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Iowa football Game Report: Hawkeyes 44, Iowa State 41; OT
Gazette staff
Sep. 9, 2017 5:44 pm, Updated: Sep. 9, 2017 8:34 pm
PLAY OF THE GAME
The Setup
— The Hawkeyes trailed Iowa State 38-31 with about 1:25 left in the game. Iowa marched from its 25 to ISU's 46.
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First-and-10 and ... We interrupt this game for an unannounced showing of 'The Matrix.'
You know, the movie with Keanu Reeves dodging bullets. Only that wasn't Keanu Reeves.
But it was Akrum Wadley dodging bullets.
What Happened
— Iowa QB Nate Stanley went through his progressions and came down to the check down, which was Wadley, who ran a drag route with Iowa State linebacker Joel Lanning trailing him.
Wadley caught it and left Lanning swiping at his heels.
Next.
Safety Lawrence White got his arms around Wadley's waist. No go.
Next.
Iowa wide receiver Nick Easley threw a key block along Iowa's sideline. Wadley followed that and hurdled the Iowa State defender.
Next.
Inside the 10, ISU safety Evrett Edwards squared up to Wadley. Remember last week when Wadley lowered his shoulder and finished a big 23-yard run? Same.
Wadley lowered his should and finished the run. First, there was a stop move that gave him an angle on Edwards.
Touchdown.
The Results
— Wadley scored with 1:09 left, tying the game 38-38.
Wadley finished with 190 yards from scrimmage on 32 touches, including a career-high 28 carries.
Words don't do this one justice. Roll the credits and get thee to a link of this highlight.
-Marc Morehouse
REPORT CARD
Iowa:
B+
— There is a lot to digest, but neither team should feel indigestion after this classic.
-Mike Hlas
A-
— I think it's cool that our state has two Power 5 football teams. Amazing effort, both ways.
-Marc Morehouse
B+
— The connections to the 2011 game were eerie. Iowa's defense was at times, too. But winning a game like that lasts.
-Jeremiah Davis
Iowa State:
B+
— This team is much improved from a year ago, but still trying to sort out some fine details in its execution. Drops and missed tackles will be the focus in Akron prep.
-Dylan Montz
READY TO ROOT
Devotion was in plain sight here early Saturday morning.
Iowa State students were lined up to get into the stadium's general-admission student section. While most didn't join the line until 6 a.m. and after, a handful of hearty souls began their wait at 8 p.m. on Friday.
'It got a little shivery around 3 in the morning,' one said. 'There was a chilly breeze that woke me up.'
The students sit on the east side of the stadium, between the 20-yard line and behind the back of the end zone. Many of the first students admitted went to the front row, not the best views in the house. They didn't seem to mind.
Meanwhile, many more students idled at tailgates rather than putting in time waiting in line. Just how many of them had game tickets was unclear, but there were a lot more students outside the stadium than it during the contest.
-Mike Hlas
ELLIOTT HONORED
Before the annual Cy-Hawk football game kicked off, Iowa State took a moment to honor Bobby Elliott, a man who participated in the series as an assistant coach on both sides. A moment of silence was observed and photos of Elliott adorned the jumbotrons on both ends of the stadium.
Elliott died of cancer at 64 in July. His family was in a suite at Jack Trice Stadium Saturday.
Elliott played football at Iowa. He had three stints as an Iowa State assistant coach, and served on Hayden Fry's Iowa staff for several years. The teams he was on at the time were 15-2 in this series.
-Mike Hlas
BY THE NUMBERS
964
— Total offense combined between both teams
254
— Yards from scrimmage for Akrum Wadley
11
— Point deficit overcome by Iowa State
10
— Point deficit overcome by Iowa
8
— Touchdown passes for Nate Stanley this season
6
— Lead changes
3
— Times tied
3
— Drives of 90-plus yards for Iowa
2
— Straight games of 100 yards rushing for Akrum Wadley
2
— Times the Cy-Hawk game has gone to overtime
-Jeremiah Davis
INJURY REPORT
As good as it was for the Hawkeyes to get center James Daniels back for this game, the offensive line got equally bad news — at least it seems — in the second half of their Cy-Hawk victory on Saturday.
Coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game the training fears Ike Boettger has an Achilles tendon injury, which, if the fears are realized, would sideline the starting right tackle a long time.
'I don't think so,' Ferentz said when asked if Boettger would be back soon. 'It sounds like an Achilles. He's done for the season if that's the case.
'It doesn't help. We're starting to do more of it (shuffling the offensive line) than we like. … You never want to lose any player.'
Boettger went down in the third quarter during one of Iowa's three 90-plus-yard drives, which ended with an Akrum Wadley touchdown run. Boettger got rolled up while blocking for a Nate Stanley pass to Drake Kulick that went for 26 yards. He walked off the field, but did not return.
In addition to Boettger, starting linebacker Josey Jewell missed a few plays during the second half with a rolled ankle, but finished the game. The Decorah native said after the game it was nothing major.
'I'm fine; just a little ankle roll,' Jewell said. 'No big deal.'
-Jeremiah Davis
UP NEXT
Iowa returns home to Kinnick Stadium next week to face North Texas. The Hawkeyes face the Mean Green at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. North Texas opened the season with a 59-14 win against Lamar and follows that up with a game on the road at SMU, which kicks off at 6 p.m. The last time the two teams faced, the Hawkeyes dominated the Mean Green, 62-16, after which former Iowa player and assistant coach Dan McCarney was fired as North Texas head coach.
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Akrum Wadley (25) dives for the end zone as he is dragged down by Iowa State Cyclones defensive back D'Andre Payne (1) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Evrett Edwards (4) during the second half of their college football game at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Iowa won 44-41 in overtime on a touchdown reception by wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)