Hawkeyes beat Illinois, win Big Ten West crown
It’s been a season of finding a way for the Iowa football team. They have dealt with injuries and every kind of adversity and yet they have found ways to win games. That happened once again on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium when the Hawkeyes scored late to beat Illinois 15-13 and earn a place in the Big Ten Championship game on December 2nd in Indianapolis against the winner of the Ohio State/Michigan game next weekend.
The game opened with points being put on the board that were sort of fitting for this Iowa team and season. With the Fighting Illini facing a third and long situation from their own five, quarterback John Paddock set up in the end zone and was hit by Iowa defensive end Joe Evans. Paddock lost the ball and an Illinois offensive lineman recovered it for a safety.
The Illini fought back later in the first quarter for their first points of the game. The big play of the drive was a 32 yard pass from Paddock to Isaiah Williams for 32 yards. Iowa got the hold, but kicker Caleb Griffin connected for a 52 yard field goal and a 3-2 lead.
Iowa got into the end zone for the first time early in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes started a methodical long march down the field. On the 14th play of the drive, Deacon Hill found Addison Ostrenga for a four yard touchdown pass and the Hawkeyes were up 9-3. Hill finished his day completing 19 of 29 passes for 167 yards and the one touchdown.
Illinois answered right back on their next drive, going 75 yards in 10 plays. Paddock found Williams three times on the drive and eventually running back Reggie Love got into the end zone for a 10-9 lead over the Hawkeyes. It was the second rushing touchdown that Iowa has allowed this season. Paddock was 22-47 for 215 yards on the day and Williams caught eight passes for 105 yards in the game.
The game remained locked at 10-9 into the fourth quarter when on the first play, Griffin hit a short 29 yard field goal to push the edge to 13-9.
After a pair of short drives, Iowa finally found some momentum. The Hawkeyes forced a punt and Kaden Wetjen, who was filling in for the injured Cooper DeJean, fielded the ball and returned it 17 yards to the Iowa 46 yard line. That return seemed to give Iowa some life.
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One of the key plays to keep the drive alive was on third and five when Hill threw a dart on a slant pass to Nico Ragain for a nine yard gain and a first down. On the next play, Illinois was flagged pass interference/holding to bring the ball to the Illinois 30 yard line. Then it was Kaleb Johnson working his magic.
The Iowa running back didn’t even play a snap two weeks ago at Wrigley Field. This week he got the ball and went off the edge, hit a hole and 30 yards later he cruised into the end zone. Drew Stevens had the extra point blocked, but Iowa had a 15-13 lead with 4:43 left in the game.
Then it was left to the Iowa defense to finish the game and they did just that. Sixth year senior Joe Evans, who came back seeking a moment like this, knocked down a pair of passes on third and fourth down and the Iowa offense ran out the clock.
Iowa moves to 9-2 on the season and 6-2 in Big Ten play. They will face Nebraska in the final regular season game of the season on Black Friday in Lincoln. Kickoff is set for 11 am and the game will air on CBS.
