IOWA CITY — Just about no passing recreation, nearly no downside for Iowa soccer. At the very least for now.
A quarterback finishing solely 29 p.c of their passes would spell hassle for a lot of school soccer groups. The identical goes for an offense that scored solely 10 factors out of three non-QB kneel drives beginning within the opposing staff’s territory.
However many groups don’t have a protection as efficient as Iowa’s was once more on Saturday because the Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-1 Large Ten) pulled away with a not-so-picturesque 20-14 win over Purdue (2-4, 1-2) at Kinnick Stadium.
The Boilermakers had a chance to tie or take the lead within the remaining two minutes after an unimposing three-play, 7-yard drive by Iowa’s offense.
However Iowa’s protection didn’t budge. With one sack and three incompletions, Purdue’s comeback bid ended 39 seconds after it started.
A move rush that had struggled to generate substantial stress earlier than Saturday — the Hawkeyes had three sacks by the primary 5 video games — sacked Purdue quarterback Hudson Card six occasions.
Purdue had some tantalizing alternatives offensively. 5 of its seven first-half drives reached Iowa territory, however the Boilermakers solely scored on a kind of drives.
Card went 25-of-40 for 247 yards. He had one landing and two interceptions.
Iowa star defensive again Cooper DeJean hauled in a first-quarter interception and returned it 41 yards to the Purdue 5-yard line. That led to a 27-yard Drew Stevens area purpose.
Later within the recreation, linebacker Jay Higgins had an interception that arrange the Hawkeyes in excellent area place once more. Iowa couldn’t flip that chance to any factors, although.
It was a standard theme for Iowa’s offense.
Offensively, working again Kaleb Johnson and tight finish Erick All had been among the many few shiny spots for the Hawkeyes.
Johnson sped his option to a 67-yard landing within the first quarter as he took benefit of a large gap created by the offensive line. He later made a 33-yard carry look straightforward within the second quarter.
The sophomore working again, who missed the final three video games with an harm, completed with 134 yards whereas averaging 7.9 yards per carry.
All, in the meantime, had 97 yards on 5 catches, together with a fourth-quarter landing that lastly distanced the Hawkeyes from Purdue.
Hill, making his first collegiate begin after Cade McNamara’s season-ending harm final week, struggled mightily. Even together with his improved second half, his 6-of-21 line was removed from a suitable stage at most Energy 5 applications.
He didn’t full a move to a large receiver within the recreation, with 5 of his completions going to All and the opposite to Johnson.
Iowa’s teaching employees continued to stay with Hill, although, over final season’s Music Metropolis Bowl starter Joe Labas.
The Hawkeyes bought away with having a nonexistent passing recreation for prolonged stretches of their recreation towards Purdue, however which may not be the case subsequent week.
Iowa will tackle Wisconsin, the one Large Ten West staff and not using a convention loss but, subsequent weekend in Madison, Wis. The Badgers are coming off a 24-13 win over Rutgers.
Feedback: [email protected]