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Iowa

Hawkeyes dominate Gophers

On3 imageby: Tom Kakert10 hours agoHawkeyeReport
Zach Lutmer(1)
Zach Lutmer intercepted and scored a touchdown.

Iowa scored early and often and by about every way possible in the first half on their way to a one-sided 41-3 win over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium.

With the victory, Iowa 6-2 on the season and bowl eligible for the 13th straight season. The Hawkeyes are now 4-1 in conference play and will now head into a bye week followed by a home game against Oregon on November 8th.

The Hawkeyes opened the scoring on their first drive of the game. Iowa marched down the field in nine plays for 75 yards with the final two on a touchdown run by Mark Gronowski.

Following a three and out by the Gophers on their first drive of the game, Iowa again was on the move. This time other than a 23 yard pass to Kaden Wetjen, Iowa was on the ground for most of the drive that stalled out and led to a 34 yard field goal by Drew Stevens to make it 10-0 Hawkeyes.

One play later Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey went back to pass and Iowa defensive back Zach Lutmer stepped in front of the throw and took it back 34 yards for the score. It marked 18 straight years that Iowa has returned an interception for a score and put the Hawkeyes up 17-0 in the first quarter.

On the third play of the second quarter, Gronowski found wide receiver Reece Vander Zee in the corner of the end zone for a 29 yard touchdown and a 24-0 lead. It was Gronowski’s first touchdown pass in Big Ten play and his fourth this season.

Once again, Iowa found a different way to get points on the board. This time after forcing a three and out, Minnesota punted to Kaden Wetjen and that proved to be a mistake. Wetjen took it back 50 yards for a score and pretended to row the boat in his celebration.

The Hawkeyes led 31-0 at the break and added to it on their second possession of the third quarter. A 19 yard pass to Zach Ortwerth put Iowa in scoring position, but the drive stalled out and Stevens connected from 46 yards out.

Minnesota finally got on the scoreboard in the final seconds of the third quarter. Helped by a personal foul on Koen Entringer, the Gophers hit on a 33 yard field goal to make the score 34-3.

Iowa had one more scoring opportunity to cash in on. Redshirt freshman linebacker Cam Buffington intercepted a pass and backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski scampered into the end zone for a 41-3 lead for the Hawkeyes.

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