Play of the Game: Canzeri’s slash and dash

DOWN, DISTANCE:

Iowa had first and 10 at its 33

SCORE/TIME

: Iowa led 14-0, 0:37 left in first half

FORMATION, PERSONNEL

: Iowa — 3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB in shotgun; Illinois State — Nickel defense, rushed four, dropped seven

WHAT HAPPENED

: Iowa running back Jordan Canzeri hauled in a screen pass from quarterback C.J. Beathard on the left side, cut back across the field and raced 51 yards to put the Hawkeyes in scoring position late in the second quarter.

WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT:

The dash pushed Iowa into field-goal range, which the Hawkeyes converted to take a 17-0 halftime lead.

THE QUOTE 1:

'I just read off of their blocks and then when I cut the field, Tevaun (Smith) was there to set up another block so great play, great call. I'm just happy that it played out the way it did.' — Canzeri

THE QUOTE 2:

'Maybe teams want to shut it down and go into half, but we want to make sure we're always going. We don't want to sit back on our heels ever. We're the aggressor, and I think in that specific opportunity we took advantage.' — Iowa wide receiver Matt VandeBerg

THE QUOTE 3:

'He got the ball and when I saw him cut back, I was like it was going to be a big play. That was exciting to see him just take off.' — Iowa tackle Ike Boettger

THE QUOTE 4:

'If you get hit in the face, then you're going to get out there without any damage. But if he can get something going early, that gives you a chance to maybe get some points, and Jordan made a great play on that.' — Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz

T

HE ANALYSIS: Iowa had a tight end flexed and two wide receivers off the ball to the left, Canzeri to the right of Beathard in the backfield and Tevaun Smith split right. Canzeri hauled in the pass underneath the rush at Iowa's 32 behind center Austin Blythe and guard Sean Welsh. Illinois State defensive end David Perkins crushed Beathard as soon as the ball left his hand. Canzeri raced left for 13 yards, then cut across the field, picking up vital blocks from tight end Henry Krieger-Coble and wide receiver Tevaun Smith before heading out of bounds at the 16-yard line. At that point in the game and that location on the field, Iowa normally wouldn't attempt something daring. The Hawkeyes' aggressive play call paid dividends.

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