LOOK: Local newspaper hammers Iowa for lack of offense with creative headline

Iowa didn’t exactly put on an offensive clinic on Saturday, and they’re hearing it from all angles on the day after.

First, the Hawkeyes were the butt of many jokes on social media due to their inefficiency in their 7-3 victory over South Dakota State. However, even newspapers are getting in on the fun, as The Gazette took a creative shot at the Hawkeyes offense with their headline on Sunday.

Check out the not-so-subtle shot below, as the letter “O” has been wiped from the headline.

Iowa’s missing “O” on the @CRGazetteSports section this morning. pic.twitter.com/7vdWDQooOK

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 4, 2022

“Iowa’s missing ‘O’ on the @CRGazetteSports section this morning,” tweeted Darren Rovell, highlighting the hilarious headline.

To illustrate, it was about as ugly of an offensive game as you’ll ever see, as zero touchdowns were scored in the game.

That’s right — zero touchdowns, despite the 7-3 final score. The Hawkeyes amassed seven points in a unique way — one field goal, and forcing the Jackrabbits into two safeties.

Moreover, the statistics matched the ugliness of the final score, as Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras completed a measly 11 of his 25 passes for 109 yards and an interception. Additionally, running back Leshon Williams carried the football 24 times for 72 yards, averaging 3.0 yards per carry.

As for the Jackrabbits, it didn’t go much better. Perhaps they could’ve pulled an upset if their offense wasn’t so putrid, as their defense shut the Hawkeyes down. Sophomore quarterback Mike Gronowksi only completed 10 of his 26 pass attempts for 87 yards, while running back Isaiah Davis could only muster 50 yards on 18 carries, averaging 2.8 yards per carry.

Next up for the Hawkeyes is their in-state rival, the Iowa State Cyclones. The latter actually scored 42 points in their opening week victory, a shocking number compared to what took place with the Hawkeyes. However, Iowa is surprisingly favored over the Cyclones, opening up as three-point favorites.

Go figure. If the Hawkeyes are to win, they’ll have to regain their “O”s against the Cyclones in Week 2.