquestioned to me after that first game (Illinois State) and certainly after the second game (Iowa State),” Ferentz said. 'I'd go back to that second game, that's my wrap-up on him, just his poise and his toughness out on the field are extremely impressive. Now it's just skyrocketing in my mind.”

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BY THE NUMBERS

10 - C.J. Beathard wins in as many starts, a school record

9 - Consecutive Iowa wins to open the 2015 season, tying a school record

8 - Desmond King interceptions, tying an Iowa single-season record

2 - Indiana rushing touchdowns Saturday

1 - Rushing touchdowns allowed by Iowa entering Saturday

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REPORT CARD

A - This is team 'Road House.” C.J. Beathard is Patrick Swayze and DE Nate Meier is Sam Elliott. This team is back-to-back taking on all comers.

- Marc Morehouse

B-plus - The Hawkeyes have been very rude guests this autumn.

- Mike Hlas

A - This team is construction-worker tough, the kind you don't mess with unless you want fight like for six hours.

- Scott Dochterman

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GAME BALL

Iowa MLB Josey Jewell. The sophomore from Decorah recorded 15 tackles - including 11 solo stops - and broke up two passes.

Just 12 minutes into the game, Jewell had seven tackles, including five solos.

'A tremendous leader and he's only a second-year player,” Ferentz said. 'But he's got a real presence about him. I guess it's to me kind of special. He's a magnetic guy. Not a rah-rah guy, but guys rally to him. A big part of that is the way he plays the game. He's totally committed in his preparation. He plays tough out there on the field. Did the same thing last year as a very young player.”

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INTERCEPTING HISTORY

Iowa junior cornerback Desmond King snagged his eighth interception this year, tying a school record shared by Lou King (1981) and Nile Kinnick (1939).

King's interception came with 5:21 left in the game with the Hawkeyes leading 35-20.

'They actually ran that play first half as well and I was short of getting that one as well,” King said. 'I knew they were going to run it again and once they called the switch, I did the same exact thing I did in the first half. But that time I was there, right on mark, and I just had to go up and get the ball and play it at its highest point and make sure I got my foot in.”

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INJURY TIME

Iowa wide receiver Tevaun Smith was knocked from the game on a hit across the middle by Indiana middle linebacker T.J. Simmons. Simmons was flagged for targeting and ejected from the game. Iowa safety Miles Taylor suffered a knee injury early in the second quarter, and Iowa linebacker Cole Fisher left the game early because of a migraine headache. Smith and Taylor returned in the second half, while Fisher came back in the second quarter.

'It was a pretty hard hit,” Smith said. 'It wasn't a concussion, it wasn't anything major. But it was more my back. I got hit in the back pretty hard, and that's why I couldn't get up right away. I kind of had to sit there and lay down for a while.”

Running back Jordan Canzeri, who suffered a sprained ankle against Northwestern, practiced this week and dressed for the game. Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Canzeri was cleared, but he chose to keep Canzeri on the sidelines. Ferentz expects Canzeri to play against Minnesota.

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VETERANS DAY TRIBUTE

Iowa pulled its traditional yellow Tiger-Hawk off its helmets in favor or a Star-Spangled version on only its right side. The decal switch was to honor the military and veterans ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The Hoosiers wore a script 'Indiana” with the Stars and Stripes as well.

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NEW KICK RETURN LINEUP

Iowa shifted to a six-man front to defend against Indiana's surprise onside kickoffs. The Hoosiers completed an onside kick against Iowa last year and had converted its only attempt before Saturday's game.

The Hawkeyes did recover an onside kick attempt late in the game when leading 35-27.

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UP NEXT

Iowa faces Minnesota in the annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale at 7 p.m. Saturday. It's just the second time the Gophers and Hawkeyes have tangoed in Iowa City since 2009 and the first under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. Minnesota plastered Iowa 51-14 last year in Minneapolis and leads the all-time series 62-44-2.

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