Oct. 22, 2011
- 2011 Game Day Central
- 2011 Fall Camp Central
- America Needs Farmers
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- gohawks.com
- Iowa Football Wallpaper
IOWA CITY, Iowa — He needed one and he finished with three.
University of Iowa senior wide receiver Marvin McNutt, Jr., entered Saturday’s game against Indiana with 21 career touchdown receptions. He needed one to stand on top of the list — and he got three.
The record-setter came on an 80-yarder with 38 seconds left in the first quarter, giving the Hawkeyes a 14-7 lead in a game they won, 45-24. The second score was a 24-yarder with 8:10 left before halftime that provided the go-ahead points at 21-14. Touchdown reception No. 3 was a 29-yarder with 16 seconds left before halftime which essentially put the game in the books.
“It’s a great honor because Tim Dwight and Danan Hughes are great players and I’m grateful for the opportunity I have here at Iowa. To be mentioned with those guys is a great privilege and honor,” said McNutt of the two former Hawkeyes with 21 career touchdown receptions. “It was a great day for the offense as well as individually. (Quarterback James) Vandenberg put me in position where I could make plays and where I could get the ball, and I was thankful for that. The offensive line did a great job.”
Iowa’s offense gained 456 yards on 58 plays (an average gain of 7.9 yards per play).
Vandenberg made all three scoring tosses to McNutt and finished the day completing 12-of-16 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns.
“It’s awesome and it’s an awesome accomplishment for Marv,” Vandenberg said. “I’m so glad I got to be a part of it because I know I’ve learned a ton from him over the years and a lot of other guys on this team have, too. He played great today.”
McNutt caught six passes for 184 yards. For the season he has 41 receptions for 757 yards and eight touchdowns.
The 1-Minute Drill
Every football fan has heard of the two-minute drill; UI offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe turned that into a one-minute drill before halftime Saturday, resulting in a 35-14 lead for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa led by two touchdowns over Indiana when returner Micah Hyde fair-caught a punt at the Hawkeye 47. There were 60 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Hoosiers used a timeout after Iowa came to the line of scrimmage. On first down, Vandenberg completed an 11-yard pass to McNutt, who went out-of-bounds on the home sideline. On first down from Indiana’s 42, Vandenberg completed a pass to Keenan Davis, who was tackled for a nine-yard gain at the Hoosier 33. Iowa used its final timeout of the first half with 30 seconds remaining.
On second-and-short, Vandenberg sneaked ahead for four yards to the Hoosier 29. Twenty-four seconds remained when Vandenberg took the first-down snap. He found McNutt, who out-jumped Indiana cornerback Greg Heban in the end zone for a 29-yard score.
The Hawkeyes orchestrated a four-play, 53-yard, 44-second drive that helped them separate themselves from Indiana by making it a 21-point cushion at intermission.
“Our defense did a great job getting us field position, our punt team did a good job and we were able to get good field position,” Vandenberg said. “Just a couple base plays and we did a protection where we could get a double move; Marv made a great move and he was open in the back of the end zone. I kind of floated it up there and I thought it was going to be incomplete but he made a great play.”
Need a Stop? Call Binns
Indiana’s first two offense drives consisted of 25 plays for 161 yards — and no punts. Iowa held a 21-14 lead and the defense needed to step up and make a statement.
Broderick Binns responded.
Hoosier quarterback Tre Roberson rushed for four yards on first down, then he completed a pass for no gain to Stephen Houston. Roberson took the snap on third-and-6; Hawkeye defensive tackle Mike Daniels stunted left and Binns stunted right. Binns slowed Roberson and joined Hawkeye defensive end Dominic Alvis with a sack for an eight-yard loss. That forced the first punt of the day and 10 plays later, Iowa had a 28-14 lead.
“It was just a basic stunt,” Binns said. “Mike Daniels and I ran a game (stunt); we knew the center was turning toward the field and giving us a two-on-two opportunity into the boundary so we ran it and ended up making a good play out of it.”
Derby Returns
Redshirt freshman A.J. Derby returned to the playing field after a two-game suspension. He saw action on special teams, tackling Indiana’s Shane Wynn on a kickoff after Mike Meyer’s 47-yard field goal gave the Hawkeyes a 38-17 lead.
“It was a lot of fun running around out there,” Derby said. “I enjoyed it.”
Derby approached the coaches Tuesday about the possibility of switching from quarterback to linebacker. It was a mutual decision between player and coach to make the move from offense to defense.
“As far as I know, it’s permanent,” Derby said. “I talked to coach about it and he thought this was the best thing for me. I want to do what’s best for the team and coach told me this would be best so that’s what I went with.”
A Good Sign
Eric Guthrie spent most of the day being a spectator and not a participant. That’s a good thing when you’re a team’s punter. Guthrie didn’t enter the game until 9 minutes, 18 seconds remained. He punted once for 38 yards that was fair-caught by Indiana’s Dre Muhammad at the Hoosier 17.
Happy Birthday
Hawkeye redshirt freshman wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley turned 19 years old today. Although he didn’t have a reception during Iowa’s 45-24 win against Indiana, for the season he has 18 catches for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
1’s Are Wild
Hawkeye tight end Brad Herman had an interesting statistics line during his most recent game against Indiana. Herman, a senior from Metamora, Ill., had one catch, for one yard, for one touchdown and a long of one yard. That play brings his career touchdown reception total to — you guessed it — one.
Who’s No. 2?
Redshirt freshman De’Andre Johnson and true freshman Jordan Canzeri showed their skills in what appears to be a continued audition for the No. 2 running back position.
Johnson entered the game first and ran the ball five times for 26 yards and a long of 12. Canzeri carried four times for 26 yards and a long of 15.
So who is second-string behind sophomore Marcus Coker?
“We haven’t figured that out yet,” Johnson said. “They tell us to be ready because you never know when your number is going to be called. I’ve been going hard in practice so it is beginning to pay off.”
For the season, Johnson has 76 yards on 16 carries and Canzeri has 56 yards on nine attempts.