Skip to main content
iowa logo

Hawkeyes fall in heartbreaker

On3 imageby:Tom Kakert•10/21/23•

HawkeyeReport

Logan Lee Iowa
(Iowa Hawkeyes)

There have been some wild and crazy battles for the Floyd of Rosedale trophy over the years. But, even with a pair of offenses struggling to score points or even sustain a drive, Minnesota’s 12-10 win over Iowa on Saturday was one of the ages for what it almost became.

With a little over 90 seconds left in the game, the Hawkeye defense forced the Gophers to punt from their own 17 yard line. Minnesota attempted a directional punt towards the sidelined and Iowa’s Cooper DeJean fielded it at the Iowa 46. He weaved his way through traffic and appeared to have coasted into the end zone for a 54 yard touchdown and a likely Hawkeye victory.

Then the Big Ten officials reviewed the play, initially looking to see if DeJean had stepped out of bounds. Along the way they observed his hand motions and deemed them to have been signally for a fair catch. DeJean said after the game that he was not, but the ball was placed at the 46 yard line and on the third play from scrimmage, Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill was intercepted by Minnesota. It was his third turnover of the game and clinched the victory for the Gophers. This marked the first win over Iowa for Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck and their first win in Iowa City since 1999.

Iowa opened the score in the first half with a very strong drive. The Hawkeyes moved the ball inside the ten, but couldn’t punch it in the end zone and settled for a 23 yard field goal from Drew Stevens.

Both teams traded three and outs on back to back drives and then the Gophers mounted their first scoring drive of the game of the game. Aided by a 15 yard pass interference, Minnesota hit a 43 yard field goal to tied the game at three at the end of the first quarter.

The offenses continued to struggle and Iowa survived a Hill fumble in their own territory as Minnesota missed a 43 yard field goal into the wind. The Hawkeyes finally put together a touchdown scoring drive late in the first half. That drive was helped by the Minnesota defense committing 34 yards in penalties, including a pair of 15 yard infractions. Eventually, Hill scored on a quarterback sneak and Iowa went into the break with a 10-3 lead.

The second half was a house of horrors for the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes could only manage 12 yards of total offense in the third and fourth quarter and didn’t get a first down until well into the fourth period.

Meanwhile the Gophers kept chipping away at the Iowa lead. They had a very good drive to begin the second half that resulted in a 44 yard field goal to make it 10-6. Then two drives later, following another Hill fumble, Minnesota hit on a 28 yard field goal.

Minnesota took the lead in the middle of the fourth period thanks in large part of a 39 yard pass play from Athan Kaliakmanis to Daniel Jackson. The 39 yard reception but the Gophers in the red zone at the Iowa 17 yard line. Eventually they settled for a fourth field goal from Dragan Kesich from 31 yards out.

Iowa falls to 6-2 on the season and 3-2 in conference play. The Hawkeyes will be off next weekend before traveling to face Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Chicago. Game time and TV partner has not been announced for that contest.

You may also like