Black Friday, indeed.
Iowa scored 23 unanswered points and defeated Nebraska, 40-16, Friday in the Heroes Game. The win gives the Hawkeyes (8-4) the Heroes Trophy for the eighth time in the last nine years and brings the Cornhuskers’ regular season to a disappointing end that saw NU (7-5) blown out in back-to-back games by Penn State and Iowa.
The game started out well enough for Nebraska. A career-long 70-yard run by Emmett Johnson took the Huskers to the one, and Johnson punched it in for a touchdown one play later to give NU the lead. But the ensuing kickoff landed in the hands of All-American returner Kaden Wetjen, who returned it 51 yards to the Nebraska 44. A penalty at the end of the play pushed it to the 29. Iowa had to settle for a field goal on the drive, cutting the Huskers’ lead to 7-3. Nebraska’s next drive was a three-and-out, and Archie Wilson’s short punt went out of bounds at the Hawkeyes’ 49. Three plays later, Mark Gronowski hit DJ Vonahme for a 35-yard touchdown to give Iowa a 10-7 lead with 5:35 to go in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Nebraska moved fDrom its 25 to the Iowa 13, settling for a Kyle Cunanan 31-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 1:13 to go in the first quarter. The Huskers began the second quarter with a drive ending in a Cunanan 29-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead with 13:53 to go until halftime. But then the Hawkeyes’ offense, not known for its explosiveness, starting hitting big plays on the next drive. A 26-yard pass from Gronowski to Reece Vander Zee pushed Iowa into Nebraska territory. Then a Gronowski 29-yard run drove the Hawkeyes to the NU 14. Five plays later, Kamari Moulton ran a 3-yard touchdown to put Iowa ahead for good, 17-13, with 8:13 to go in the second quarter.
The Huskers relied on Johnson on the next drive, as he rushed for 36 yards on six plays to help drive Nebraska from its 27 to the Iowa 17. Again, the Huskers had to settle for a Cunanan field goal, this one from 35 yards, and Iowa’s lead was cut to 17-16 with 2:53 to go in the half. On the ensuing drive, Moulton ran 34 yards to spark the Hawkeyes and take them into NU territory. Iowa continued to churn down the field, aided by a personal foul penalty on Nebraska, and Gronowski scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak to push the Hawkeyes’ lead to 24-16, which would be the halftime score.
The avalanche started in the third quarter, and ironically enough began with good Huskers defense, forcing an Iowa punt. Rhys Dakin punted 44 yards, but Jacory Barney, Jr., appeared to fumble. But the play was erased on an illegal shift penalty. Dakin punted again, and Barney backpedaled to his 10. He fumbled again, and this time, the ball was batted into the end zone. Nyziah Hunter covered the ball for a safety, putting the Hawkeyes up, 26-16.
On the ensuing possession, Iowa went three-and-out, and on the ensuing Dakin punt, Barney returned it 37 yards to midfield. But on the play, Roman Mangini was hit with a personal foul penalty, pushing Nebraska back to its 35. NU went three-and-out, and Wilson punted short for 30 yards, avoiding Wetjen.
The Hawkeyes took over at their 29. On third down, Gronowski hit Vonahme for a 41-yard gain to the Nebraska 20. Iowa drove from there, with Gronowski running in a six-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 33-16 with 4:47 to go in the third quarter. Moulton ran for a one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the final margin to 40-16.
The disappointing loss casts a pall of Emmett Johnson’s career high 217 yards on 29 carries. Freshman quarterback TJ Lateef struggled in his first home start, nine-for-24 for 69 yards, while battling a hamstring injury suffered during the game. Key had three catches for 33 yards to lead NU receivers. Moulton ran 18 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Hawkeyes’ offense. Gronowski ran 13 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns while throwing for 166 yards and a touchdown. Javin Wright and Donovan Jones had nine tackles each to pace Nebraska’s defense. Iowa was led by Rashad Godfrey, Jr., with nine tackles.
The Huskers now await their bowl fate, which will be announced Dec. 7. Many projections had NU heading to the Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 31.