Iowa’s offense finally strikes in 27-0 rout of Nevada
Kinnick Stadium had no shortage of lightning Saturday night, both literally and metaphorically, The Gazette's John Steppe writes.
Iowa’s offense finally strikes in 27-0 rout of Nevada
Kinnick Stadium had no shortage of lightning Saturday night, both literally and metaphorically, The Gazette's John Steppe writes.
Final: Iowa 27, Nevada 0
The Hawkeyes navigate three weather delays totaling almost four hours and improve to 2-1. Nevada is 2-2.
Kaleb Johnson rushed for 103 yards, including touchdown runs of 40 and 55. Spencer Petras completed 14 of 26 passes for 175 yards and a TD. Arland Bruce IV caught three passes for 50 yards and a score.
The Hawkeyes averaged 5.5 yards per play and outgained the Wolf Pack 337-151.
On defense, Cooper DeJean had an interception, Lukas Van Ness had 1.5 sacks and Aaron Graves and Deontae Craig also had a sack apiece. Jack Campbell tallied 10 total tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Kaleb Johnson breaks another one
The Iowa freshman running back adds a 55-yard TD run after scoring on a 40-yard run earlier in the game. His first two career TDs and he's surpassed 100 yards rushing in the game (103).
Iowa 27, Nevada 0, 8:22 4th
KALEB JOHNSON RUNS IT HOME 🏠
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022
cc: @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/sC5JtzpRfc
Checking in on the crowd ...
— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) September 18, 2022
Terry Roberts pick-6 negated
Iowa had a defensive touchdown called back for an offisde penalty. Just prior to that, the Nevada drive was extended with a running into the kicker penalty. But the Hawkeyes still ended up forcing a punt and get the ball back at their 24, 12:16 4th.
End 3rd: Iowa 20, Nevada 0
Over four hours later, the third quarter has mercifully ended.
Aaron Graves gest his first career sack
The Iowa true freshman D-lineman brought down Shane Illingworth for a loss of five on second-and-8. Deontae Craig followed with a sack of his own on the next play.
Nevada punted and Iowa takes over at its 37, 0:39 3rd.
Iowa field goal is good
Drew Stevens connects from 33 yards. He's 2-for-2 in the game (and his career). That was a 5-play, 46-yard drive. Dom Peterson sacked Spencer Petras for a loss of 7 on second-and-10.
Iowa 20, Nevada 0, 2:40 3rd
Iowa scores the first points of September 18th 😅
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022
cc: @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/osUUmztGxT
Nico Ragaini steals his first catch of the season
Iowa's first play after the delay was a play-action deep ball that was undercut by a Nevada DB ... only for Nico Ragaini to grab it for a 46-yard completion in his first action of the season.
Nico's definitely back. 😎@Nicoragaini21 x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/sQtHqaa9XY
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 18, 2022
Play has resumed (again)
About 46 minutes later, the third weather delay has passed. The first play was a Brandon Talton 57-yard field-goal attempt for Nevada that missed. 5:18 3rd.
Play has resumed (again)
About 46 minutes later, the third weather delay has passed. The first play was a Brandon Talton 57-yard field-goal attempt for Nevada that missed. 5:18 3rd.
Another delay
After one play, lightning has delayed the game again. At least another 30 minutes until play can resume. It's the third weather delay of the night.
Iowa leads Nevada 17-0 with 5:24 left in the third quarter.
Play has resumed
The second weather delay lasted approximately 1 hour, 48 minutes. Play begins with a dropped Nevada screen pass on third-and-22 from the Iowa 44.
Sunday morning football in Iowa City: pic.twitter.com/B1aS8bwkOA
— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) September 18, 2022
Game will resume at midnight
Iowa and Nevada announced plans for players to return the field at 11:45 and for the game to resume at midnight.
Back in a lightning delay
We got 4:32 of game time in before another lightning delay. Nevada has third-and-22 at the Iowa 44 with 5:32 left in the third quarter. The Hawkeyes lead 17-0.
Play has resumed
A weather delay lasted approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes. Shane Illingworth completed a 1-yard pass to Toa Taua and the game has resumed with under 10 minutes left in the third quarter and Iowa leading 17-0.
Players are back on the field
The 30-minute clock since the last lightning strike expired. Now there is a 12-minute warm-up period and play is set to resume around 10 p.m.
🚨 UPDATE 🚨
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) September 18, 2022
Teams are on the field warming up. The game will restart at approximately 10 p.m. (CT). #Hawkeyes
This could be a long delay
We're about an hour into the delay and more storms are on the way.
Iowa announced fans are allowed to leave the stadium during the delay and re-enter
Storms are moving east at about 35mph. At this rate, play may start around 12:30 a.m. assuming storms maintain lightning intensity, which looks pretty likely.
— Nick Stewart (@NStewCBS2) September 18, 2022
Unless they get a brief break before the next line is in full force. #IAwx #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/vjOvaFPz48
Lightning delay
The game is in a lightning delay of at least 30 minutes with 10:02 remaining in the third quarter. Iowa leads 17-0.
More lightning within the 8 mile radius. Likely to see the ongoing weather delay clock reset back to a 30 minute countdown. pic.twitter.com/mZEJsGUejm
— Garrett Heyd Wx ☈ (@GHeydWx) September 18, 2022
Iowa goes three-and-out
Gavin Williams picked up 5 yards on the ground, then Spencer Petras completed a 4-yard pass to Brody Brecht, but Williams' third-and-1 rush was stuffed for no gain. Nevada takes over at its 38, 10:02 3rd.
Nevada punts in Iowa territory
Jamaal Bell returned the kick 32 yards (and nearly broke it for six), then Nevada moved the ball 18 yards to the Iowa 47, but chose to punt on fourth-and-3. Iowa starts at its 9, 12:09 3rd.
Kirk Ferentz at the half
The Iowa head coach said he was happy to see the run game get going (4.4 yards per carry), while pointing out there were more opportunities to be had through the air.
"We've had some near-misses in the passing game," Ferentz told BTN. "Hopefully the more we get these guys in there, the better we'll be."
Half: Iowa 17, Nevada 0
A solid half for Iowa's offense. Spencer Petras completed 9 of 16 passes for 104 yards and a TD. Kaleb Johnson ran four times for 52 yards, including a 40-yard TD, while Gavin Williams also rushed for 52 yards on 12 attempts. Arlance Bruce IV caught three passes for 50 yards and a TD.
The Hawkeyes outgained the Wolf Pack 197-64.
Another stop for Iowa, another good Bruce punt return
Nevada converted a third down with Shane Illingworth throwing a 10-yard pass to Jacob Munro on third-and-4 despite being hit as he threw. The drive didn't go much farther. Joe Evans got pressure immediately on on Illingworth, who had to quickly fire incomplete on third-and-8. Arland Bruce IV returned the punt 25 yards to the Iowa 35, 6:57 2nd.
Field goal Iowa
Freshman Drew Stevens connects on his first career field-goal attempt, from 43 yards.
It had been the Gavin Williams drive up until that point. He carried the ball three times for 29 yards and gained 32 yards on a catch out of the backfield. It was an 11-play, 69-yard drive that lasted 4:21.
Iowa 17, Nevada 0, 9:42 2nd
A sack for Lukas Van Ness
On third-and-5, he gets to Nevada QB Shane Illingworth for a loss of 2. A big roll on the punt puts Iowa at its 6, 14:03 2nd.
End 1st: Iowa 14, Nevada 0
The Hawkeyes totaled 109 yards of offense, while Nevada was held to 26 with a turnover. Spencer Petras started 4-for-6 passing for 58 yards and a TD. Kaleb Johnson added a 40-yard TD run and 49 total yards rushing on three attempts.
Touchdown Iowa: Petras to Bruce
Spencer Petras threw his first touchdown pass of the season, lobbing a ball to the end zone that a wide-open Arland Bruce IV dove to haul in for a 21-yard TD.
Iowa 14, Nevada 0, 0:23 1st.
TOUCHDOWN, TOUCHDOWN IOWA 🤩@abruceiv from @spencerpetras for @HawkeyeFootball ! pic.twitter.com/2MvzCxYz7R
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 18, 2022
Cooper DeJean gets his INT
He was close on Nevada's first drive. He cut in front of a receiver again here and made the catch on the sideline for his second pick of the year. Iowa has it at the Nevada 41, 4:36 1st.
COOP‼️@cdejean23 x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/K03GlI944R
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) September 18, 2022
Kaleb Johnson scores his first career TD
The true freshman took a handoff 40 yards to the house, bouncing off multiple tackles and getting in just inside the pylon. It's a 2-play, 40-yard drive that took 18 seconds.
That's the longest play of the season for the Hawkeyes.
Of note: Freshman Drew Stevens kicked the extra point. Aaron Blom previously held place-kicking duties this season.
Iowa 7, Nevada 0, 4:36 1st.
TOUCHDOWN 🙌@Kj_Superman2 x @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/GPibky1hCp
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 18, 2022
Another Nevada three-and-out
Iowa forced a second-straight three-and-out. Seth Benson made the key stop, wrapping up Jamaal Bell at the 11 after a 3-yard completion on third-and-5. Arland Bruce IV returned the punt 13 yards to the Nevada 40, 4:54 1st.
Keagan Johnson makes his first catch of the season
The Iowa sophomore receiver is back on the field after missing the first two games with an injury. He reeled in a 9-yard pass from Spencer Petras on first down, the third play of the drive.
But a third-and-3 pass intended for him was broken up and the Hawkeyes punted from the Nevada 45. Wolf Pack get possession at their 3 after Tory Taylor's punt was caught by Terry Roberts.
A near-pick-6 for Cooper DeJean
Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean read Shane Illingworth's third-and-2 pass perfectly, but the ball slipped through his hands. It would have been a sure pick-6, but the Hawkeyes settle for a three-and-out and get the ball at their 35 after a punt, 9:44 1st.
Iowa punts
Iowa's first punt comes just over 3 1/2 minutes into the game. The Hawkeyes converted a third-and-12 when Spencer Petras fit in a 21-yard pass to Arland Bruce IV. But Drue Watts later sacked Petras on third-and-7 and boos followed. Tory Taylor's punt went into the end zone, 11:12 1st.
Good injury news for the Hawkeyes
Iowa should have two key weapons back in the rotation Saturday against Nevada. Wide receivers Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini are expected to play, Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown said on Saturday morning’s B1G Tailgate show.
Here's more from The Gazette's John Steppe.
#Hawkeyes WRs Keagan Johnson and Nico Ragaini participating in warmups pic.twitter.com/ZKNY18lI9f
— John Steppe (@JSteppe1) September 17, 2022
Get ready for Iowa vs. Nevada
Here's some pregame reading to get caught up on if you haven't had a chance:
» 3 keys for Iowa football against Nevada
» Nevada-Iowa Fun Facts, the Sarah Michelle Gellar edition
» Feature: After injury-riddled 2021, Iowa’s Terry Roberts makes ‘his presence felt’ in 2022
» Hlas: Historically, many Hawkeye teams have been cut off at the pass