IOWA CITY, Iowa – The 18th-ranked University of Iowa football team scored twice in the game’s first 135 seconds and the defense forced three turnovers in a 34-6 rout of No. 17 Indiana on Saturday afternoon in its season opener on Duke Slater Field inside Kinnick Stadium.
Senior Riley Moss had two of the three Hawkeye turnovers, taking both of his interceptions for pick sixes in the first half. Iowa’s defense limited the Hoosiers to 233 yards, including just 77 on the ground. Indiana averaged 28.9 points and 359.5 yards of total offense during the 2020 season.
Junior Seth Benson had a game-high 10 tackles, including six solo stops and four Hawkeyes accounted for five tackles for loss. Junior Dane Belton had Iowa’s third interception and finished with four tackles and 1 ½ tackles for loss.
Offensively, Iowa finished with 303 yards of total offense with a balanced attack with 158 coming on the ground and 145 through the air. Junior Tyler Goodson rushed for 99 yards on 19 attempts with one touchdown, including a 56-yard touchdown run on the fourth play of the game.
Junior Spencer Petras completed 13-of-27 attempts for 145 yards with five receptions going to junior Sam LaPorta for 83 yards.
The Hawkeyes scored on their opening possession, needing just four plays to cover 67 yards. On second and 10 from the 44, Goodson took a handoff, bounced outside to his wall of blockers and went untouched for a 56-yard touchdown to make the score 7-0.
The score went to 14-0 in the blink of an eye when IU quarterback Michael Pennix, Jr.’s, pass deflected off wide receiver D.J. Matthews’ hand and to Moss, who grabbed the interception and returned it 30-yards for the touchdown.
The Hoosiers scored their lone first-half points with a nine-play, 49-yard scoring drive late in the first quarter. Pennix connected with Ty Fryfogle for a 32-yard pass to the Hawkeye 19 before Iowa’s defense forced two incompletions and a rush for no gain. Charles Campbell connected on a 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3.
Iowa went 48 yards over eight plays to push its lead to 21-3. After taking over in Hoosier territory, Petras opened the drive with a 16-yard completion to LaPorta to the 32. The Hawkeyes converted a fourth-and-2 when Petras connected on a 2-yard crossing route to Charlie Jones. Two plays later, Petras hit paydirt, scoring on a 9-yard designed quarterback draw.
Iowa’s defense accounted for seven more points late in the second quarter. On first-and-10 from midfield, Moss jumped a Hoosier route and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown – his second of the day – to make the score 28-3.
The Hawkeyes forced their third turnover on the second play of the ensuing possession. On second-and-1 from the IU 34, junior Joe Evans pressured Pennix, who forced a throw, and Belton was the beneficiary. He secured his first career interception with 1:12 left in the half, giving Iowa possession at the IU 44.
Iowa turned the mistake into points, driving 21 yards over eight plays in the final minute. Senior Caleb Shudak connected on a 41-yard field goal – the first of his career — as time expired, giving the Hawkeyes a 31-3 lead at the half.
The Hoosiers had their best drive of the day on their first possession of the second half, needing 12 plays to cover 52 yards. Indiana converted a fourth-and-4 from midfield with a 33-yard completion to Fryfogle to the Iowa 14. The Hawkeyes held and Lukas Van Ness’ sacked forced a field goal attempt, where Campbell connected from 41 yards to make the score 31-6.
Iowa scored its only points of the second half with an 11-play, 40-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter. The Hawkeyes methodically drove down field and moved into the red zone on a IU personal foul face mask penalty. Shudak pushed the score to 34-6 with a 35-yard field goal.
The Hawkeyes return to action Sept. 11, traveling to Ames, Iowa, for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup against No. 7 Iowa State. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (CT) from Jack Trice Stadium and the game will be televised on ABC.
