Nov. 22, 2003
Recap?|?Final Stats?|?Photo Gallery
With the win at Wisconsin, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz holds a record of 31-29 in five seasons at Iowa as the Hawkeyes win in Madison for the first time since a 33-20 win in 1995. Iowa ended the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten. After winning 11 games in 2002, Iowa has won as many as nine games in consecutive seasons for the first time since winning nine games in 1986 and 10 games in 1987.The Hawkeyes have started on offense 52 of its last 54 games and 54 of 60 times under Kirk Ferentz.Robert Gallery has started in 43 consecutive games, the best among offensive linemen in the Big Ten. Junior DT Tyler Luebke started for the first time in his career.WR Ramon scored the first rushing touchdown of his career on an 18-yard reverse in the first quarter. Ochoa, who had a six-yard scoring reception in the second quarter, has scored six touchdowns this season on receptions and one touchdown on a punt return.With two turnovers in the first quarter, Iowa had more than one turnover in a game for the first time since having three turnovers (one fumble, two interceptions) in a 26-14 win over Penn State on Oct. 25. Iowa had as many as three turnovers for the fourth time in 12 games. Iowa had four turnovers at Michigan State and three vs. Penn State and Ohio State.Sophomore DB Jovon Johnson collected his fifth interception this season and the ninth of his career. Johnson’s interception and 39-yard return led to Iowa’s second quarter touchdown. His five interceptions in 2003 are the most by an Iowa player since Damien Robinson had six thefts in 1996.Junior DB Sean Considine came up with third interception of the season in the third quarter, and his 24-yard return set up Iowa’s third quarter touchdown. Later in the third quarter senior DB Bob Sanders had his first interception of the season and Sanders had his third fumble recovery of the year in the fourth quarter.Iowa’s defense came up with nine (five fumbles, four interceptions) turnovers in the last two games of the season, five in the win over Minnesota and four vs. Wisconsin.Iowa’s three interceptions vs. Wisconsin mark the first time since the opening game of the season that Iowa had more than one interception. The Hawkeyes had four interceptions in the 21-3 opening win over Miami, OH and one interception in five other games.Wisconsin’s 21 points are the most allowed by Iowa in the first half this season. Michigan scored 20 points in the first half of Iowa’s 30-27 win in Iowa City. Two of Wisconsin’s first half touchdowns directly followed Iowa turnovers. But, Wisconsin also was the third Iowa opponent this season (Miami, OH and Arizona State were the others) that failed to score in the second half.PK Nate Kaeding connected on a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, his second kick of at least 50 yards in two weeks (he had a 55-yarder vs. Minnesota), and he added a 28-yarder in the fourth period. He has made 17-18 FG attempts and 36-37 PATs this season, and he has made 64-77 career FG attempts and 162-163 PATs. He is Iowa’s career scoring leader with 360 points, including 354 kicking points. In his career, Kaeding is 5-5 on field goal attempts from 50 yards and beyond and 23-28 from outside 40 yards. Kaeding ranks third in career kick scoring in the Big Ten Conference, one point shy of Purdue’s Travis Dorsch in second place. Kaeding won the Lou Groza Award last season as the top kicker in the nation and he is one of three finalists for the award this season.DT Matt Neubauer and TE Mike Follett both returned to action after missing last week due to illness. DT Derreck Robinson, injured last week, did not play against Wisconsin.The Hawkeyes scored on their opening possession in four of 12 contests, including touchdown drives vs. Buffalo and Illinois and field goals vs. Iowa State and Minnesota. Iowa won all four contests when it scored on its opening drive.The Hawkeyes outscored their opponents 118-22 in the second quarter and 101-28 in the third quarter this year, as Wisconsin scored seven points in the second quarter and failed to score in the third.RB Fred Russell finished the game with 137 yards rushing (one TD) on 18 attempts. For the season, he has rushed 260 times for 1,205 yards, becoming only the third Hawkeye running back to rush for 1,000 yards or more in more than one season. His career totals include 493 carries for 2,610 yards and 16 touchdowns. He ranks fourth in career rushing yards and his 1,205 yards this year ranks fifth-best for a single season. Russell rushed 220 times for 1,264 yards in 2002. Russell rushed for at least 100 yards in six of 12 games this season and he has reached the century mark 13 times in his career.QB Nathan Chandler has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 11 of Iowa’s 12 games. His season total of 1,870 passing yards ranks 15th-best for a single season at Iowa, while his 2,014 yards of total offense rank 14th-best in a single season.