In what was perhaps the best incarnation of the Cy-Hawk rivalry in recent memory, the Iowa Hawkeyes beat the Cyclones 44-41 in overtime. The Hawkeyes go back to Iowa City with the trophy for the third straight season.
In a game that featured players that players like Allen Lazard and Josey Jewell, the final play was made and won on a touchdown pass between two newcomers.
In his second start of his career, sophomore Nathan Stanley delivered the game winning pass to true freshmen wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who earlier in the game caught his first collegiate pass.
Kirk Ferentz tied his career long for consecutive wins against the Cyclones with three, which he did in the ‘Ricky Stanzi Years’.
In what was a back and forth game, the Hawkeyes were able to force a key field goal on the first possession of the overtime, before they finished it with their turn. But, the games key moment came in the late fourth quarter on the extraordinary effort on the 46 touchdown pass to senior running back Akrum Wadley.
This was one of the best Iowa State teams that the Hawkeyes have played in some time, and the vertical threat with the talented Cyclone wide receivers reeked havoc on the Iowa secondary all afternoon. Both Allen Lazard and Hakeem Butler pulled down two touchdowns.
The gun-slinging was not limited to ISU’s Jacob Park. Nathan Stanley threw for 333 yards and 5 touchdowns on the afternoon, two to the freshmen Smith Marsette, the others to Wadley, Nick Easley and senior Matt VandeBerg.
Iowa guaranteed themselves at least one trophy in the trophy room for the next year, and looks to keep the ‘Floyd of Rosedale’ and regain the ‘Heartland Trophy’ later this season. But, this was a great win for a team that has obvious concerns to address in coming weeks.
Next week the Hawkeyes return to Kinnick to take on the Conference USA North Texas Mean Green. That is a chance to tinker with some areas of issue.
Concerns are a plenty after the Hawks and their fans enjoy the win. The secondary was exposed, and could be a problem entering Big Ten play. Nathan Stanley could have easily been over 500 yards passing, but missed several deep balls.
But, the celebration all over Hawkeye nation will be welcomed, as Iowa remains ‘The Hawkeye State’.