HawkeyeSports.com – It was good Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium.
The University of Iowa football team scored on offense, defense, and via special teams to jump out to a 35-0 first-half lead before finishing off Michigan State, 49-7, to notch its first victory of the 2020 season.
The Hawkeyes rolled up 405 yards of total offense, featuring a balanced attack with 226 coming on the ground and 179 through the air. Iowa’s defense forced three turnovers (turning them into 14 points) and limited the Spartans to 286 yards with just 59 coming via the rushing attack.
Sophomore Spencer Petras completed 15-of-27 attempts for 167 yards and one touchdown. He spread his completions to seven different Hawkeyes with sophomore Tyrone Tracy, Jr., leading the way with four receptions for 38 yards. Senior Brandon Smith had three catches for 35 yards and one touchdown.
Sophomore Tyler Goodson had 113 yards – Iowa’s first 100-yard game of the season — on 14 attempts, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, and he found the end zone twice for his first career two score game. Senior Mekhi Sargent had 31 yards on nine carries with two touchdowns.
Defensively, sophomore Seth Benson paced the team in tackles for the second straight game, finishing with eight tackles. The Hawkeyes had seven tackles for loss – two coming from senior Chauncey Golston and 1.5 from senior Zach VanValkenburg – and Jack Koerner, Riley Moss, and Barrington Wade all recorded interceptions.
Moss returned his second quarter pick 54 yards for a touchdown to give Iowa a 35-0 lead.
Iowa shined on special teams with Jones notching 105 yards on five returns, including a 54-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter. Punter Tory Taylor averaged 45.9 yards on seven punts and had five attempts downed inside the 20.
Michigan State quarterback Rocky Lombardi completed 17-of-37 attempts for 227 yards with four going to Jalen Nailor for 119 yards. Jordan Simmons had nine carries for 34 yards to lead the Spartan rushing attack.
The Hawkeyes return to action Nov. 13 at Minnesota. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (CT), and it will be televised on FS1.
